A few moments earlier…


    "Sir, Mister Old ck is expecting you to be in his office."


    Den had just arrived at his parents'' house when his father''s assistant, who had been working at his father''s side, approached him.


    "I understand."


    Den instantly marched up to the second floor, where his father''s reading room was located. After knocking on the door and getting permission, Den went inside and neared his father''s desk, who was currently seriously reading a document.


    "I heard you''re looking for me?"


    "Ah, you have arrived. It seems that your mother was fond of the youngdy of the Zouch family. Your mother urged me to tie you into marriage immediately. What do you think about this?"


    "What do I think?"


    "You have never shown interest in the opposite sex before. You have never brought a girl home either, even though you know your mother wants to see you settle down. So far, you have always firmly refused every girl that your mother arranged for you. But I haven''t seen you reject this arranged marriage with this young girl. Do you like her?"


    Den smiled softly as Kaylee''s smiling face towards him appeared on his head. Mister Old ck noticed that very rare smile on his son and knew right away that his son already was smitten by the youngdy Zouch.


    "More than that. I don''t know how much I will like her. All I know, my feelings for her are growing day by day to the point of no turning back. I love her."


    "So you want to marry her?"


    Den nodded his head once in response to his father''s question. "But I don''t want to rush down our marriage. She''s just getting used to our intimacy. I don''t want to scare her off."


    Mister Old ck chuckled at his son''s words. "I don''t know whether I should be happy or worried that you finally find love. If only that girl weren''t from the Zouch family, I wouldn''t have worried."


    Den paused while digesting his father''s words. Why does he feel that his father is worried about making the Zouch family his inw?


    "Did something happen?"


    Mister Old ck handed Den the document he just read.


    At first, Den was puzzled why his father gave the document, but when he read its contents, his forehead frowned, showing displeasure.


    "Why are you investigating her background?"


    "This is the first time your mother has insisted on making someone her daughter-inw. Of course, I have to check the girl."


    "Kaylee is a good girl."


    "You wouldn''t say that when you read all the documents."


    "…"


    Den turned to the second sheet and saw a photo there that surprised him. Then he read the whole thing until he came across the words ''ssified.''


    "This…"


    "I don''t know whether youngdy Zouch is a good girl or not. But we both know the Zouch family was not your ordinary one. Den, think carefully. Do you want to get involved with this family? If you''re going to y and have a temporary rtionship, I''ll close my eyes and let it slide. But marriage is not something simple. You know that."


    "…" Den read all the writing concerning Kaylee and her family, then smiled faintly. "Dad, how did you feel when you met mother?"


    Mister Old ck raised an eyebrow at his son''s question.


    "Didn''t I tell you before? Your mother is everything to me. I will not be able to breathe without..." he stopped when he realized the meaning of his son''s question. "Den, you..."


    Den smiled softly at his father. "I don''t care what Kaylee''s past is like or her true identity. I love her because she is her."


    Mister Old ck looked straight into his son''s eyes and did not find the slightest hesitation from the pair of eagle-like eyes. In the next second, the man who was having his sixtieth birthday chuckled at the seriousness and determination his son had.


    "Fine, if that''s what you want. As long as you''re happy."


    "Thank you. But… can you not investigate your future inw''s family background? Don''t you want to have a daughter? Your prospective daughter is charming and also innocent."


    "Is she now? I can''t wait to see her tonight. I promise I won''t look into her again."


    Den smiled with satisfaction at that, and after chatting for a while, Den decided to rest in his room.


    However, just as he finished changing clothes, he heard his phone rang. His forehead frowned slightly when he saw the unknown row of numbers. Who contacted him?


    "Hello?"


    "Hello, Mister ck. This is Kaylee''s mother speaking."


    Den immediately changed his voice to be friendly and polite in response to his future mother-inw''s greeting.


    Den ached to take a short nap because yesterday he was workingte to finish his pending work. He wanted to make time to be with Kaylee and ignoring some unfinished assignments. Hence, he finished it all in one go yesterday when he didn''t meet his charming princess.


    But when Mrs. Zouch asked him to pick up Kaylee and apany the girl until tonight''s event, Den happily epted.


    That''s why he immediately went back to the shopping mall, which his future mother-inw told. Miraculously, his tiredness vanished in an instant when he saw Kaylee''s fairy-like beautiful face.


    "Good day, Mrs. Zouch." greeted Den politely when he came face to face with the two of them.


    "Why, hello, Den. I''m d you can make it today."


    Den? Since when did her mother start calling the man by his name? Since when did the two of them be close?! Kaylee frowned in bewilderment.


    "Pleasure is mine."


    "Well, I''m afraid I''ll bete. Enjoy your date." Mrs. Zouched gave a quick wink to her daughter, making Kaylee couldn''t help but feel embarrassed.


    Mother, why did you leave your daughter alone?? Obviously, only Kaylee could hear her grievances.


    And again, why did her mother feel one hundred percent sure that she would date Den? Why did she feel that everyone in this world felt sure Kaylee would be Den''s wife??


    Is she no longer able to run away? Does she have to ept the fact that her mother and Den have imed that she would be that man''s wife-to-be?


    "Kaylee, have you eaten?"


    Kaylee shook her head while clutching her stomach, which now echoed, demanding to be fed. Earlier, Kaylee had persuaded her mother to stop by a restaurant because she was already feeling hungry. Instead, her mother carried her around as if the energetic woman didn''t realize her only daughter was starving.


    Wait a minute. Was it possible that her mother had postponed their lunchtime on purpose, knowing that Den was on his way here?


    Instantly Kaylee''s face became sullen, realizing her mother''s hidden n. She loved her mother and never wanted to disappoint her. But sometimes, Kaylee hoped that her mother would stop controlling her life.


    "Kaylee?" called Den to break her trance.


    "Not yet." Was the short reply from the not-so-good mood girl.


    Den realized his beloved mood wasn''t in a fine state. He decided to take the girl to the ice cream shop and order chocte ice cream.


    As expected, Kaylee''s mood was enlivened when she saw a row of ice creams with different vors.


    "Hm… we should buy some ice creamter. I''m worried you will get sick if you eat ice cream on an empty stomach."


    "Eh?" Kaylee looked at Den with a disappointed look and, at the same time, hoped that the man could understand what she was thinking.


    Of course, Den knew what his innocent lover wanted, but he was purposely act oblivious and gave no reaction. He wanted to do whatever pleased Kaylee at the same time, he wanted her to voice her heart''s desire.


    "What''s the matter? Do you want to eat ice cream now orter?"


    Kaylee wanted to answer ''now,'' but if she went along with this guy''s scheming trap, wouldn''t that mean Kaylee was willing to join the man''s game?


    She decided to turn it down, but it felt like she saw the ice cream have an arm and waved at her. If only the ice cream line had a mouth and could speak, Kaylee felt sure that the ice cream piles wouldpete with each other for her attention.


    Kaylee swallowed hard before she finally gave in to her own desire. Which girl can resist chocte ice cream? Especially Kaylee, who has a sweet tooth and ice cream fan.


    But she was too embarrassed to confess in front of the man, so she just reached for the end of that man''s coat and said, "I want it now."


    Kaylee lowered her head while her other hand pressed against her chest to relieve her rocket-fast pounding heart. The innocent girl did not know this action capable of stealing a certain heart for the umpteenth time, and Den almost lost control and attack her on the spot.


    Why does he find it more and more challenging to keep his hand to himself every time he witnesses the reaction of this irresistible, adorable, lovely girl?