THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.-Chapter 304 - 305

Cora's father smiled and gently patted her back. "I've always wanted what's best for you, Cora. And this…" he pulled slightly away and glanced at Oliver with a look of admiration, "this is truly the first time I feel peace in my heart about someone standing beside you. I mean it."

Cora wiped her eyes and smiled, then looked at Oliver. "This is going to be it," she said to her father again, her voice now firmer. "This is the one you'll be proud of. I promise."

Cora's father chuckled and nodded. "Well, you've said it already, but let me tell you something else. This is far better than anything I've seen before. In fact, it's not even close. I've never given any man my approval before—not one. But this one," he pointed a proud finger at Oliver, "this is a pass mark. And not just a pass mark… this is a high distinction. Very, very overqualified."

Cora couldn't stop smiling, her cheeks glowing with joy and a hint of disbelief. But even as she celebrated, her mind started racing with questions.

How did Oliver know? How did he find out about her father's obsession with rare whiskey? That specific 80-year-old whiskey wasn't something you just stumbled upon. It was something her father had once said was near impossible to get, something he had once paid a heavy price to acquire at just half that age—and even that one was locked away in a glass cabinet in their mansion, untouchable by anyone.

She never told Oliver about it. Not once. Not even in passing. So how?

As Cora silently pondered, her eyes moved to Oliver, who simply stood there with that calm, respectful smile on his face, like he didn't even know the storm he just stirred. Like it was no big deal.

Meanwhile, standing a few steps away, Uncle Festus and Clinton were doing their best to control their expressions. But the tightness in Clinton's jaw and the fake smile on Festus's face betrayed everything.

They had been outplayed. And not just outplayed—but crushed, embarrassed, and silenced by a man they had mocked not long ago.

And now? Now the same man had not only earned Cora's love but had walked straight into the heart of the most difficult man in the family. A man who had never approved anyone. A man who, moments ago, was ready to find someone else for his daughter.

It was Festus who spoke first, laughing nervously.

"Well," he said, trying to hide the bitterness in his tone, "he actually passed. What can we say?"

Clinton nodded awkwardly. "Yeah… since Uncle has accepted him, we don't really have any choice anymore. We'll accept him too."

Then Festus clapped his hands gently. "He's part and parcel of this family now. That's… very, very nice."

At that moment, Oliver couldn't help but smile softly, then turned to face Cora's father respectfully. "Thank you, sir. I truly appreciate this," he said, his voice filled with sincere gratitude. "Since you genuinely like the bottle I brought today, I just want to let you know that there's actually one more gift. It's not here yet, but it should arrive in a week."

Immediately Cora's father raised a curious brow, already intrigued. "Another gift?" he asked.

Oliver nodded. "Yes, sir. It's the same kind of whiskey as this one, but it's a hundred-year-old bottle. Much rarer. It took me a lot of time and effort to locate, and it's still in transit. I brought this eighty-year-old one first because I didn't want to show up empty-handed today. But the other one... it's something truly special."

The scene went quiet. Everyone just stared at Oliver in shock.

Uncle Festus standing, nearly lost his balance. Clinton, who had barely recovered from his earlier embarrassment, was frozen in disbelief. Their jaws slackened at once, their eyes wide like saucers. It was as if someone had pressed a mute button on them both.

"What... what did he just say?" Clinton whispered under his breath, looking his father.

Uncle Festus's eyes were narrowed, but the redness in them betrayed his fury. He clenched his fists, grinding his teeth silently. Eighty years was enough to steal the spotlight and now he's talking about a hundred-year-old bottle? This boy is humiliating me in front of my own family!

Meanwhile, Cora's father blinked in surprise, and then slowly let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing through the room.

"Wait—so you mean to tell me that next week, I'll be holding a hundred-year-old bottle of whiskey in my hands?" he asked, almost as if he needed confirmation that he wasn't dreaming.

Oliver gave a calm, confident nod. "Yes, sir. It's on the way. I'll personally deliver it to you."

The old man leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed. His eyes twinkled like a child who had just found a hidden treasure.

He laughed again, this time louder. "Then I think I need to renegotiate my previous decision."

Everyone turned to look at him.

With a smile still on his face, Cora's father looked at his daughter and said, "Cora, my dear… is it something I can ask of you? I want to make a request—not just as your father, but as a man who feels honored today."

Immediately Cora tilted her head, confused yet intrigued. "What is it, Dad?"

The old man turned to Oliver, his tone half-serious, half-playful. "Oliver, how would you feel if I no longer just saw you as Cora's fiancé… but as my son? Would you allow me to call you that?"

At that moment, upon hearing what her father just said, Cora immediately stepped forward, her eyes wide in mock protest.

"No, no, no! I'm not going to allow that!" she said firmly, folding her arms in playful defiance. "Oliver is mine and mine alone. I'm not sharing him, not even with you, Dad!" Her voice carried both a note of jealousy and warmth, as though she were trying to protect something very precious to her.

Oliver chuckled softly at her reaction, turning to her with that teasing smile she had come to love. "Cora," he said gently, "why are you being so selfish now? Hmm?" His tone was lighthearted, filled with affection, as he reached out and lightly tapped her forehead with a finger. "Let your dad have a piece of me too. I can multitask, you know."

He then turned to Cora's father with a respectful yet confident tone. "Sir, if that's your wish, then I humbly accept. I'm very good at multitasking. I can be your son and still be Cora's fiancé at the same time. I won't let either of you down."