Chapter76 These Aren't Bought to Collect Dust
Dominic was riding high on Castillo's flattery, the alcohol going to his head. He waved his hand broadly, his face full of self-satisfied pride: "Need you even ask? Miranda is my own daughter. Of course I treat her better than anyone else!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Miranda, who'd barely spoken, suddenly laughed, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Really?" She raised her eyes, looking at Dominic clearly. "But today I heard my cousin bragging that you recently transferred her quite a bit of money.My company's having a small cash flow problem right now. Dad, you'll help me, right?"
The smile on Dominic's face instantly froze, like someone had dumped cold water over his head. He sobered up considerably.
Help her? Last time, because of that word "help," a villa and a golf course under his name had been taken away by this daughter with just a few words.
Before he could figure out how to dodge the question, Castillo immediately jumped in, indignant: "Exactly, Mr. Lancaster. You don't know how arrogant Ariana was today. She actually told Miranda in front of everyone to work as her assistant. I think it's because you're too good to outsiders that she got bold enough to provoke Miranda like that."
Castillo turned to Dominic, her tone firm: "Now that Miranda's company is in trouble, you can't just sit by and do nothing, right? Otherwise, outsiders might think you care less about your own daughter than you do about a niece."
The two went back and forth, each sentence placing him on the moral high ground of "loving father," leaving him no way down.
Dominic felt suffocated, and thinking about how he'd just recently taken a big loss, anger rose in his chest.
If he stayed any longer, who knew what these two girls would scheme him into.
He suddenly stood up from his chair, forcing out a stiff smile: "Something urgent came up at the company. I need to go handle it. You all eat."
Christian also stood, his expression calm: "Dad, I'll have the driver take you."
Dominic couldn't wait to escape this frustrating place and naturally didn't refuse. He nodded with a dark face and strode out without looking back.
The private room door closed, shutting out everything outside.
Miranda and Castillo exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of triumphant amusement in each other's eyes.
"Mom," Miranda walked to Arabella's side, supporting her arm, her voice softening. "Clifton is waiting for us in the upstairs room. Let's go up."
Hearing her son-in-law's name, Arabella's anxious heart finally settled, but then a deeper worry surged up.
Although she'd met him at the hospital last time, the more she thought about it after going home, the more unreal it felt.
The Lancaster family might be considered wealthy in others' eyes, but compared to a true top-tier family like the Prescotts, it was worlds apart.
Could a family like the Prescotts really accept Miranda? Would she be bullied?
These worries pressed on her heart like invisible stones.
Upstairs, in another more elegant and quiet private room.
Miranda pushed open the door and immediately saw the man sitting by the window.
Clifton had already removed his silver mask, revealing a flawlessly handsome face.
He was looking down at the menu in his hand. Hearing the movement, he looked up.
Seeing Arabella, he naturally set down the menu, nodded slightly, his voice cool but polite: "Hello."
"Oh, hello." Arabella quickly responded, asking nervously: "We didn't keep you waiting too long, did we?"
The corner of Clifton's lips curved in an extremely faint arc as he chuckled softly: "Not at all."
Seeing him like this, the weight on Arabella's heart suddenly lightened considerably.
Rumors were just rumors after all. This son-in-law seemed steady and courteous. Where was any of the temperamental, frightening person from the rumors?
Meanwhile, Castillo, upon seeing Clifton's face clearly, was so shocked she nearly bulged her eyes out.
She'd thought Clifton wore the mask all the time because his face was disfigured. But now... this wasn't disfigurement at all. He clearly wore it so his too-striking face wouldn't cause a war among women.
Soon, Christian, who'd seen Dominic off, also pushed the door open. The family finally sat down peacefully.
By the end of the meal, Arabella had completely set her mind at ease about her daughter's future.
Though she and Clifton didn't exchange many words, from their brief conversations and small gestures, she could clearly sense the good upbringing ingrained in this man's bones.
He knew how to respect people. He wouldn't look down on Miranda because he came from a top-tier family. When he heard Miranda talk about her company, he would listen attentively, his words full of support.
After dinner, before parting, Arabella pulled her daughter's hand and patted it gently.
"Miranda, Clifton is a good person." She looked into her daughter's eyes, each word solemn. "Mom hopes you two will be happy."
She paused, her eyes slightly reddening, her voice catching: "But you must remember, even if... even if someday you really don't want to continue, don't be afraid. You can always come back to Mom."
Hearing her mother's words, the softest place in Miranda's heart was deeply touched. Warmth instantly flooded her heart.
She sniffed hard to keep the tears from falling.
Back at the Prescott manor.
After washing up, Miranda sat in front of the vanity in a silk robe, leisurely drying her hair.
Two light knocks sounded at the door. A servant walked in carrying a tray covered with red velvet. On it were the auction items delivered from tonight's charity gala.
After the servant left, Miranda brought the jewelry boxes from the tray inside and opened them one by one on the vanity.
Brilliant jewels refracted enchanting halos under the light. She looked at each piece and found that almost every one precisely matched her aesthetic.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
Clifton walked out wearing a dark gray bathrobe, toweling his slightly damp short hair. He immediately saw Miranda staring absently at the pile of jewels.
"Wear them if you like them." He walked behind her, his voice low. "These things aren't bought to collect dust."
Miranda picked up one of the necklaces. The huge pigeon blood ruby was dazzling under the light, strikingly gorgeous.
She held the necklace up to her snow-white neck, turned around, looked up at the man behind her, her eyes shimmering.
"Does it look good?"
The ruby's rich color against the woman's delicate skin created an extreme visual impact. The red seemed to seep into her skin, giving her an alluring beauty.
Clifton's Adam's apple rolled almost imperceptibly.
He stepped forward, took the necklace from her hand, and fastened it on her himself. The cool chain touching her warm skin made Miranda instinctively flinch.
The man's slender fingers went around her neck, fastening the clasp.
Then he stood behind her, one hand holding her delicate chin, making her face the mirror again. Through the reflection, their eyes met.
"Very beautiful." His low voice, like a rich cello, sounded by her ear.
Miranda looked at herself in the mirror, at the man behind her completely enveloping her in his embrace. Just as she was about to smile, she felt the strap of her robe being gently pushed aside.
Her shoulder felt cool, followed immediately by a searing, possessive kiss falling heavily on her rounded shoulder.