Ford took the initiative and shouldered all the blame, continuously soothing Mrs. Du.
"As a man, failing to take proper precautions was entirely my fault. It has nothing to do with Riley."
Under Ford's gentle restraint, Mrs. Du finally sat back down on the sofa. Ford immediately continued,
"I came today to talk about marriage. And honestly, even if Riley weren't pregnant, I would still want to marry her. Now that she is pregnant, that only makes it more certain."
By this point, after spending time with Ford and witnessing his sincerity, Mr. and Mrs. Du—as well as Duke—could clearly feel how genuine his feelings for Riley were. His words were earnest and heartfelt; he truly wanted to marry their daughter and treat her well.
