Neither Debra nor Marion had brought the necessary papers.


    On the way back, Marion''s face remained dark and brooding.


    Debra stole a few nces at him. "You didn''t know you needed identification documents to get married?"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Marion shifted ufortably in his seat. "I didn''t have any experience."


    If he had known earlier that getting married required certain documents, he would have carried them with him every day.


    Debra couldn''t suppress herughter. It bubbled out of her, filling the car with a light, airy sound that contrasted sharply with Marion''s mood.


    Perhaps feeling stung by herughter, Marion suddenly turned the car around.


    Shocked, Debra grasped the door handle to steady herself. "Marion, what are you doing?"


    "Going home," he replied tersely.


    He meant the Houston Mansion.


    When the two of them arrived at the study room hand in hand, Caleb was tending to the nts.


    The watering can in his hand was suspended mid-air. He echoed, his voice filled with disbelief, "Marriage? Now?"


    After a moment, he put down the can and walked over to Marion. Without hesitation, Caleb swung at him.


    However, due to the height difference, he couldn''t reach Marion''s head, so he smacked him on the shoulder instead. Thumping his cane on the ground for emphasis, Caleb grumbled, "You treat marriage like it''s nothing." Debra hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Marion was just talking. I..."


    "Don''t chime in," Caleb interrupted her, his voice stern as he red at Marion. "Marriage is a big deal. Did you propose properly? Did she even agree to marry you? Have you sent betrothal gifts? Have you prepared an engagement banquet? Set th


    date for the wedding? You can''t expect her to marry you With no preparation."


    Debra was stunned. She had thought he was against their marriage, but now she realized it wasn''t the case at all. He simply wanted them to do things properly.


    "Kid, your skills at wooing girls are nowhere near as good as your dad''s," Caleb added.


    Marion thought for a moment. "I''ve already transferred all my assets to Debra, and I proposed long ago. She said yes."


    He gently lifted Debra''s hand, showing the ring on her finger.


    Caleb nced at the ring but wasn''t impressed. "That''s your personal property. Did you include our family in the discussion? Did you inform me? No? Then you two better get lost and don''t even think about registering your marriage until I''ve prepared a proper engagement banquet."


    He leaned in closer to Debra,


    lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Legally, there are differences in how pre-marital and post-marital assets are divided. If you have the wedding first and registerter, all


    those gifts will be our


    pre-marital assets. Marion won''t get a penny, sweetheart, and you could pocket quite a bit."


    Debraughed, casting a nce at Marion. Marion, unfazed by Caleb''s antics, said, "That''s right. And since the engagement is between the


    Houston and Frazier families, all my money is already in Debra''s hands.


    As for the gifts and wedding


    expenses, I''ll leave that to you, Grandpa."


    Caleb puffed out his chest. "What''s the big deal? Do you think I''m stingy about spending money? We''ll make it grand."