Chapter 14: The Proposal
Cora barely had time to wipe her hands before Ravi’s voice came barking from inside.
“Go! The guests are here—hurry up and greet them! Don’t stand there like a fool!”
Cora went to the gate, forcing herself to smile.
A black Ford sedan had stopped right across the Dev family’s narrow entrance, blocking half the street.
The engine revved once—loud, showy, unnecessary.
A tall, lanky young man climbed out, dressed in cheap clothes that tried too hard.
“Mom,” he called to the round woman squeezing herself out of the passenger seat, “are we really giving thirty thousand for the bride price?”
The woman’s laugh was syrupy. “Thirty thousand’s plenty! Money’s not easy these days—but what’s ours will be ours again soon enough. Besides, once we pay, they’ll have to bring out the dowry, won’t they?”
Cora’s lips tightened.
They’re already calculating profits before the marriage even happens.
She stepped forward, polite as ever.
“Hello, Auntie. I’m Laura’s sister—Grandma sent me to welcome you. Please, this way.”
The woman only snorted and strutted past without so much as a glance.
Her son, however, looked at Cora twice—curious, almost taken aback.
Inside, Cora was immediately shoved aside.
Her uncle and aunt fawned over the guests as if they were royalty, barking orders at Cora’s mother to pour tea and fetch fruit like a servant.
Before her mother could move, Cora was already doing it. She’d long stopped expecting fairness here.
When the groom’s family casually mentioned a thirty-thousand-yuan dowry, Laura’s smug smile flashed across the room.
In this town, twenty-one thousand eight was the norm—thirty was extravagant.
Ravi and the others puffed up with pride, faces glowing with greed.
Cora and her mother stood by the wall, without a chair or a cup of tea.
Then her mother’s trembling hand slipped—one porcelain cup shattered on the floor.
Before she could even apologize, Ravi’s hand flew. Another teacup smashed against the wall, shards scattering near her head.
“Useless woman! On such an important day, you have to ruin it for me? The Dev family must’ve sinned to end up with trash like you!”
Cora pulled her mother back just in time.
The cup exploded on the tiles between them.
Ravi, furious that they’d dared to dodge, grabbed her cane and raised it high.
Cora braced herself—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The front gate rattled with heavy knocks.
“Ravi! Good news! Congratulations to the Dev family!”
It was the clan elder’s voice, loud and shaking with excitement.
The room fell silent. Even the groom’s mother blinked, confused but intrigued.
Had their flashy entrance attracted this much attention already?
Ravi hurried outside, smoothing her hair. “Clan leader! What brings you here?”
The old man caught her hand, eyes wide.
“Ravi, you’re blessed—truly blessed! Your granddaughter’s found herself a fine husband! The Devs are going to prosper!”
Ravi chuckled smugly. “Oh yes, yes, our Laura is quite the lucky girl.”
“Laura?” The clan leader nearly sputtered. “No, not Laura—Cora!”
The room froze.
“I saw them myself!” he went on, breathless. “Dozens of luxury cars—more than I’ve ever seen in my life! They were asking for the Dev residence, said they’ve come to propose marriage!”
“What?”
Gasps rippled through the house.
Cora’s face paled. They came… this fast?
Outside, the rumble of engines filled the street.
A long procession of sleek vehicles rolled toward the gate, sunlight glinting off polished chrome.
At the front, a dark silver car led the way—its hood adorned with a gleaming emblem shaped like a pair of wings.