Chapter 1477
Winnie felt a pang of guilt. How could she have doubted Ben's sincerity? "Alright, I'll let you get back to work," she said, a bit embarrassed. "We can talk more tonight when you get home."
Ben couldn't have planned it better. He ended the call, waited in his car until Jamie's video came through, more revealing than before. Satisfied, he finally tucked his phone away and stepped out of the car. Inside, Mrs. Lucas had prepared an impressive spread, with an empty seat to her left for Ben and to her right, his supposed future wife, Summer Larson.
Summer glanced at her watch, clearly anxious, and asked Mrs. Lucas softly, "Mrs. Lucas, do you think Ben might not like me?"
It was already late, and Ben still hadn't arrived. Could he be intentionally avoiding her?
Mrs. Lucas noticed Summer Lin glancing at her watch, and her smile softened. Unlike her stern demeanor with Jamie, she spoke to Summer with warmth. "Love can grow with time, dear. You have everything going for you; why wouldn't he like you? I wouldn't be surprised if he's more eager to marry you than you think."
Summer's cheeks turned pink. "I hope so! My parents are eager for a son-in-law and can't wait to have grandchildren."
From a young age, she had understood the reality of family alliances. No matter how much her parents and brother spoiled her, this reality remained unchanged. The only choice she had was to pick a man from among the eligible matches, a man she could actually care for. And Ben was exactly the man she had set her sights on.
Mrs. Lucas laughed heartily. ""Your parents and I are on the same page with that. We don't favor one gender over the other; boy or girl, any child from the two of you would be cherished."
After all, in families like theirs, a strong lineage with many children was the goal. With enough children, one was bound to make the family proud.
Ben entered just in time to hear that last statement. His face darkened. "Mom, did you invite me here just to throw a new woman at me?"
"Ben," his mother's voice grew stern as she glanced at him sharply. "This is Summer Larson, daughter of the Larson family."
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Mrs. Lucas took a moment to emphasize Summer's esteemed background, her eyes carrying a silent warning. When it came to well-matched young lady like Summer, she expected nothing less than respect from Ben.
Ben met her gaze, unmoved. With a faint smirk, he replied, "Did I say anything wrong?"
He wasn't blind to her intentions. Not only was she trying to introduce a woman, but she had already planned out his future family. He wasn't some pet to be arranged and caged.
Before the atmosphere could grow
more tense, Summer spoke up, smiling gently to defuse the
situation. "Ben, my parents have know your family for years.
Tonight's really just a casenetNôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
dinner-no pressure.”
"Ben Lucas," Mrs. Lucas addressed him sternly, using his full name.
Sensing the tension rising, Summer quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Ben, our families go way back. Tonight's really just a casual dinner. No pressure."
"Alright, let's eat before the food gets cold," Mrs. Lucas said, redirecting the conversation. Her main goal was just to have Ben and Summer meet and exchange contact information.
Ben took a seat at the table, eyeing the spread with little interest. He picked at his food without much appetite.
"I heard you're a lawyer, Ben,"
Summer said, trying to keep the conversation going. "I took some law courses in college. Maybe after dinner, if you're up for it, we could discuss a bit?" en