Chapter 50: A Wild Child
Subsequently, the two of them, hand in hand, entered Lockhart Manor together. As they made their way, the housekeepers they encountered all nodded a greeting. “Mr. Lockhart. Mrs. Lockhart.” Sebastian gave a slight nod in response.
At that time, Agnes, Steven Lockhart, Marsha, and Nigel Lockhart were present in the great hall. After Sebastian brought Madelyn in, he respectfully greeted them: “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, I have returned with Madelyn.” The atmosphere in the hall instantly changed when they saw the young couple.
Seeing the young couple hand in hand, appearing utterly sweet, Steven, Sebastian’s grandfather, and Agnes felt a great sense of relief. “Well, I finally get to see you two. Come! Let me have a good look at you.” Agnes was even more enthusiastic as she stepped forward, examining them thoroughly with great interest. Ultimately, she clicked her tongue approvingly. “Not bad! What a handsome couple! You kids are a match made in heaven. Madelyn is worthy of being the daughter-in-law of the Lockhart family!”
Steven was delighted, his smile warm and affable. In contrast, Nigel and Marsha appeared indifferent. Nigel, Sebastian’s father, didn’t say much. On the other hand, it was Marsha who felt inexplicably uncomfortable the moment she laid eyes on Madelyn. It was hard to pinpoint what exactly was causing her discomfort, yet happiness remained out of reach.
At that moment, Madelyn called out very sweetly, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m so happy to see you.” Upon hearing this, Agnes was immediately filled with joy. “Oh! Madelyn, you’re indeed so well-behaved! Truth be told, I’ve been wanting Sebastian to invite you over for dinner for quite some time. However, considering the affection between you two newlyweds, I thought it best to leave you some space. Therefore, I didn’t ask Sebastian to bring you back.”
After speaking, Agnes suddenly lowered her voice and asked, “By the way, Madelyn, be honest with me. Has Sebastian ever bullied you?” “Of course not. How could Sebastian, who cherishes me so much, ever mistreat me?” Madelyn said, shaking her head with a smile. Then, with a hint of guilt, she added, “Actually, I’m the one who has been causing him quite a bit of trouble…”
Agnes chuckled. “What’s wrong with causing a bit of trouble? You are Sebastian’s fiancée, after all. Stirring up some trouble for him is actually his good fortune.” Madelyn also ended up smiling. Watching the two engrossed in their lively conversation, Sebastian was far from idle. He took the gift Malcolm had prepared and handed it to his grandparents.
“Grandma and Grandpa, this is a gift personally chosen for you by Madelyn,” Sebastian said gently. Madelyn couldn’t help but feel surprised. She was notified to go for a meal at the last minute; she couldn’t have found the time to pick out a gift. Who prepared the gift? Madelyn couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. It seemed that despite Sebastian’s anger, he still had her in his heart.
“Grandma and Grandpa, I know you have everything you need in your daily life. So, I’ve selected some health supplements for you, hoping they could strengthen your health and promote longevity,” Madelyn said respectfully. Upon hearing this, the elderly couple was overjoyed. They became even more certain that this granddaughter-in-law was the right one.
Next, Sebastian produced something else and handed it over to his parents. “Dad, Mom, these are what Madelyn has prepared for you.” Madelyn understood and stepped forward, saying, “Dad, I’ve learned before that you have a great liking for collecting paintings. So, I’ve gotten some for you. They may not be very valuable, but they’re a token of my sentiment.”
Upon hearing those words, Nigel seemed somewhat dismissive. “Really?” After that, he casually unfurled the scroll of the painting. However, at the very next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief. “This is an authentic piece by Johannes Vermeer! Where did you acquire it?” Taken aback, Madelyn only knew it was a painting; she had no idea whose original work it was. She cast a glance at Sebastian, her voice wavering as she said, “Oh… A friend helped me get it.” However, it was evident that Nigel was quite fond of the painting, so he was satisfied.
Sebastian then presented a gift box. Upon opening the lid, it revealed an emerald bracelet of exceptional quality. Madelyn intuitively looked toward Marsha. At first glance, Marsha was clearly not someone easy to deal with. She held her chin high, exuding an air of arrogance. Madelyn felt that Marsha had to be the hardest hurdle she had ever faced. However, she had no choice but to brace herself, stepping forward with a smile. She sweetly said, “Mom, this emerald bracelet is something I meticulously chose for you. Your skin is naturally fair, and paired with the pure green of this emerald bracelet, it accentuates your noble and elegant demeanor even more.”
Meanwhile, Steven and Agnes watched their granddaughter-in-law. Seeing how her once arrogant demeanor had significantly changed compared to the past, they felt a deep sense of relief and contentment. However, Marsha was evidently unimpressed by this sudden show of attentiveness. She’s nothing more than a wild child. Now, all these attempts to please me, I’m afraid they are probably all just a facade. Thus, Marsha uttered in a nonchalant tone, “Understood. Just leave it on the table.”
Madelyn knew Marsha’s attitude was one of disdain toward her. However, this time, she didn’t want to squander such a great opportunity. Hence, Madelyn took out the emerald bracelet and sincerely said to Marsha, “Mom, actually, I want to apologize to you today formally. I was immature in the past and had talked back to you many times. However, I promise it won’t happen again. Now that I’m engaged, I’ve finally understood the value of a family and how hard Sebastian has been working. Therefore, I genuinely apologize to you here and hope you can forgive me. May I help you put on the bracelet?”
Madelyn’s sincerity was undeniable, and for a moment, Marsha was somewhat taken aback. Is this girl really sincere, or is she just pretending? Marsha looked at Sebastian with confusion. However, Sebastian was also furrowing his brows, gazing at Madelyn, seemingly puzzled. At that moment, Agnes stepped in to mediate, saying, “Marsha, look, Madelyn has personally apologized to you. As an elder, you shouldn’t hold on to such trifles.” “Marsha, Madelyn has had it tough as well and has already apologized. Let it go,” Steven also advised.
Since both elders had spoken in such a manner, all Marsha could do was nod in agreement. She then extended her hand, allowing Madelyn to personally slip the bracelet onto her wrist. After putting the bracelet on for Marsha, Madelyn couldn’t help but compliment, “It’s truly beautiful, Mom. This bracelet seems as though it was custom-made just for you. It fits you perfectly.” The bracelet was indeed beautiful, and it certainly delighted Marsha. However, she was still confused by Madelyn’s attitude. Has this girl really changed?
“I knew it. Once a girl has a family, she changes,” Agnes turned her gaze toward Madelyn, her joy increasing with each passing moment. Madelyn giggled shyly. At that moment, a housekeeper came to report, “Old Mr. Lockhart, dinner is ready.” The group then moved to the dining table, and dinner commenced. During the meal, Madelyn was incredibly attentive. She busied herself serving her in-laws, even remembering everyone’s favorite dishes with remarkable clarity. In the end, she even personally peeled shrimp for Sebastian. Sebastian gave her a somewhat complicated look. It was important to note that, in the past, Sebastian always peeled the shrimp for her.