I stared blankly at Mabel Sean, unable to believe what I'd just heard.
"You... what did you just say?" I asked cautiously.
Mabel simply shook her head and smiled. "Nothing."
Even though she didn't pursue the subject further, my heart pounded violently in my chest.
After spending this time with Mabel, I couldn't help but feel deeply for her. However, I felt that I wasn't worthy of someone like her.
But if Mabel actually meant what I thought she might, then I would give my all—even my life—to make myself good enough for her!
After Mabel left, my heart still couldn't calm down.
I sat alone in the courtyard, staring at the star-filled sky, and whispered softly, "Was she... teasing me? Or was she serious..."
From that moment, my entire mindset underwent a drastic shift.
...
The next day.
There was only one day left until the Sean family banquet.
All the major prestigious families had already received their invitations.
But I wasn't concerned about any of that. My mind was entirely focused on finding ways to further improve my skills.
Just then, my phone suddenly rang.
Picking it up, I saw that the caller was Calvin Lucas.
Calvin Lucas had always been kind to me and was the only person in the Lucas family who ever treated me well.
So, I quickly answered the phone.
"Grandpa..." My voice came out somber.
On the other end, Calvin Lucas spoke with a trembling voice, "Mason, Grandpa is sorry..."
"Grandpa, it's not your fault." I took a deep breath.
"The entire Lucas family only ever treated me like a human being because of you. But now, I don't want to depend on the Lucas family anymore. I don't want to depend on anyone." I spoke firmly.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
A moment later, Calvin Lucas said with a trembling voice, "Mason, can you come back to see Grandpa one last time?"
After thinking for a moment, I replied, "Alright, I should properly say goodbye to you."
After hanging up the phone, I stood up and headed to the Lucas family home.
At the Lucas family's residence, everyone had gathered.
Ever since Lyla Lucas received the invitation from the Sean family, her arrogance had grown even worse.
When I pushed open the door and walked into the house, I immediately saw Calvin Lucas sitting in the corner, looking somewhat desolate.
He seemed even older and had clearly lost his former standing within the family.
"What are you doing here?" The moment Maeve Lucas saw me, her face soured.
"Leave right now, or Harvey Brown might misunderstand," Maeve scoffed.
Watching Maeve's petty behavior, I could only sneer.
"I was the one who asked Mason to come," Calvin Lucas beckoned me closer.
Lyla Lucas said discontentedly, "Grandpa, why did you bring this loser here? I'm already divorced from him—Harvey Brown is your grandson-in-law now!"
After speaking, Lyla even pointed at me and shouted, "Get lost already! Or do you want Harvey to come back and deal with you?"
I couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge Lyla's tirade. I walked directly to Calvin Lucas, bent slightly, and said with a hint of apology, "Grandpa, this is probably the last time I'll come to the Johnsons' house."
Hearing this, Calvin Lucas's eyes grew misty.
Holding my hand, Calvin said with visible anguish, "Mason, can't you stay? Even if you and Lyla are divorced, I still see you as my grandson..."
Though touched, I ultimately shook my head and said, "I can't."
"Ha, Grandpa, you must be senile," Lyla sneered.
"You always said Mason could bring good luck to our family. What has he brought us in three years? Other than washing clothes and cooking, he's nothing but worthless!"
"On the contrary, my luck has been much better since divorcing him." Lyla waved the invitation in her hand and slapped it onto the table.
"Take a good look. This is an invitation from the Sean family! The Sean family of the Capital City invited me, Lyla Lucas!" Lyla said smugly.
I glanced at the invitation card. It was indeed from the Sean family.
"With this invitation, it's only a matter of time before the Lucas family ranks among the elite families of River City," Lyla said with a gleeful smile.
I let out a cold chuckle. "I wouldn't count on it. Have you taken a good look at yourself?"
Lyla wasn't angered. Instead, she responded mockingly, "Oh, are you jealous? Insulting me won't change the truth!"
"I, Lyla Lucas, have now earned the favor of the Sean family!"
"And you? You'll always just be a useless nobody!"
On the side, Calvin Lucas slammed the table angrily and shouted, "That's enough out of you!"
"I'm just telling the truth!" Lyla retorted indignantly.
Calvin Lucas grasped my hand again and said apologetically, "Mason, don't stoop to her level. She's still young..."
"Still young?" I couldn't help but chuckle at that. A woman nearing thirty is still considered young? I thought to myself.
"Mason, get the hell out of here. Do you hear me? Don't bring bad luck to my family." Lyla snapped, her face full of disdain.
I shot Lyla a frosty glance and said, "Don't worry. I wouldn't want to stay here a second longer."
With that, I bowed to Calvin Lucas and then strode out of the Lucas family home.
Calvin Lucas gazed at Mason's departing figure, his clouded eyes brimming with tears.
"Lyla, you're going to regret this..." Calvin said sorrowfully.
"Regret? For what? Harvey Brown is far better than that loser ever was!" Lyla said impatiently.
She practically shoved the invitation card into Calvin's face.
"Take a good look. The Sean family invited me! I'm the one with the most authority in the Lucas family!" Lyla snarled harshly.
Calvin Lucas waved his hand dismissively, choosing not to say anything further.
In truth, throughout the Lucas family, no one took Calvin seriously anymore.
After all, in their eyes, the Lucas family had already secured the favor of the Sean family.