Nina had the urge to turn around and ask Karen, but she held back.
The sensation in the palm of her hand kept reminding her to stay calm and not argue with Karen.
If she could not suppress her emotions and let her pride be torn apart now, there would be no need to
have this meal.
Even though Old Master Mallory did not give Nina a friendly look, he could be trying to improve his
rtionship with Percy through this meal. She could not ruin that.
Nina took a deep breath and pretended not to hear what Karen said.
Percy gave Karen a warning look.
Karen was startled for a moment. In the past few days whenever she intentionally caused trouble for
Nina, Percy would re at her that way.
However, her mind was upied with Pierre''s matter. Thus, she did not pay close attention to the
meaning behind Percy''s looks.
This marked the first moment Karen locked eyes with Percy''s cautionden gaze. She felt a mixture of
fear and annoyance. What did he mean?
She was his mother!
Yet, he was warning her for the sake of another woman?
Karen was displeased. She was on the verge of exploding.
Percy walked over to the dining table, pulled out a chair for Nina, and gestured for her to sit.
Nina nodded. After she sat down, she kept her eyes on him.
Percy sat beside her. Old Master Mallory took the seat of honor.
Karen sat opposite Percy. She felt ufortable seeing how attentive Percy was to Nina.
It was not jealousy she felt, but rather a feeling that Nina did not match up to Percy at all. Hence, she
found it ring when she saw them getting along well.
Karen was about to say something, but she noticed Old Master Mallory was giving her a warning look
when he grew aware of her actions.
Karen had no choice but to awkwardly close her mouth.
Mr. Be and the chef served the prepared dishes on the table, all of which were what they would
have daily. They did not prepare anything particrly extravagant just because Percy had brought Nina
back.
Old Master Mallory did not give any special instructions. The chef thought it would be better not to take
matters into her own hands.
Still, the food the Mallory family usually ate was much morevish than the meals of an ordinary
household.
Nina, however, was not one to be easily deceived. She noticed the dishes on the table and understood
that she was not receiving any special treatment from the Mallory family. This meant that Old Master
Mallory asking Percy to bring her back for this meal did not necessarily mean he had approved of her
as his granddaughter-inw.
Nina did not have much appetite for this meal.
Even though Percy constantly offered her more food, Nina felt the food was vorless.
After dinner, Percy noticed Old Master Mallory had not said anything yet. He said, "Grandpa, I''m going
back if there''s nothing else."
"Where are you going?" Old Master Mallory finally spoke, having been silent throughout the meal.
"Back home." Percy''s hand reached under the table, where it tightly intertwined with Nina''s hand.
Wherever she was, that would be his home.
Old Master Mallory''s weathered eyes looked up. They were still sharp despite his age, and his gaze
swept across Nina''s face.
Nina did not flinch while the old master sized her up. She returned the gaze and seemed to understand
what Old Master Mallory was thinking—''What an ordinary woman.''
She was ordinary, but Percy loved her...
Nina''s heart tightened. Before she could even gather her thoughts, Old Master Mallory spoke, "This is
your home."
Percy slightly furrowed his brows. He did not retort. After all, Mallory Manor was where he grew up. It
was perfectly eptable to call it his home. However, this was not the right time to discuss this issue.
He asked Old Master Mallory directly, "Grandpa, if you have something to say, please go ahead."
"Have you two gotten married?" Old Master Mallory asked straightforwardly without beating about the
bush.
Percy held Nina''s hand and ced it on the table. "Yes. Nina and I have already tied the knot. We''re
legally recognized as a married couple."
"Hmph." Old Master Mallory let out a cold snort through his nostrils, expressing both dissatisfaction and
mockery.
Nina could feel her face burning.
Was a marriage recognized and protected by thew considered so unworthy in the eyes of the old
master?
"It may be legally recognized, but your mother and I won''t acknowledge it. Well, I can see that you
won''t be separated for the time being," Old Master Mallory said slowly, his gaze falling on their tightly
sped hands. How could a marriage that was just done on a whim possiblyst forever?
It seemed that the Mallory family had a penchant for wandering hearts, even though Percy had not
shown it yet.
Percy remained silent, waiting for the old master to continue with his words.
Karen, on the other hand, could no longer sit still. Without waiting for Old Master Mallory''s next
sentence, she immediately interjected, "I won''t acknowledge this son if they don''t break up!"
Percy listened without uttering a word.
Old Master Mallory gave Karen a stern look, ming her for interrupting him.
Nina lowered her gaze. Even though the old master said that they were inseparable at the moment,
she knew there was more he wanted to say.
"But even if you won''t separate, I don''t believe your rtionship willst. I heard that you n to have a
wedding? I don''t agree to it," continued Old Master Mallory.
Getting married legally was one thing, but having a wedding was a deration to the world.
If Percy listened to what this woman said and organized a wedding, they would have to announce a
divorce to everyone in the future too. The Mallory family could not afford to lose face like that.
Even when Old Master Mallory''s son initially wanted to divorce Karen, he intervened and stopped him.
After all, the Mallory family could not be like the Crawford family. He had a hand in his son''s marriage.
Now, to outsiders, it would appear that the couple''s marriage was characterized by physical separation
rather than emotional rupture.
It was a matter of preserving the family''s reputation.
Percy finally understood what Old Master Mallory had in mind. He did not want them to have a
wedding. Even if they were legally married, without a grand wedding, it would signify that Nina was not
valued by the Mallory family.
Percy did not really care whether outsiders perceive Nina as being valued by the Mallory family.
He wanted to give Nina a grand wedding to show the world that she was cherished and adored by him.
The woman he loved deserved the best in the world.
"The wedding won''t be canceled," Percy did not even pretend to agree. He expressed his
determination to proceed with the wedding.
Old Master Mallory''s face turned unpleasantly red with anger.
"Percy, will you only be at ease when you make me mad?" Old Master Mallory mmed the table with
hisrge palm, causing the marble dining table to tremble slightly.
The old master was seething with anger.
Mr. Be immediately came forward and said in a low voice, "Old Master Mallory, please don''t get
upset."
Old Master Mallory paid a lot of attention to his health and took care of himself well. He had a much
better physical condition than other men of his age. Still, he did have some age-rted health issues.
This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
Getting angry was the greatest taboo for elders. Mr. Be was afraid Old Master Mallory would be
driven to such fury by Percy that his blood vessels would burst.
As Karen watched Old Master Mallory''s face turning red, she enigmatically said, "Father, your threats
won''t work. Percy has already been lured by a seductress. He won''t listen to anyone. The more you try
to stop him, the more rebellious he''ll be."
Mr. Be was exasperated. Old Master Mallory was already upset, yet Karen was adding fuel to the
fire.
Before Old Master Mallory could say anything, Percy said, "Grandpa, it doesn''t matter if you don''t
acknowledge Nina. She''s my wife, the person I love the most in my entire life. So, I won''t give her any
less than what she deserves."