The elderly woman had changed into an exquisite qipao.

Her face was still pale.

Alexander Vance sat expressionlessly on her left.

On her right sat his father, Robert Vance, in his sixties.

On the side sofa were Alexander's elder brother and sister-in-law, Julian Evans' parents.

No one introduced the elderly woman's identity.

But only Eleanor Vance, the matriarch of the Vance family, could sit in the main seat.

Linda Lowell froze on the spot.

"You... you..."

She stammered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.

Isabella Ashcroft's legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed.

Julian caught her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, puzzled.

Isabella's hands trembled.

Every member of the Vance family required her careful flattery.

She had offended the matriarch before even entering the family!

She forced a bitter smile.

"Evelyn, why did you lie to us? You made us disrespect Mrs. Vance..."

Evelyn Ross immediately felt several suspicious gazes on her.

Linda snapped back to reality.

"You ungrateful girl! How dare you deceive Mrs. Vance! Kneel down and apologize now!"

Evelyn's eyes turned cold.

Trying to shift the blame? Not so easy.

Crack!

The elderly woman's teacup smashed into Linda.

Scalding tea splashed all over her.

Linda didn't dare to cry out.

"Rubbish!" Eleanor Vance roared. "She is my granddaughter-in-law!"

Linda endured the pain and shouted, "Mrs. Vance, you've been deceived! Her husband really is a lowlife thug!"

"Enough arguing."

Julian's mother spoke up.

"Alexander, is she really the wife you've been hiding?"

Evelyn looked at Alexander Vance.

She heard his icy reply.

"No."

What an ungrateful scoundrel!

Anger flashed in Evelyn's eyes.

Isabella breathed a sigh of relief, her face brightening.

Linda sneered.

"I told you it was Evelyn's doing!"

Evelyn was about to retort.

The man's deep voice rang out again.

"Grandmother mistook her identity. I asked Miss Ross to help take care of her."

Evelyn fell silent.

She had misjudged her "grandson."

Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected this turn of events.

Isabella lowered her head.

"Evelyn, why didn't you say so earlier? You made us misunderstand."

"Miss Isabella Ashcroft."

Alexander leaned back on the sofa, his presence imposing.

"Shifting blame when things go wrong. Is this how the Ashcroft family raises their daughters?"

Eleanor Vance was jolted to realization.

She flew into a rage.

"You think I'm a senile old fool?"

"You made a mistake, showed no remorse, and even framed someone else. How shameless!"

Eleanor turned to Julian.

"Call off the engagement! I do not accept this great-granddaughter-in-law!"

Isabella trembled from head to toe.

She couldn't lose the marriage she had worked so hard to secure!

She looked at Julian.

But he was staring blankly at Evelyn, still processing the news of her marriage.

Isabella clenched her fingers.

She walked over to Julian, tears falling.

"Julian, it's my fault... Even if the engagement is called off, I will still introduce you to that person as promised."

Julian snapped back to reality.

Isabella was still going to help him meet Dr. Nan...

Dr. Nan was pivotal in the new energy field!

He hurriedly said to Eleanor, "Great-grandmother, Isabella didn't know. Please forgive her. Both families have already exchanged the dowry. It wouldn't be good to call off the engagement now."

Eleanor gave him a deep look.

"You're grown up now. I can't control you anymore. Do as you please."

The matriarch understood her boundaries.

Her great-grandson's matters were for his parents to decide.

But...

Julian's mother smiled.

"Grandmother, haven't you forgotten the meeting gift?"

Eleanor lowered her eyelids.

"I'll transfer $2,500 to Julian."

Julian's mother's face stiffened.

"Didn't you say before you'd give two percent of the shares? I was worried they might be short on funds..."

The wealthiest person in the Vance family was Eleanor.

Born into a prominent New York family, she had a lavish dowry and controlled twenty percent of the Vance shares...

Julian's mother had long planned to secure a large sum through this wedding.

Something originally agreed upon, but the matriarch had changed her mind!

Eleanor smiled faintly.

"I am not satisfied with this great-granddaughter-in-law. I won't give it!"

Isabella's face turned deathly pale.

She felt utterly humiliated.

The Vance household had many servants.

Once these words spread, all of San Francisco would know the matriarch despised her!

High society valued face above all.

The matriarch had trampled her dignity underfoot...

The elderly woman paid no mind.

She took Evelyn's hand and led Alexander back to her own courtyard.

Claiming a urgent need for the restroom, she told Alexander to "properly" entertain his granddaughter-in-law.

Then she hurriedly left with her attendants.

In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

The night was deep.

Evelyn stood side by side with Alexander Vance.

She noticed the man was a full head taller than her, about six foot four.

Didn't the old lady say he had a poor appetite?

As she pondered, Alexander suddenly looked at her, frowning deeply.

"Lacking iron?"

Evelyn met his gaze seriously.

"Doggy?"

Alexander's face darkened.

Grandmother had even told her that!

She was definitely up to something!

Grandmother latching onto her might have been accidental.

But this woman taking Grandmother in... perhaps it was because Grandmother revealed her identity.

Evelyn hadn't forgotten her main purpose.

"Remember you said you'd help? Can you come with me to City Hall to check my marital status?"

Alexander's expression turned grim.

He said sharply, "Fine! If it's not true, don't ever use Grandmother to pester me again!"