"Carey, quickly, greet your godfather."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Godfather," Carey said with a warm smile.

"Wonderful, wonderful," Fortune said, pulling a pre-prepared gift from his pocket. "Carey, this is just a small token from me. You must accept it. I wish you and Caitlin's father all the best. And it would be even better if you could give our Catie a little brother or sister."

Caitlin nodded in agreement. "Grandpa's right. Mom, Dad, you should give me a little brother or sister soon. I'm lonely all by myself!" Whether it was a boy or a girl, Caitlin would welcome the new addition with open arms.

Stuart and Carey exchanged a glance, their faces flushing simultaneously.

Soon, the day of the banquet arrived. Just like at Caitlin's own welcoming party, nearly everyone with any connection to the Gonzales family was present.

The banquet began promptly at 6 p.m. Caitlin, with her arm linked through Carey's, walked step by step towards the stage in the grand hall. Stuart was already waiting on the stage.

Carey was stunning in a red evening gown, her makeup subtle and elegant. Her hair was swept up in a high chignon, revealing a pair of amethyst earrings and a matching necklace that adorned her neck. She exuded an air of classic nobility.

Caitlin, on the other hand, had opted for a complete departure from her usual style. She wore a pink princess gown, her hair styled in soft curls by a professional, with the top half pulled back and crowned with a small tiara. She looked like a fairy-tale princess come to life.

The mother-daughter duo, with their different styles and attire, showcased the distinct beauty of their respective ages.

The moment they entered, the banquet hall erupted in thunderous applause, followed by a buzz of conversation.

"Wow! The Gonzales matriarch and Miss Gonzales are absolutely gorgeous! One is charming and lively, the other gentle and refined. They're the most beautiful mother- daughter pair!"

"The Gonzales matriarch truly lives up to her reputation as the number one beauty of Neon Spire."

"No wonder Miss Gonzales is so beautiful."

"

Stuart's gaze was fixed on Carey as she approached, the love in his eyes impossible to hide. He took her hand from his daughter's. "Carey, welcome back."

Then, he turned to the guests. "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for attending the welcome-home banquet for my wife, Carey. Tonight, I want to formally introduce to you all, this is the matriarch of the Gonzales family, Carey!"

Another round of applause filled the room.

At the main table, the three elders-Hannah, Keira, and Fortune-sat with tears of happiness glistening in their eyes. The aunts and uncles from the Richards family were also deeply moved.

"Mom, didn't you want to find a match for my brother? What do you think of Miss Gonzales?" At a table next to the main one, occupied by close relatives of the Gonzales family, sat the Somersets: Old Mrs. Somerset and her daughter, Flossie Somerset.

In his youth, Old Mr. Somerset had been a brother-in-arms to Old Mr. Gonzales, so the two families had always maintained a good relationship.

At her daughter's words, Old Mrs. Somerset glanced at Caitlin. "She's pretty enough, I suppose. But I heard she's divorced."

A divorced woman, in her eyes, was inherently flawed.

Flossie was exasperated. "Mom, don't forget, my brother is also divorced. Not only that, he has a kid."

Flossie's older brother, Jeremiah

Somerset, had been reckless in his

youth. Athineteen, as a college

freshman, he had gotten his

girlfriend pregnant. They had no

choice but to get married. Less than two years later, they decided they were incompatible, and hasty divorced. The child now lived with Jeremiah. Since the divorce, Jeremiah, now twenty-eight, hadn't dated anyone, which was a constant source of worry for his mother.

Old Mrs. Somerset frowned. "How can you compare a woman to a man? A divorced

man is experienced, a divorced woman is just used goods!"

In her mind, her son, even after a divorce, was a prize catch. The Gonzales family's

granddaughter, no matter how special, couldn't compare.

Flossie narrowed her eyes and

lowered her voice. "Mom, you can't

think like that! Right now, she's the

only girl in the Gonzales and

Richards families. They treat her like she's made of glass! Especially those eight uncles from the Richards family... the way they look at her, it's like they're looking at a national treasure. If my brother marries her, het basically have a monopoly on all the business resources in both The Capital and Neon Spire! What you should be worrying about is whether the Gonzales and Richards families will even consider my brother."

Hearing Flossie's last sentence, Old Mrs. Somerset practically rolled her eyes. "Who is your brother? He's one of the Ten Outstanding Young People a future titan of industry! Freya Gonzales is just someone's the's unwanted leftovers. If I go to the Gonzales family with this proposal, they'll be nothing but grateful to me! As if they're in any position to look down on your brother?"