*****All the D-rank family members remained utterly stupefied for a long moment, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.It was so unbelievable that many of them found themselves questioning reality, wondering what kind of figure could make so many influential people lose their composure so thoroughly.‘Even when the patriarchs of other C-rank families arrived, nobody reacted this way,’ one of the patriarchs thought with a deep frown, his gaze staying fixed on the C-rank section, where excitement continued to spread like wildfire.Every person watched the entrance with eager anticipation, their eyes fixed on it as though an extraordinary being was about to appear.And it wasn't only this patriarch who felt this way.Nearly every person occupying the D-rank section shared the same confusion, and so, the atmosphere became increasingly strange.Questions piled up, curiosity burned, and the mystery only grew heavier with every passing second, until suddenly…“Wait

*****Mason finally saw Kelly, and instantly, every trace of smugness and arrogance on his face vanished, replaced with something far uglier.His eyes lit up with naked greed and swept across Kelly from head to toe without the slightest attempt to hide what he was thinking.It was as though he had just discovered a priceless treasure that already belonged to him.“Honey, won't you come welcome your hubby?” he called out shamelessly, licking his lips.Hearing this, nearly every mouth instantly fell open.Their gazes shifted from Mason to Kelly, from Kelly to Mason, and then toward the Matriarch, their eyes brimming with confusion, shock, and disbelief.However, right at that moment…“You hear your fiancé, don't you?” The Matriarch's cold, emotionless voice echoed through the room.Kelly froze, unable to react for a second, then…“Fiancé?” she finally blurted out. “Since when?”However, just as that question left her mouth…“Preposterous!” Oakley snapped, her face twisting with fury as

*****The current didn't merely settle over the hall… it crushed down on it, the weight of Kelly's announcement seeming to press against every person present.For several long moments, nobody spoke or moved.In fact, some people forgot to breathe, all of them staring blankly at her as though she had spoken a different language.‘Married?’ The word echoed repeatedly through their minds. ‘How?’For more than two minutes, no one made a single meaningful reaction, then…“What... did you just say?” Maggie suddenly snapped, her voice frighteningly cold.Without even realizing it, any trace of the charitable smile she had always worn vanished so completely it seemed never to have existed, replaced by a far less pleasant expression.“Married?” Oliver blurted out, his expression twisted. “How?”Every gaze instantly focused intently on Kelly, all of them waiting to hear the answer.But just at that moment…"Hahahaha!" An abrupt burst of hysterical laughter echoed through the space, so loud and

*****Everyone stared blankly at Maggie for a moment, none of them expecting such a suggestion.Then, several family leaders who had already planned to betroth their own descendants to Mason felt their expression darken.Some felt disappointed while others were furious.Meanwhile, Oliver, Oakley, the Matriarch, and even Mason only paused briefly before turning toward Maggie almost in unison.Then their eyes brightened instantly.'She's my mother for a reason!' Oliver and Oakley thought at the same time, their eyes practically shining with admiration.Even the Matriarch’s gaze softened noticeably as she looked at Maggie. 'What would I ever do without your wisdom, daughter-in-law?'The more she looked at Maggie, the more satisfied she became.As for Mason...Up until now, he hadn't reacted much… not because he couldn't, but because he hadn't anticipated Kelly getting married.The revelation had blindsided him completely.He had spent the past few minutes trying to make sense of it all w

*****Everyone continued staring blankly at Nicholas for several seconds, then, as though controlled by a single entity, they all turned toward Oakley.Nobody spoke, but the looks on their faces alone were already louder than any words.‘That's actually a good question.’‘Since you find Young Master Mason so perfect, why aren't you volunteering to marry him instead?’‘Moreover, given Young Master Mason’s background, why would your family not betroth you to him instead of an illegitimate child?’The questions practically leapt from their eyes and slammed into Oakley's mind one after another.Seeing those… her confident expression instantly cracked.Then it shattered.“I... what... what are you talking about?” she shot back, panic creeping into her voice.For the first time tonight, she appeared flustered.“Why... why would I want to marry him?”The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. But it was already late.Nicholas instantly smirked.“Oh?” he replied. “Why can’