The May weather is warm and pleasant.
The Sutton Family's entrance is piled high with numerous gift boxes wrapped in red silk, leaving no space to step.
In the main seat of the living room is an elderly woman with silver hair, wearing a dark green handmade embroidered cheongsam, gently counting Buddha beads made of purple sandalwood, her expression kindly. Beside her sits a dignified and graceful noblewoman.
Today is the day the Astor Family comes to propose to the Sutton Family.
The proposal is specifically for the Crown Prince Sebastian Astor, who currently lies unconscious for half a month due to a hidden illness, to marry the elder daughter of the Sutton Family—Clara Sutton, whose fate aligns with his.
"Patriarch Sutton and Mrs. Sutton, take a look to see if there's anything missing from the betrothal gift list." Mrs. Astor set down her teacup, pushed the red brocade box towards Ian Sutton, smiling amiably with a gentle, aged voice.
Ian Sutton picked up the Xuan paper as large as a book from the brocade box, his gaze slowly moving down, a slight tremble in his hand, the greed and excitement in his eyes apparent.
Beside him, Bess Seed, who maintained a dignified and elegant smile, couldn't help but lean over curiously to take a look at the gift list catalog, only to be stunned speechless by the first line of numbers.
One billion.
The bride price alone is one billion.
Truly deserving of being the most prestigious family in the Imperial Capital; when they make a move, it's truly astounding.
Clara Sutton sat calmly nearby, the corners of her mouth holding a barely perceptible arc of sarcasm, sipping on her red tea as her clear and serene almond eyes briefly glanced over Mrs. Astor.
She looked at the bright yellow aura surrounding her, briefly lowered her gaze, and retracted her sight.
Bright yellow aura signifies brightness and longevity.
"Madam, isn't this betrothal gift a bit much?" Ian Sutton recovered from his shock, feigning hesitation.
"Hehe, not at all. Clara is a beautifully charming child; we simply adore her. I'm afraid of not treating her well enough with these gifts!" Ada Brooks replied with a radiant smile, displaying the poise of a noble lady, her voice gentle and clear.
"Mrs. Astor, how could that be? To be in your and Madam's favor is the fortune accumulated by Clara over several lifetimes; it's certainly no mistreatment." Bess Seed interjected with a smile, her expression greedy, struggling to contain her inner excitement.
Clara Sutton cast a sidelong glance at Bess Seed's hypocritical face, inwardly mocking coldly.
"Then, shall we set a date for the two children to get engaged first, or should we proceed directly to the wedding?"
Ian Sutton, overflowing with emotions, set down the gift list, speaking sincerely, his eyes filled with savvy calculation.
"Wedding."
A cold voice abruptly broke out.
Clara Sutton raised her eyelids slightly, looking at Mrs. Astor and Ada Brooks: "What does Madam think?"
Ian Sutton and Bess Seed's faces fell upon hearing this. Marrying into a family like the Astor Family would undoubtedly entail a grand engagement, allowing them to connect with many distinguished families, followed by a wedding, with significant benefits not to be underestimated.
They had only intended to make polite conversation, harboring desires to start with an engagement.
"In that case, how about this Friday? It's a good day for a wedding. What do Patriarch Sutton and Mrs. Sutton think?" Mrs. Astor was silent for a moment, her weathered eyes wandering over Clara Sutton, smiling as she asked.
"Yes, yes, Madam's chosen date must be good, so let's settle it." Ian Sutton gritted his teeth in agreement, his expression dim.
Bess Seed pressed her lips together, glaring sharply at Clara Sutton with malice.
The little bastard, saying nothing when she should speak, speaking wildly when she shouldn't, deliberately going against her.
Infuriating.
——
After the meeting ended, Ian Sutton kept the elderly woman and Ada Brooks for lunch, but they left shortly after.
In the study.
"Who told you to say directly to marry? Do you know what Sebastian Astor's identity is? How grand a scene it would be to marry into the Astor Family, stirring the entire Imperial Capital? Now, thanks to your word 'marry,' our Sutton Family missed the chance to stand at the peak of the Imperial Capital."
Upon entering, Ian Sutton was furious, his angry voice almost deafening.
Clara Sutton gazed at him calmly, his face flushed with anger, gently curling her lips: "So, in Father's eyes, that one billion is still not enough. Why not increase the stakes in front of Mrs. Astor just now? I think, even if you ask for another one billion, given the Astor Family's power, they could undoubtedly afford it, and would certainly give it."
"You..."
Ian Sutton was livid, slamming the desk heavily, causing the teacup on the desk to shake violently: "Clara Sutton, your attitude when talking to me is becoming more and more audacious and rude. Do you think everything I'm doing is not for whom? It's all for the future of the Sutton Family!"
Clara Sutton sneered, her eyes contemptuous and lazy: "Father is truly laboring for the Sutton Family, silently letting little sister take my boyfriend for the family, letting me marry Sebastian Astor, also for the family, truly exhausting you."
"Slap—"
At the end of the sentence, a crisp slap echoed in the study.
The tense atmosphere gradually became oppressive.
"Presumptuous."
Perhaps Clara Sutton's tone made Ian Sutton feel his authority as the head of the household was being challenged, prompting Ian Sutton to roar in shame and anger, his finger trembling as he pointed at her.
"You are increasingly disregarding me as your father, daring to speak to me like this. I painstakingly raised you, only for you to argue with me?"
Clara Sutton's cheek was slightly numb, her expression dazed, compared to a month ago during the argument about Alexia Sutton stealing her boyfriend, this slap was truly unexpected.
Ian Sutton's act of father-daughter deep affection for eighteen years, now, seemed entirely shattered.
Indeed, lived a new life, one can truly discern many things.
That raging fire from the past, as if it was just yesterday, vividly appeared, burning her to the core.
Perhaps the fragments of memory recalled were too heavy, causing a dead silence in Clara Sutton's eyes, a surge of sorrowful hatred in her heart, her eyes cold to the extreme, her fists clenched tight, she slowly uttered word by word.
"Then, Father, please think carefully, with the wedding date approaching, what kind of dowry would preserve your esteemed face? I think, with the Astor Family offering one billion for bride price, and Mrs. Astor being superstitious and a believer, Father shouldn't use the box of deceased items from the warehouse as my dowry, right?"
Perhaps being exposed, Ian Sutton sneered: "What nonsense, those are treasures consecrated by the master, and they include your mother's things, you ungrateful brat!"
Clara Sutton's mouth held a cold smile: "Since Father treasures those things so much, then keep them. I won't take the dowry, the Astor Family probably won't care whether I have a dowry or not, and besides, don't use everything as a pretext involving my mother, those things were merely what you wished to give her, she found them filthy and didn't accept them."
"You..."
Ian Sutton was choked speechless, watching Clara Sutton indifferently turn and walk out of the study.
On May 9th, a grand and unique wedding was held in the Imperial Capital, the venue filled with guests, causing a city-wide sensation, yet turning the Sutton Family into a joke.
The union between wealthy families featured only the bride, crowned and in a splendid dress, standing alone at the center listening to the vows, without the groom's presence, something likely unprecedented.
The discussions of 'Sutton Family sells daughter for sky-high bride price' quickly topped various news platforms.