Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 485 - 463: An Imperial Proposal (Part 1)

As for the timing of the betrothal gifts, it was decided by a master consulted by the Forrester Family, who said it should be either 8:08 a.m. or 12:08 p.m. Old Master Forrester let Quentin Thorne choose, and Quentin felt they were being troublesome, subtly hinting that the Forrester Family’s reliance on superstitions seemed a bit absurd.

But Old Master Forrester earnestly explained that the time was chosen based on the couple’s birth dates and the astrological alignments of the day, ensuring great fortune for the Forrester and Thorne families, bringing them everlasting prosperity!

Quentin Thorne found it all rather exhausting, but he had no choice. He reluctantly picked the earlier of the two auspicious times, which were either too early or too late.

.

On the eighth day of the lunar calendar, although spring had arrived, the morning light couldn’t compare to the brightness of midsummer at 6 a.m.

Around six o’clock in the morning, it was still dark and cold. Most people were still dreaming in their beds, but Quentin Thorne had already picked up Old Mrs. Thorne and driven for about an hour from the suburbs to The Springs Residences.

When they arrived, several female relatives from Old Mrs. Thorne’s family, as well as Quentin’s close cousins and friends, were already waiting downstairs, even earlier than the time Quentin had notified them.

Quentin parked the car, greeted his relatives and friends, and they all entered the elevator together. The spacious elevator was so full it was nearly overloaded.

One of his sisters-in-law saw Quentin carrying two silver-gray aluminum briefcases and joked, "Let me guess, those two briefcases of yours—one of them is filled with cash and the other with gold, right?"

Quentin chuckled but neither confirmed nor denied it.

A friend standing behind him teased, "It can’t be cash. A briefcase can only hold tens of thousands at most. Could Thornton only give tens of thousands as a dowry for his elder daughter?"

Everyone laughed, agreeing it made sense.

The group got off the elevator, and Quentin stepped forward to ring the doorbell. Auntie King opened the door and warmly welcomed the guests inside.

The living room was empty, so Quentin asked, "Where are Annie’s mom and Annie?"

Auntie King smiled and replied, "The mother and daughter are getting dressed up in their room!"

Quentin smiled, instructed Auntie King to attend to the guests, and then carried the briefcases inside to find Melinda Linton and her daughter.

Melinda Linton’s door was open. Quentin looked inside, found no one, placed the two briefcases on Melinda Linton’s dressing table, locked the door, and then went to Sienna’s room.

Inside, Melinda was brushing Sienna’s long hair.

Sienna’s hair was long, black, and very thick and shiny. This had been her hairstyle for the past two or three years. However, during her time at Vantage, she had permed her hair into big waves, projecting a mature and captivating image.

But after leaving Vantage and starting Cognitas as her own boss, she didn’t spend much effort on her appearance. Most of the time, she maintained a naturally elegant look, quite different from her deliberate attempts to appear mature and professional at Vantage, aiming to impress her colleagues and clients with her poise.

Thinking of her past immaturity, Sienna found it amusing. She brushed aside the long bangs dangling by her cheek and asked Melinda, "Mom, do you think I look younger now than when I returned to Wrayhaven three years ago?"

Melinda looked at her daughter’s sweet, radiant face in the mirror and smiled contentedly.

She asked, "Was it tougher when you were working as a lawyer?"

Sienna hummed in agreement, nodding her head: "At the law firm, I often stayed up late to accommodate clients in different time zones. After leaving the firm, my schedule became much more regular."

"It’s actually quite good not working at the law firm," Melinda sighed thoughtfully. "If it weren’t for your father’s insistence, I would actually advise you not to work after marriage. Staying home to raise children and manage the household is most important, to take good care of your husband. A good home makes a good woman."

Sienna wasn’t surprised by Melinda’s traditional views, and she didn’t argue with her mother. Instead, she smiled and asked, "Do you think giving up my career is the only way to take care of my family?"

"Of course, that’s the way."

Sienna pressed further, "Don’t you think that after all these years of studying, it would be a waste to just stay home, look after kids, and take care of my husband, not enjoying the fruits of my past efforts?"

"You shouldn’t think that being a full-time housewife isn’t valuable," Melinda’s tone became a bit anxious, "In fact, if you think about it, your high education, your wealth of knowledge, all benefit your family and your children. A good home and good children—isn’t that worthwhile?"

She wanted to continue, but Quentin’s comment, "Annie looks beautiful today," interrupted her train of thought.

Both mother and daughter turned to the door and saw Quentin in a formal three-piece suit, wearing a tie, with his hair neatly combed, looking very sharp.

Sienna smiled with her eyes crescent-shaped, "Dad, you look handsome today!"

Quentin walked over, standing behind the mother and daughter, looking at his charming eldest daughter in the mirror, and laughed heartily, "Today my precious daughter is getting engaged, so I must dress smartly and not embarrass her!"

"Engaged?" Sienna didn’t quite understand.

Quentin explained, and she and Melinda understood.

Since Sienna and Simon had not previously held an engagement ceremony, today was considered their engagement day.

This wasn’t because the Forrester Family was inattentive to Sienna, but rather because young people nowadays, whether male or female, have their own careers and are quite busy. Thus, many simplify the wedding procedures, combining the engagement with the betrothal day, inviting just a few relatives and friends to seal the marriage simply.

As for the Forrester Family, since Simon’s parents were abroad, and with the many hurdles in the children’s marriage—like Sienna changing jobs and Quentin’s opposition—the wedding timetable was already tight. Therefore, they decided to combine the engagement party with today’s festivities. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Once this topic opened up, Melinda had no further opportunity to persuade Sienna to become a full-time housewife, and Sienna dismissed the earlier discussion from her mind.

With her hair done and the auspicious time approaching, Sienna hurried out with her parents.

Thorne family relatives were seated in the dining room enjoying sweet soup, while Quentin’s friends chatted in the living room and on the balcony.

Sienna went around greeting everyone.

Despite it being the day for receiving betrothal gifts, she dressed simply and casually. A red round-neck sweater paired with a white collared shirt, black woolen shorts with matching knee-high socks, and a pair of black, leather flats with a school vibe. She looked young, pretty, and energetic.

Thorne family relatives and friends praised her for looking more youthful by the day. Old Mrs. Thorne, seeing her eldest granddaughter so lovely, felt tender affection, pulling her close and holding her hand.

Having just celebrated the New Year and now attending such a joyous occasion, everyone was in high spirits, chatting and laughing heartily.

Quentin’s friends who had been smoking on the balcony came in, and Sienna stood up with a candy box in hand, planning to thank them for helping out today.

But in the very next second, she froze upon seeing someone among Quentin’s friends.