Editor: Henyee Translations “Remember what I told you.
Don’t tell anyone you only finished high school.
If anyone asks, you are a graduate from Crestview.
Got it?” For the hundredth time, Isabella repeated the same warning to Evelyn until her ears practically fell off.
It was the same lecture, and Evelyn had long since stopped responding.
When they arrived outside the private dining room, Isabelle smoothed her clothes and checked her reflection one last time.
Beside her, Evelyn simply raised a hand and knocked.
Mrs.
Lowell knew the Ashford family’s eldest daughter had arrived.
She had personally arranged this marriage, but now that the two young people were finally meeting, her emotions were complicated.
Once, Matthias had been the pride of the Lowell family.
If not for the accident, her son would have deserved the very best woman in Norbright– not some girl brought into the family through a hurried business arrangement.
At the same time, she couldn’t help looking down on the Ashfords for treating their daughter’s future as a bargaining chip.
“Come in,” she called, her voice carrying a trace of unconscious superiority.
Evelyn pushed open the door.
Both Mrs.
Lowell and Matthias turned toward the entrance.
The young woman standing there wore a simple sweatshirt and a pair of casual pants.
Her long dark hair was tied back neatly, with a few loose strands framing her face.
Her makeup was minimal, yet she was stunning.
It was the kind of effortless beauty that drew attention the moment she entered the room.
Combined with her cool, reserved demeanor, she stood out even among Norbright’s most admired socialites.
Mrs.
Lowell paused, surprise flashing across her face.
“What a beautiful girl!” She thought.
Matthias, however, frowned slightly, “You are from the Ashford family?” Mrs.
Lowell asked cautiously.
Before Evelyn could answer, Isabelle hurried into the room wearing a bright, eager smile.
“I apologise for making you wait, Mrs.
Lowell.” She slipped an arm through Evelyn’s and beamed proudly.
“This is my daughter, Evelyn.” The surprise on Mrs.
Lowell’s face filled Isabelle with satisfaction.
Evelyn had inherited Felix’s looks.
Whatever else could be said about her, no one could deny she was exceptionally beautiful.
At least she has that much going for her, Isabelle thought.
“This is Evelyn?” Mrs.
Lowell asked.
She found it difficult to reconcile the poised young woman before her with the image Miles had described.
If this girl were unattractive, then there probably wasn’t a beautiful woman in Norbright.
Relief quietly settled in her heart.
She wanted a daughter-in-law who was easygoing enough not to publicise her son’s condition.
But she certainly didn’t want someone who would embarrass the Lowell family either.
The moment Isabelle noticed Mrs.
Lowell’s softened expression, her confidence soared.
After all, Evelyn was her daughter.
Compared to Norbright’s so-called socialities, her daughter was clearly in a league of her own.
“Yes,” Isabelle said proudly, “She’s Evelyn.” Mrs.
Lowell’s voice warmed noticeably.
“Please, have a seat.” While the two mothers exchanged pleasantries, Evelyn’s attention drifted toward Matthias.
He was dressed in a black button-down shirt.
His long legs were hidden beneath a light blanket draped over his wheelchair.
The instant her gaze lingered on his legs, the hand resting on his knee tightened almost imperceptibly.
His expression, however, remained calm and unreadable.
When their eyes met, Evelyn didn’t look away.
Instead, she offered him a small, polite smile.
“He is exactly the same as before.” She thought.
Cold.
Intimidating.
Even sitting in a wheelchair, he had a presence that dominated the room.
For a brief moment, neither looked away.
Then Mrs.
Lowell invited everyone to sit.
The conversation quickly became dominated by Isabelle, who enthusiastically praised Evelyn from every possible angle, clearly afraid that the Lowells might change their mind.
Mrs.
Lowell was certainly impressed by Evelyn’s appearance.
What she didn’t like was Isabelle’s desperate eagerness to sell her daughter.
The meeting felt less like a gathering between two families and more like a sales pitch.
My son’s condition already puts him at a disadvantage.
Mrs.
Lowell thought.
Yet Isabelle is practically devaluing her own daughter.
The message was obvious.
As long as Evelyn married into the Lowell Family, Isabelle didn’t seem particularly concerned about whether her daughter would be respected afterwards.
Mrs.
Lowell had little respect for that kind of mother.
Meanwhile, the two people whose marriage was actually being discussed remained largely silent.
The lively atmosphere came entirely from their mother.
Eventually, Mrs.
Lowell decided to speak directly to Evelyn.
“Miss Ashford, your mother mentioned you graduated from Crestview Medical School?” The question was more out of concern than curiosity.
The answer mattered to her.
If Evelyn truly had a medical background, she would be far better equipped to care for Matthias.
The moment the question was asked, Isabelle tensed.
Terrified that Evelyn would contradict her, she discreetly pinched her beneath the table.
At least she thought it was discreet.
Both Mrs.
Lowell and Matthias noticed immediately.
Mrs.
Lowell’s brows slightly drew together, whilst Matthias’s expression remained unchanged.
Evelyn calmly set down her fork and dabbed her lips with a napkin before answering.
“No.” Mrs.
Lowell blinked.
Across the table, Isabelle’s face nearly turned green.
This girl really is impossible!
Does she have any idea what she’s doing!
Anger surged through Isabella.
Just as Isabelle was frantically trying to think of a way to salvage the situation, Evelyn continued.
“I graduated from Northgate University.” Isabelle stared at her in disbelief.
Evelyn, meanwhile, looked perfectly composed.
For a moment, Isabelle nearly choked.
Pretending Evelyn had attended Crestview had already been difficult.
Now she was claiming to have graduated from Northgate University?
Did she think everyone else was stupid?
Did she even realize how outrageous that sounded?
Mrs.
Lowell was equally surprised.
Her gaze shifted from Evelyn to Isabelle.
Suddenly, everything made a little more sense, and the deepening crease between her brows said it all.
Across the table, Matthias glanced at Evelyn.
She met his gaze and smiled again.
It wasn’t a dazzling smile.
It was gentle, warm.
The kind of smile that naturally puts people at ease.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, something inside Matthias relaxed.
He was the first to look away.
His brows remained faintly furrowed.
It wasn’t her credentials that bothered him.
It was that smile.
“Graduating from Northgate University is certainly…
impressive.” Mrs.
Lowell said evenly.
Much of her earlier warmth had disappeared.
In truth, impressive was an understatement.
A graduate of Northgate University would be considered exceptional anywhere.
Calling it impressive was almost modest.
Beside her, Isabelle forced out an awkward laugh as she realized Mrs.
Lowell had seen through the lie.
“Right, of course.
She’s so accomplished that I got confused.
I must have mixed up her school with Grace’s university.” The explanation only made the silence at the table more uncomfortable.
Sensing the atmosphere deteriorating, Mrs.
Lowell decided to move things along.
“I’m very pleased with Evelyn.
And I’m sure Matthias feels the same.
As for the marriage agreement between our families—” “Mom.” Matthias’s voice cut through the room, interrupting her mid-sentence.