Chapter 43: Do I Need to Report to You?

Chapter 43: Do I Need to Report to You?

Wayne pointed at Victoria in the crowd.

He said, "The girl my son likes is her. She's my daughter-in-law."

Everyone looked in the direction Wayne was pointing. When they saw Victoria's calm face, Jade and Sarah's expressions became incredibly awkward.

Especially Sarah—her face was full of defiance.

Didn't Victoria owe William three hundred million dollars? How could William possibly like her?

She was Ethan's simp—everyone knew that. Even if William wanted to back her up, did he really need to do it this way?

Making such a big scene and turning Sarah into a laughing stock.

"No, it can't be. How could William possibly like her?"

"She has no abilities, she's average-looking, her education is ordinary, her character is terrible, and..."

Sarah wanted to mention that Victoria had dated Ethan before, but when the words reached her lips, she stopped herself just in time.

She changed direction and said to Wayne with absolute certainty, "Mr. Ashford, anyway, William would never like her."

Hearing Sarah's words dripping with jealousy, the worldly Wayne lost all good feelings toward her.

A girl like her—not elegant in appearance and lacking grace—even if she got together with Ethan, she couldn't shoulder the responsibilities of Mrs. Ashford.

Wayne had his typical grin as he made fun of Sarah, saying, "Sarah, even I, who am his parent, have no idea which females my child is interested in and which ones he is not."


"You and my son have never met. Who he likes or doesn't like—did he report it to you or something?"

Faced with Wayne's sarcasm, Sarah was speechless.

Jade was growing worried as well, yet when confronted with Wayne's commanding and imposing nature, she found herself at a loss for words.


Charles, however, having been in business for so long, immediately changed his attitude.

No longer paying attention to Jade and Sarah, like a chameleon, he immediately put on a warm and friendly smile toward Victoria, who was standing not far away.

Being able to connect with the Ashford family would bring benefits to the Hughes family. No matter which daughter William liked, it would be tremendous fortune for the Hughes family.

"Victoria, come over here and say hello to Mr. Ashford!"

Charles gestured toward Victoria with a degree of affection that she had never once witnessed during the more than two decades they had spent as parent and child.


Victoria didn't move.

Charles quickly said to Wayne, "Mr. Ashford, Victoria hasn't seen much of the world. She must be stunned by such good news. Please don't mind her."

The statement from Charles caused Wayne to furrow his brow. Even though he was William's parent, he truly lacked the authority to concern himself with the type of female William selected to be his spouse.


Besides being good to his daughter-in-law, he didn't dare say a single harsh word.

If he truly angered William to the point where he ended up wedding a male partner instead, then his elderly heart would not be able to withstand it.


"Victoria, come here. As your father-in-law, I'll give you a greeting gift."

Wayne called out to Victoria, instantly closing the distance between them.

Of course, Sarah and Jade were so angry their livers hurt.

Only a short while earlier, they had informed every domestic worker in the home that Wayne's arrival was for the purpose of offering a marriage proposal to Sarah as a representative of Ethan.


But now, the one being proposed to had become Victoria. Victoria was stealing all the spotlight, and Sarah and Jade felt deeply humiliated.

Facing Wayne's greeting, Victoria gracefully came before him. She smiled and spoke to Wayne.

"Dad, hello."

The fact that Victoria addressed him as "Father" brought Wayne great joy. After all, Victoria and William had already obtained their official marriage document, so it was perfectly correct for Victoria to refer to Wayne as "Father."


He immediately called over the butler standing nearby. In the butler's hands was a set of fine gemstone jewelry.

Jade had seen this jewelry before.

Ten years ago at an auction, it sold for the sky-high price of one hundred million dollars.


Jade had truly admired that particular collection of gems back then, but sadly she lacked the necessary funds and could do nothing but witness a member of the Ashford household purchase it.


Now, ten years later, the value of this jewelry set was beyond measure.

What did Wayne mean by this? Was he going to give such expensive jewelry to Victoria?

Just as Jade had anticipated, Wayne himself lifted the container of precious items and put it directly into Victoria's grasp.


"Victoria, this is our first meeting. I don't have anything good to give you. This jewelry set isn't worth much—just wear it for fun."

"Whenever you get tired of wearing it, I'll have someone buy you another set."

Wayne smiled broadly. Charles smiled along, feeling his facial muscles ache.

Victoria possessed sufficient worldly knowledge to recognize the true value of this assortment of jewels. The Ashford family might have been rich, yet they were not lacking in intelligence.


She thought this must be William deliberately having Wayne put on this show to support her in front of the Hughes family.

She had to say, William was so reliable.

After expressing her thanks to Wayne, she accepted the jewelry from his hands.

Charles positioned himself next to Wayne and spoke in a modest manner, "Mr. Ashford, Victoria is still at a young age. If you present her with such costly adornments, she will not be able to display them in a fitting way."


"You really shouldn't have spent so much."

Hearing Charles say this, Wayne immediately started backing Victoria up.

He stated, "Victoria is the spouse of William. Even if we were to hand over the entirety of the Ashford household's possessions to her, she would still be deserving of it."


"Charles, you've raised a good daughter. Next, should we discuss their wedding?"

Wayne pulled Charles aside to discuss the wedding.

Looking at Jade and Sarah, they were both angry and anxious.

Sarah took the opportunity to suggest to Jade:

"Mother, Mr. Ashford is the parent of Ethan's parent, and as it happens, he is present at our home today. Why don't you use this chance to speak with him regarding the union between Ethan and myself?"


"That damn Victoria is marrying William—I can't lose face in front of her. I need to marry Ethan right away. That way we can get back the dignity we lost."

Sarah's words really resonated with Jade.

The Ashford household had great wealth, and Wayne had arrived with numerous costly presents, which caused that detestable Victoria to appear so self-satisfied.


If today they could also finalize Ethan and Sarah's marriage with Wayne, she and her daughter could salvage their dignity.

Acting on this idea, Jade lifted her drinking container and moved toward Wayne, who was engaged in conversation with Charles about issues related to the marriage ceremony.


She said, "Mr. Ashford, since you've rarely come to visit today, why don't we also talk about Ethan and Sarah's marriage?"

"Good things come in pairs, right? What do you think?"