Chapter 164 Take My Surname!
The Sutter Mansion.
Ophelia and Lyric were discussing the upcoming trip to Border Ridge City. As the Sutter family, they couldn't let Emma lose face, so naturally they had to prepare nice gifts for Tommy and Jane.
After finishing their discussion, Ophelia picked up her teacup and took a few sips, then casually asked, "Lyric, has a wife been decided for Yosef yet?"
Lyric sighed. She was also troubled by this. Neither Yosef nor Matthew was willing to get married. "No, the ones I like, that brat doesn't like."
"Actually, I have someone in mind," Ophelia put down her teacup, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I think Mindy would be good."
Lyric was instantly speechless. "She won't work."
Ophelia smiled. "I knew you'd say that. I have my reasons for bringing up Mindy. Just hear me out, Lyric."
Lyric nodded, letting her continue.
"Mindy's family background matches the Sutter family - we all know that. I can see that Mindy really likes Yosef. Most importantly, she's straightforward, not calculating."
Lyric shook her head with a laugh. "When she goes out for social events, she'll be representing Yosef. If she doesn't have some sense, it'll be embarrassing for Yosef and for the Sutter family."
"Social skills can be taught. Besides, she has the Johnson family behind her, and Yosef is from the Sutter family. In Silverlight City, who would go out of their way to give her trouble?"
"No, she's too naive. Yosef won't like her." Lyric understood her son Yosef pretty well.
Ophelia dropped the subject.
After she left the Sutter Mansion, she called Emma to mention this.
Emma chuckled. "Forget it, they're not meant to be. Our families want to form an alliance, not create enemies."
She'd been in a good mood lately and wouldn't let something like this bother her.
"Ms. Sutter, Ms. Collins is here," a servant came to knock on the door and call Emma.
Emma's eyes flickered. "Mom, I have something to take care of now. I'll call you back later."
She hung up, composed herself, and went downstairs to meet Mira.
Mira was the newly appointed female CEO of the Collins Group. Manuel had once wanted Timothy to marry Mira in a power match, but Timothy had refused at the time.
This was information Emma had worked hard to get from Cecilia.
Manuel had once sent Timothy to Celestria to rescue Mira. Mira had feelings for Timothy too, but after Timothy refused the arranged marriage, Mira had been pretty open about it.
Mira's life didn't necessarily need marriage and love.
Downstairs at the Robinson Mansion.
Mira was cheerfully holding a small rattle drum, playing with Tommy and Jane.
Tommy and Jane had grown a lot, chubby and adorable.
Emma came downstairs and saw Mira playing with Tommy and Jane. She smiled. "Mira, what brings you here today?"
"I brought you something. I happened to see it on this business trip. It's quite rare, so I specially bought it for you."
Mira took a box from her assistant and opened it. "This is a jade necklace. It's a shame - I originally wanted to buy another necklace, but someone beat me to it."
Emma was surprised by Mira's generous gift.
This necklace was worth at least hundreds of millions of dollars.
Emma smiled warmly. "Thank you, but you really shouldn't give me such expensive gifts next time."
Mira waved her hand. With her short haircut, she looked efficient and straightforward. "It's nothing. Consider it a blessing for you and Timothy. I have a meeting soon, so I'll get going."
Emma smiled and saw Mira out.
Emma knew that Mira was treating her well because of Timothy.
One reason Emma had been able to integrate into Border Ridge City's social circle so quickly was partly thanks to Mira's help.
---
Fallon usually went home after cooking dinner.
After Elizabeth and the others finished eating, Jake would take care of clearing and washing the dishes.
Elizabeth would slowly walk around the courtyard a few times to digest, then return to the bedroom to shower.
After she finished showering and came out, she saw Jake sitting on the bedroom sofa, with several paper cranes on the coffee table.
He was still folding them.
Paper cranes in various colors - they actually looked pretty nice.
Elizabeth was a bit surprised. "Mr. Robinson, I didn't know you could fold these. Wouldn't have guessed."
Jake hadn't expected he still had this skill either. "I'll make you a flower."
Halfway through making it, he suddenly stopped.
Wait.
Why was he folding these silly things?
Elizabeth urged him, "Hurry up and finish it. I want to see your flower."
She walked over to the vanity to get some moisturizer for her face.
The bedroom's main light was on, bright and clear. Jake turned to look at the vanity, then threw the half-finished flower on the table. "I'm going to shower."
Not doing this anymore.
Jake deeply reflected on his behavior. He didn't need to go this far just to please someone.
In the bathroom, soon the sound of running water could be heard.
Elizabeth gently closed the moisturizer cap. She walked over to the sofa and glanced at the half-finished flower, her thoughts unknown.
Just then, a simple phone ringtone suddenly rang.
She looked toward the sound and saw it was Jake's phone on the sofa.
Elizabeth looked at the caller ID - it showed Border Ridge City. She glanced toward the bathroom and picked up the phone to take it there.
"Mr. Robinson, your phone is ringing."
Jake suddenly opened the bathroom door partway, and their eyes met instantly.
Elizabeth was confused.
Looking straight ahead, she handed him the phone.
He glanced at the caller ID but didn't take the phone. He just unlocked it, pressed answer, and put it on speaker.
A serious, calm male voice came from the other end. "Timothy, when are you planning to return to Border Ridge City? About Tommy and Jane - I need to talk to you personally."
Elizabeth was still holding the phone, momentarily stunned. She couldn't quite process this.
How could he answer a call like this?
She looked up toward the bathroom.
Jake was rinsing his hair under the water.
Elizabeth's gaze didn't look down, but upward. Still, it felt awkward somehow.
"Timothy, are you listening to me?" Manuel frowned when Timothy didn't respond.
Both sides of the call fell silent.
Elizabeth, stuck holding the phone, twitched her lips in exasperation and spoke directly: "Timothy is showering right now. It's not convenient for him to take the call."
Hearing Elizabeth's voice, Manuel realized. "You're Ms. Penrose, right?"
Elizabeth calmly replied, "No, I'm Ms. Greer."
Manuel hadn't expected to guess wrong. "My apologies."
Jake, still showering, looked surprised. His eyes darkened as he looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth continued pretending to be another woman. "Please call back later. Thank you."
Jake wiped the water from his face and smiled silently. He turned off the shower, reached for a bath towel, wrapped it around his waist, and walked out.
Elizabeth was about to hang up when Jake took the phone from her. He said to Manuel on the other end, "Next week I'll return to Border Ridge City, and I'm bringing my girlfriend."
Manuel's heart sank. Not knowing Jake had the call on speaker, he said sternly, "I advise you not to bring Ms. Penrose. Of course, if you insist on bringing her, there's nothing I can do."
The call ended.
Timothy looked at the darkened screen, then turned his eyes to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's expression wasn't good.
"Elizabeth, you can let what my dad said go in one ear and out the other."
Jake's hair was still wet and dripping. Seeing Elizabeth's unhappy face, he rubbed his soaking wet head against hers.
Elizabeth was shocked!
Her hair instantly got wet too.
She pushed his head away and said very firmly, "I don't want to go to Border Ridge City anymore. You go back by yourself."
Why should she go suffer when nobody wanted her there? She just wouldn't go - it wouldn't kill her.
"I'm not going to Border Ridge City with you anymore. The children will take my surname in the future - Penrose!"