A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Dowry (4)

Terrence Grant had expected Kimberly Jennings to see through to his feelings for Seraphina Sterling—in fact, he had intentionally let her sense that his intentions were different. But he never thought she would be so direct about it, especially with Seraphina in the room!

’It seems I’ve underestimated Kimberly Jennings,’ a realization suddenly dawned on him. ’How could Orson Sterling’s wife be just a meek, ordinary woman? Someone who could survive in the Sterling Family and protect Seraphina—how could she be just some average housewife!’

Terrence Grant shed his usual arrogance, met Kimberly Jennings’s scrutinizing gaze, and answered with grave seriousness, ”That’s right. I love Seraphina Sterling! I’ll wait for her. I will marry her! I’ll make her Mrs. Grant!”

”The Grant Family of Aethelgard is even more complicated than the Sterling Family! Setting aside whether you even have a say in your own marriage, just look at your position in the Grant Family. What gives you the right to protect my precious daughter? When I left the Sterling Family and gave up all its wealth and glory, it wasn’t because I couldn’t have stayed! It was because if I had, I couldn’t guarantee that Seraphina would be able to live freely and choose her own path! That’s why I chose to bring her back to a remote town like Tollan, far from the splendor of Aethelgard!”

”You stand here and tell me you love Seraphina and want to make her Mrs. Grant! So what guarantee do you have? How can you ensure Seraphina is kept from harm and allowed to live the life she desires? The Grant Family is a powerhouse among the elite. In families like that, genuine affection is rare and self-interest is king! What guarantee do you have that if Seraphina were to marry you, you could protect her from every last grievance?”

Her soft voice echoed in the hospital room, yet each word landed like a hammer blow on their hearts. Every question was an interrogation for the sake of Seraphina Sterling’s future, a consideration for the life she would lead. This was a mother’s trial.

Seraphina Sterling was stunned. She stared at Kimberly Jennings in astonishment, as if she were meeting her own mother for the very first time. ’All this time, I thought she was too weak—that anyone could bully her, that anyone could take advantage of her. I never imagined she saw everything with such clarity. She’s a perfect example of great wisdom disguised as simplicity!’

Terrence Grant’s expression grew even more solemn. ”Because everything I’ve achieved has nothing to do with the Grant Family! Even without them, my standing would not change one bit! The Grant Family can’t control me, and by extension, they won’t be able to control Seraphina! I will use everything I have to build a world for her, a world where she can live however she pleases!”

The hospital room was so quiet you could hear a heartbeat. Kimberly Jennings and Terrence Grant stood in a silent standoff, neither willing to back down.

Seeing his solemn, oath-like expression, Kimberly Jennings finally broke her gaze. ”I’ll trust you this one time. Since you’ve given your solemn word, I’ll acknowledge you as my son-in-law. However, whether or not you can make Seraphina fall in love with you—that will be up to you.”

’Wait... weren’t they just in a standoff? How did the situation change in the blink of an eye? She’s already calling him her son-in-law!’

”Don’t worry, Mother-in-law. I’m confident I can make Seraphina fall in love with me!” Terrence Grant was also caught off guard by the complete one-eighty. ’One moment she was as intimidating as an Amazon warrior, and the next she’s accepted me?’ Happiness had come so fast it was dizzying.

”Wait, I...” Seraphina Sterling felt like things were going completely off the rails! But no one was listening to her.

”Then consider this part of Seraphina’s dowry. Whether or not you two end up together, this now belongs to you. If, in the end, it doesn’t work out between you, consider it a token of my gratitude for having watched over her.”

Kimberly Jennings took a jade bracelet from her bag. It was clearly the very same one Zion Hale had given to Seraphina Sterling at the auction.