Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Everyone was shocked!
Martin, who had always been calm and collected, even stood up from his seat slowly and asked, “What did you say?”
Jordan looked at Lauren with devotion. He then said loudly to the Howards, “I said that I want to marry Lauren!”
After investigating in secret during this period of time, Jordan had already thought it through clearly. If he wanted to know Victoria’s whereabouts, he had to marry Lauren, and only then could he infiltrate the Howards and unravel the truth about Victoria’s disappearance.
There was no way that Jordan was going to betray Victoria and on the contrary, he was marrying Lauren for Victoria’s sake!
It may not be fair to Lauren but Jordan had no other choice now!
Besides, after going through so much with Lauren during this period, he had indeed gotten a better impression of her.
On the other hand, Lauren had long been looking forward to being in a relationship with Jordan!
A smile appeared on Martin’s old face because Jordan had always been a more preferable candidate for being his grandson-in-law than Chris!
The Steeles were far more powerful than the Hanks, and the Steeles had been harboring a secret that Martin longed to know. If anything, he had always wanted to use Lauren to get close to the Steeles and then find out all the treasures and secrets that he had!
Martin said to Jordan, “Jordan Steele, I don’t like jokes. You must take responsibility for what you have said!”
Jordan straightened his back and said, “I’ve always been a man of my word! Since I said that I’m going to marry Lauren, I definitely will!”
With that, Jordan held onto one of Lauren’s hand while touching his mouth with his other hand. She was extremely agitated and she didn’t dare to believe that it was true. “Jordan…”
For most of the past four years of her life, she had been living in the illusory world where she was in a relationship with Jordan.
‘Is my dream finally going to come true?’
However, not everyone approved of Jordan marrying Lauren. The first to leap to her feet was Marissa, who stood up in exasperation.
“Can you marry my daughter just because you say that you want to? Who do you think you are? Not to mention that my daughter is now engaged to Chris Hank, even if she isn’t, what makes you think you can marry Lauren?”
Brad was happy for Lauren but he had just been shot in the leg by Jordan so he wouldn’t speak up for Jordan. Instead, he helped his mother make things hard for the man.
“Mom, you’re right. My sister is the most beautiful woman in DC who has an excellent figure, and not to mention, a powerful family background. You’re now a penniless man who has nothing but a few hundred underlings. How are you worthy of marrying Lauren?”
Brad wasn’t afraid that their hindering would stop Jordan from marrying Lauren. He knew Jordan too well and he knew that the more he made things hard for Jordan, the more Jordan would want to marry Lauren.
Lauren began to get a little anxious. “Mom, Brad, you…”
She had finally gotten the chance to marry the man she loved the most and she didn’t expect her family to oppose it.
On the other hand, Martin smiled. Since Jordan had already decided to marry Lauren, nothing would stop him.
Previously, Jordan was dead against marrying Lauren, which made the Howards feel extremely embarrassed. It was a good thing that Marissa and Brad were making things hard for Jordan. He believed that Jordan would not even be able to get past his soon-to-be mother-in-law and brother-in-law.
Martin said, “Jordan, I won’t meddle with my granddaughter’s marriage as long as she’s a willing party. But Marissa is right. You can’t marry a Howard just as you please.”
At this moment, Clarice chimed in, “That’s right! You Steeles are so self-righteous and you think that you can marry any woman of our family as you please. Psht! You guys aren’t worthy of us at all.”
Lauren’s aunt, a middle-aged woman with her hair tied up into an updo, voiced her objections also. “Unless Jordan’s grandfather and parents personally come to DC to ask us for Lauren’s hand in marriage and show us how powerful the Steeles are, Lauren will never just marry you casually!”
Back then, Martin wanted to introduce Lauren’s aunt to Jordan’s father, but the latter didn’t like her. Hence, she was now nitpicking on Jordan. On the other hand, Clarice was doing so because Jordan had slapped her a few times the last time.
Marissa was mad at Jordan for injuring her son, Brad, by shooting him in his leg.
That was the reason that these people opposed Jordan in marrying Lauren.
Jordan could understand Marissa’s emotions as a mother and how sorry she felt for her son. So he didn’t lose his temper and merely stared at her calmly while asking, “Ma’am, what must I do before you’re willing to let Lauren marry me?”
Marissa looked at Jordan with displeasure and said, “As Caroline said, ask your grandfather to come over. I also want him to personally name Lauren as one of the inheritors of your family’s assets, and sign a contract with us! Only then will I let my daughter marry you.”
Put in a difficult position, Jordan said, “My grandfather is already advanced in years and it’s not convenient for him to come over in person. If you want to see my family, I can ask my eldest brother to visit you.”
Marissa humphed coldly. “What’s the point of that?! Can he decide who inherits the Steeles’ property? You want to marry my daughter without giving us a guarantee, huh? You want to gain her hand in marriage without risking anything of your own, huh?”
Lauren hurriedly said, “Mom, I don’t care if I get to inherit the Steeles’ assets or not. I like Jordan for who he is, not for his wealth.”
Marissa snapped furiously, “You don’t care, but we do! The Howards’ marriages have always prioritized the family’s interests. If your marriage to him isn’t going to be of any benefit to us, why should we let you marry him? You may like him but does he like you? Aren’t you afraid that he will just be lusting over your body and toy with you before abandoning you after a few years?
“By then, you would be 30 years old and Chloe would be a grown-up. It’ll be even harder for you to get married then. Besides, you won’t get anything from Jordan!”
Young women tend to only care about whether or not the person they’re going to marry loves them or not. On the other hand, older women tend to be more realistic. Marissa didn’t want her daughter to be taken advantage of.
Jordan knew that many women are very pragmatic and wouldn’t let their daughters marry men who have nothing to their names.
After pausing for a moment, Jordan spoke up again. “As you all know, my assets have been frozen during this period of time, and my grandfather is also being targeted. It really isn’t suitable for him to come back.
“How about this? After Lauren and I get married, we will personally fly to England to see Grandpa. When the time comes, I’ll promise to give your daughter an immeasurable amount of wealth that will be enough to last her for the rest of her life.”
Jordan didn’t lie to Marissa. Since Lauren was Chloe’s mother, she would have been entitled to the Steeles’ assets anyway.
After a moment of hesitation, Marissa said, “You have to take Lauren to England before she can be entitled to the inheritance? What should we do before that? You don’t even have a home in DC! Unless you are willing to marry Lauren as a live-in son-in-law!”