Lily Lee smiled slightly and said, "So here’s the thing, Shaw, your dad has a business friend who’s closely related to the Rhodes Family. They have a son who’s twenty-six this year, and he’s quite the..."
Hearing this, Susan Wilde finally understood the reason this family called her back, and she interrupted Lily Lee’s words: "Auntie, thank you for your kind intentions, but I don’t have any plans to get married just yet."
Lily Lee glanced at Wayne Wilde, and Wayne Wilde said, "Shaw, you see, your dad’s company has been around for many years now. Though it’s been quite stable, there’s limited room for growth. This Shawn, while not a direct heir to the Rhodes Family, is still closely related. If our two families become associated with the Quinn Family, we can bask in some of the Rhodes Family’s glory."
"So Dad, this is the reason you called me back?"
"Shaw, Dad knows he’s let you and your sister down over the years, and made you suffer. This decision wasn’t made lightly; I agreed only after thorough consideration. I don’t want to gamble your life away either; I wish for your wellbeing."
Susan Wilde sneered silently.
Lily Lee added fuel to the fire: "Before, you insisted on being with that person named Owen, but he just used our Wilde Family. Now his company is even bigger than ours, and he kicked you out to the curb. If you had listened to Auntie and your dad earlier, things wouldn’t have turned out this way."
"Yeah, Shaw, before, Dad respected your opinion and allowed you to be with the Owen guy because I wanted you to be happy. But I didn’t expect it to turn out this way. Now you’re twenty-three, not quite that young anymore, just let go of the past. He’s already married now."
"This Shawn is not an ordinary rich boy; he’s very capable at work and quite handsome. Many women want to marry him but can’t. You’d only enjoy a fortunate life marrying him."
Susan Wilde had long since grown accustomed to their coercion. No matter how capable this Shawn might be, her resistance was not aimed at him but against aligning with this family’s wishes.
Why throw her out when she’s not needed, only to force her to do what’s beneficial for them now that she’s deemed valuable?
"Sorry, I’m saying the same thing: I’m not looking to marry so soon."
Wayne Wilde negotiated, saying, "Shaw, how about tomorrow I invite the Rhodes Family over and you can meet them before deciding?"
"There’s no need; tomorrow my sister and I will be leaving."
Susan Wilde stood up to leave. Lily Lee also rose, shouting fiercely at her back, "Susan Wilde, I’ll leave it at this today: If you don’t marry, then I’ll make your sister marry instead!"
Upon hearing this, Susan Wilde was visibly stunned, turning to look at Wayne Wilde. Her biological father did not utter a word to contradict, seemingly tacitly agreeing with Lily Lee’s approach.
Susan Wilde sneered, "Dad, is this your idea too?"
Wayne Wilde sighed, saying, "Shaw, just be obedient."
"My sister hasn’t even turned eighteen after the new year, and yet you agree to this woman’s approach?!"
Lily Lee laughed, "What approach of mine? The choice is in your hands. Discuss with her who among you should marry. If you don’t, I’ll bind that girl and send her to the Rhodes Family!"
Susan Wilde knew this wasn’t an empty threat from Lily Lee, but something she would indeed do.
Iris just turned eighteen, her studies unfinished, and Susan knew Iris had always liked her teacher. Lily Lee was banking on her concern for her sister to present such a choice.
Susan Wilde paused, returned to the sofa, looked at Wayne Wilde, and negotiated, "What benefits do I get if I marry?"
"Benefits? You should thank me and your dad for enjoying a fortunate life marrying into the Rhodes Family!"
Susan Wilde smirked, "Marrying is for the Wilde Family’s business, and the business doesn’t concern me much."
Lily Lee opened her mouth to scold her, but Wayne Wilde stopped and asked Susan Wilde, "What are your thoughts?"
"Not asking for much, just five percent of the company’s shares."
Before Susan Wilde’s words were settled, Lily Lee fiercely opposed: "Dream on!"
Wayne Wilde, however, gestured for Lily Lee to calm down, silent for two seconds before nodding in agreement, "Fine, I agree."
Wayne Wilde ignored Lily Lee and addressed Susan Wilde, "Why don’t you go rest upstairs for now and prepare for tomorrow when you meet the Rhodes Family."
Susan Wilde replied no more and turned to go upstairs.
Faintly, she overheard Lily Lee saying, "You’re doing this on purpose, you still care for the child from you and that woman, and even give her company shares!"
Wayne Wilde comforted, "The alliance with the Rhodes Family won’t just earn you back that five percent; making her marry is worth this small cost."
It seemed that after weighing the gains and losses, Lily Lee had nothing more to say.
Susan Wilde returned to her room, told her sister nothing, feeling like she was merely guarding her sister now. Iris was in her senior year, preparing for her ideal university exams, and Susan didn’t want these trivial matters to disturb Iris.
On the next day, people from the Rhodes Family arrived, yet the groom-to-be was absent.
Only Shawn Rhodes’ parents came, and they simply explained that Shawn couldn’t be there due to an overseas business trip.
Shawn Rhodes’ parents inquired about Susan Wilde’s situation and were quite satisfied with her.
Susan Wilde showed little emotion, as her hope for love had vanished the moment Owen Bellamy betrayed her. Hence, she invested little emotion into this arranged marriage—it was simply a matter of mutual benefits.
Between her and the Wilde Family, the Wilde Family and the Rhodes Family.
The elders of both families then decided upon a wedding date in early April, without consulting the two people directly involved.
Susan Wilde thought perhaps Shawn Rhodes was in the same situation as her, merely a pawn in their parents’ transaction. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on ⓝovelFire.net
Landon Sutton initially said he’d return by the second day of the new year, but due to family issues, he couldn’t get away until the fifth.
The physical conditions of Shannon Quinn still didn’t allow her much activity or exertion, but she could manage short outings.
Though usually quite homebound, staying indoors for so long prompted her desire to explore outside.
Landon Sutton always wanted Shannon Quinn to visit a particular place, but Leo hadn’t started school yet, making private outings challenging.
Thus, during this period, their focus remained primarily centered around the child, with outings planned based on what Leo enjoyed.
Shannon Quinn had visited places like amusement parks with Leo many times before, yet with Landon Sutton accompanying them, everything felt freshly exciting.
Leo grew more child-like, behaving like other kids, occasionally even acting a little spoiled with Landon Sutton’s indulgence. With Landon around, his legs seemed to stop working as he requested either piggybacks or to be carried. Landon Sutton would spoil Leo, fulfilling nearly all of his desires so long as he was happy.
Shannon Quinn began worrying that Landon Sutton’s indulgence might spoil Leo.