Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 234: Meeting the In-Laws (2)

As the day of the dinner with Reese approached, Lennox dressed appropriately and brought a gift for his wife’s uncle and grandparents. He even prepared a bouquet of Rosemary’s favorite flowers just for her. He wanted to show that he respected and appreciated their position in Adrienne’s life.

When he and his mother arrived at the Zhao household, he felt a nervous knot form in his stomach. Reese Zhao and his elderly parents warmly welcomed him, but he could tell there was still some tension between them. He tried his best to make small talk and show his gratitude for their hospitality, but he could tell Reese was still wary of him.

As they sat down for dinner, Lennox felt the weight of Reese’s gaze on him. He tried to ignore it and focus on the conversation, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was being judged. It wasn’t until Adrienne spoke up and shared a story about their recent trip to Nanchuan that the tension finally dissipated. Reese’s demeanor softened, and he finally relaxed in Lennox’s presence.

After dinner, Reese pulled Lennox aside for a private conversation. Lennox braced himself for the worst, but to his surprise, Reese told him that he wouldn’t have an issue with his sudden marriage to Adrienne anymore, so long as Lennox could prove that he was worthy of her hand.

"You should have known what kind of life my sister had after marrying Addie’s father," Reese started. "I don’t want Addie to suffer the same fate as her mother, who married a good-for-nothing man who doesn’t deserve her."

Reese’s eyes turned cold as he remembered the suffering his sister experienced at Lewis Jiang’s hands. He couldn’t bear the thought of Adrienne suffering the same pain and disappointment in her marriage with Lennox Qin.

He continued, "Mr. Qin, if you truly love our Addie, you must show me that you are different from her father. I need to be convinced that you will cherish and protect her, not cause her pain like he did. Her mother isn’t awake to tell you this, so I’m telling you in her stead." Reese’s voice carried a mix of concern and caution as he emphasized the importance of Lennox proving himself worthy.

"I understand, Uncle. I’ll prove I’m worthy to be Addie’s husband. I won’t disappoint you." Lennox answered with unwavering determination.

Reese glared at him. He didn’t like this young man to regard him as his uncle, but Reese knew he had no choice but to accept Lennox Qin as his nephew-in-law. Between him and Alistair Han, Lennox Qin was the lesser evil.

Reese sighed heavily, realizing Lennox’s determination might be enough to win him over.

As much as he despised the idea, he had to admit that Lennox’s dedication to proving himself was commendable. With a reluctant nod, Reese finally spoke, "Fine, Lennox. But remember, if you ever hurt Addie in any way, I won’t hesitate to make you regret it."

Lennox swallowed hard, nodding his head in understanding. He knew that Reese was serious and that he needed to prove himself. He had never been one to back down from a challenge, and he was determined to prove to Reese that he was worthy of Adrienne’s hand for marriage and not someone else.

Lennox merely nodded, his gaze unwavering as he held Reese’s stern glare. He understood the gravity of the situation and knew he had to tread carefully. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes if he wanted to prove himself to Reese and earn his trust.

"I won’t hurt her, Uncle. I love her more than anything in this world, and I’ll do everything I can to make her happy," Lennox said, his voice sincere and determined.

Reese studied him for a moment longer before finally nodding in acceptance. His stern expression softened slightly, and his doubt began to waver at Lennox’s words.

"Very well then. But I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Don’t give me a reason to doubt your intentions," he warned, then fell silent as he remembered his conversation with his niece.

"Lennox, if there’s a day when you don’t love Addie anymore, please don’t hurt her." Reese suddenly spoke in a solemn tone. "Don’t cheat on her; don’t hurt her in any way. Just bring her back home to us. She’d been through a lot, and I hate to see her suffer again."

Lennox was taken aback, but he understood where Reese was coming from. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Uncle, I doubt that day will come." He answered, "But I promise you, if anything were to change, I would never intentionally cause her any pain. Addie means everything to me, and I would do whatever it takes to protect her happiness." Lennox’s sincerity resonated in his voice as he reassured his wife’s uncle of his unwavering commitment to their relationship.

"Alright. You better not forget the promise you made today or else..." Reese warned him.

Lennox nodded in understanding before excusing himself to join Adrienne and her grandparents in the living room. She gave him a worried look, but Lennox beamed her a smile, which made her calm down. Lennox’s confident demeanor reassured Adrienne, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

The rest of the evening passed by in a blur, with Lennox doing his best to charm Reese’s elderly parents and prove himself to be a worthy match for Adrienne. His mother, Abigail, talked with Old Madam Zhao, who was thrilled to have them as in-laws.

"It’s a pity Hunter isn’t here, and Rose is still asleep. This celebration would be perfect if they were here." The old woman commented with her eyes glistening in tears.

Adrienne immediately moved to console her elderly grandmother. Old Madam Zhao was constantly worried about Hunter, who hadn’t returned home since he was reinstated to service three years ago.

"Why is Grandma crying again? Big brother and mom would be heartbroken if they knew you were crying because of them."

Adrienne gently wiped away the tears from her grandmother’s eyes, her heart aching at the sight of her distress. "Grandma, please don’t cry. Hunter and Mom would want us to be happy on this special day. Let’s cherish our moments together and make this celebration memorable for them when they arrive."

Adrienne’s grandmother nodded, her tears slowly subsiding. "You’re right, my dear. They wouldn’t want us to be sad." She then turned and faced Lennox.

"Nox, take care of Addie, okay? You should also visit us more often."

Lennox expressed his gratitude to the Zhao family for accepting him and promised to spend time with them. "Of course, Grandma. I’ll make sure to visit more often and take care of Addie. We’re family now, and family takes care of each other."

As he left the Zhao household that night with his mother and Adrienne, Lennox felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had managed to pass the test, but he knew the real challenge was yet to come. Reese would be watching his every move, and Lennox knew that one wrong step could cost him everything he had worked so hard for.

But he was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself to Reese and earn his approval. Adrienne was the love of his life, and he would do anything to keep her by his side.