Matthew frowned. Martin seemed to have bought into Brandon''s words, which couldplicate things.


    "Mr. Carter, please let me exin. He attacked me first. I had to defend myself," Matthew exined.


    Martin''s expression remained stern. "Why would he attack first? Clearly, he saw something suspicious in you. Now, tell me, where is your family from?"


    Rachel tried to intervene. "Dad, I''ve already told you about Matthew. Why are you asking again?"


    Martin shot her a re. "Be quiet!"


    "Okay..." Rachel then fell silent, frowning. Her eyes were filled with concern.


    Matthew had no choice but to answer, "My family lives in Silverbrook Vige, located in the Brackenridge district of Lambda City."


    "Silverbrook Vige?" Martin raised an eyebrow with a hint of disdain. "A rural vige?"


    Matthew nodded. "Yes, a rural vige."


    Disgust shed across Martin''s face. "A country boy, huh? No wonder you''re so aggressive."


    Martin shook his head in disappointment and turned abruptly to Rachel. "I''ve told you before, Rachel! You should only date someone from Khoitwood. No one from outside Khoitwood, especially not some country bumpkin!" Ignoring Matthew, Martin strode off into the courtyard.


    Yvonne hesitated before speaking. She nced sympathetically at Matthew and sighed, then followed Martin.


    Rachel came up to Matthew and whispered, "Don''t be upset. Let''s go in."


    Matthew''s expression darkened. He had never felt ashamed of his roots, but Martin''s disapproving words had hit a nerve.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    But since Rachel insisted, Matthew followed her quietly.


    As he stepped into the courtyard, Martin whirled around, shouting, "Who said you coulde in?"


    Matthew stood frozen, struggling to contain his anger. He had been tolerant, but being denied entry was thest straw. He turned and walked away.


    Martin sneered. "You think someone like you can just walk into the Carter residence? Dream on!"


    Brandon watched as Matthew got kicked out. He felt like the pain he was in was worth it. After all, disrupting Rachel''s marriage would earn him a reward from Quinn.


    Rachel panicked as Matthew walked away. Fred had instructed her to solidify her rtionship with Matthew, but Martin had driven him out.


    "Dad, Matthew wasn''t the one who made the first move. It was Grandpa and me who visited his ce to propose."


    Martin''s eyes gasped in shock. Fred would never lower himself to ask for someone''s hand in marriage. Who was this Matthew, really? Realizing he couldn''t undermine Fred''s n, Martin called out, "Hey! Wait... Matthew! Don''t leave. Come back; I need to talk to you." Matthew halted, but his expression remained cold. "What is it?"


    He couldn''t shake off the feeling of being unwee, and he wasn''t going to pretend everything was fine by putting on a friendly facade.