Chapter 419

On the surface, the family dinner looked warm and harmonious.

Julian remained attentive, picking out all of Tessa’s favorite dishes and placing them on her plate with care.

Albert and Carol made occasional lighthearted comments, their tone teasing but amiable.

To the housekeeper watching from the side, this was as good as it could get. Whatever had happened earlier, maybe she was better off pretending she hadn’t heard or seen a thing. It wasn’t her business, after all.

As long as it didn’t fall on her shoulders, she’d keep her head down and focus on doing her job well. With that thought, she busied herself even more diligently. If she stayed out of trouble, everything would be just fine.

Tessa, too, was affected by the lighthearted atmosphere. She found herself laughing along, slowly relaxing. She’d been worried earlier–after all, they’d spent an entire afternoon upstairs, and she had no idea what Albert and Carol would think of her because of it. But now, judging from their attitude, they seemed rather open-minded. There was no sign of blame or judgment. The thought reassured her.

“Mrs. Hayes, your housekeeper’s pork ribs are amazing,” Tessa said with a smile.

Carol beamed. “Oh, come on now, you don’t have to be so formal. Give it a little time, and we’ll all be one big family, won’t we?”

As she spoke, Carol’s gaze drifted meaningfully to the faint marks on Tessa’s neck, her smile tinged with amusement.

Everyone at the table was an adult. No one needed to say it out loud–they all knew what she meant. No one was surprised.

Tessa blushed, lowering her head with feigned shyness. “Mrs. Hayes, I still need to talk to my mom about this. It’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“I understand,” Carol said easily. “I didn’t mean to rush you.”

Tessa nodded. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hayes. I get what you mean. But honestly, I’m not in a hurry.”

That single line made Albert’s expression shift noticeably.

Of course she wasn’t in a hurry–Walton Corporation was thriving, growing stronger by the day. She had all the time in the world.

But them? The Hayes family was barely holding on. Each day was worse than the last. Worse still, several of their major projects were now at a standstill.

If it weren’t for the urgent need to solidify a partnership with Walton Corporation, the Hayes family wouldn’t be so eager to push for this marriage.

Right now, Walton was leagues ahead of them. There was no comparison.

If Albert had his way, he’d have them married on the spot. It was better to seal the deal quickly than let time breed uncertainty, especially with the mess Julian had created.

That needed to be resolved fast–before Tessa found out. If she ever discovered the truth, this engagement would be dead in the water.

With that thought, Albert shot Julian a sharp look, silently urging him to say something to push things along. This was a golden opportunity. It had to be seized.

Julian got the message immediately. Though reluctant, he had no choice but to follow his father’s lead.

“Tessa, we’ve been together for quite a while now. I want something official,” he began, setting his fork down, his tone solemn. He looked her in the eyes, his voice low but sincere, “Most of my friends already have kids. I want to have children with you too. A real family of our own.”

Tessa met his gaze, and for a moment, her playful demeanor faded. Her tone matched his seriousness. “Are you really being honest with me?”

“Of course I am,” Julian said without hesitation.

Albert and Carol quickly chimed in, nodding along. “Yes, Tessa. Sooner or later, we’ll all be one family. So why not sooner?”