Gina is momentarily stunned into silence. Staring at Emily, she feels that in the half- year they haven't seen each other, Emily has completely changed.

She feels like a stranger.

Bonnie's eyes dart around as she carefully chooses her words. "Emily, you can't calculate it like that. After all, the wealth gap between our family and the James family is massive. A matched dowry is impossible. But Mom will absolutely do everything in her power to help you prepare a dowry."

Gina nods vigorously. "Yes, exactly!"

"Mom prepare it?" Emily acts as if she just heard a hilarious joke. "Why would Mom help me prepare my dowry? Didn't we sign a support agreement? Elliott takes care of Mom, and I take care of Dad. Since Dad is the one providing for me, and as you can see, he's in a wheelchair and has no money for a dowry, I simply declined the bride price!"

"Also," Emily looks at the two of them, "Bonnie is due soon. It's not convenient for her to travel, so I didn't send invitations to you or any of those relatives you mentioned. Without an invitation, you can't get into the banquet hall. So, don't bother coming."

Both Gina and Bonnie turn pale.

After a brief flash of anger, Gina immediately shifts to a heartbroken expression. "Emily, you won't even let your own mother attend your engagement? I raised you for over twenty years, and you're really going to cut ties with me over a piece of paper?"

Emily replies coldly, "Back at the hospital, when Dad was in the emergency room and we needed to figure out compensation, you signed that agreement without a second thought. Didn't we make everything perfectly clear back then?"

Gina snaps, "I'm still your mother! The James family's engagement is going to be a huge event. If the bride's parents don't show up, won't people gossip?"

Swallowing her rage, she tries to persuade her earnestly. "Elliott and I are your family. If we're there, the James family won't look down on you. If you don't even have your own family backing you, what do you think the James family will think?"

Bonnie chimes in, "Mom is right. Whether it's the bride price or us attending the engagement, we're doing this for your own good."

Gina presses on. "You absolutely must demand the bride price. It's a sign of the James family's respect. If they don't pay it, they clearly don't value you. You're still young. You don't understand how these things work If you let the groom's family walk all over you befor

wedding, your life with them will be miserable."

Bonnie adds, "Emily, a woman needs to hold her head high before marriage. Take what you're owed. That's your safety net once you're married. You need to listen to Mom."

Listening to the two of them tag-team her, Emily finds the whole situation laughable. She doesn't even bother arguing. She just nods. "Fine, I want it. Tell them to wire the millions to my account and put the houses and cars in my name. Is that enough of a safety net?"

Bonnie laughs awkwardly and slips in, "That works. Then we can share in your good fortune."

Emily looks up, feigning confusion. "Share in my good fortune? I'm not your mother. Why would you share in anything of mine?"

Bonnie's face drains of color.

Gina flares up. "Emily, watch your tone!"

Emily sneers We all know exactly what you're scheming. There's no need to dress it up with these righteous excuses! Let me make this perfectly clear. Whether the James family gives me a bride price or not, you will never get a single dime from me. The invitations have already been sent out. You don't have one, so you don't need to show up."

"Emily Sullivan!" Gina finally explodes. "You are an ungrateful brat!"

Knowing Emily is about to become a billionaire's wife, Bonnie doesn't dare offend her and tries to smooth

things over. "Emily, I'm speakingnet

from experience. We really are looking out for you No matter whất happens, you, Mom, and Elliott are bonded by blood. If your family does well, it reflects well on you!"

"My family doesn't want me to shine. You only want to drag me out of the light and into the dark." Emily's eyes are completely devoid of emotion, filled only with cold indifference.