Although the floor was carpeted, Willow's knees hit the floor with a solid thud all the same. She clenched her teeth and winced from pain.

Frank gave her a look of contempt. The sight of a woman on her knees, her dress falling open... he averted his eyes, his expression turning darker.

Cindy was startled too, but then chuckled and said, "Look at this child, so well-behaved... but there's no need for all this! Up you get now, come on!"

The elderly woman started to rise from her seat to help Willow up...

Willow suddenly noticed that she'd exposed herself, and hurriedly covered it back up.

Jasper had warned her not to bend over while wearing this... well, it's not like she did that on purpose! She flushed red with embarrassment as Cindy helped her up, and led her over to sit beside her.

The old lady laid a frail, wrinkled hand over the young woman's own. "Child," she gently began, "You and our Jasper... you're lovers, aren't you?"

Willow blushed even redder from this abrupt inquiry. How was she supposed to answer that?

It had only been a couple of days since she'd discovered that Jasper was the mystery man she'd been searching for all these years. Then he'd brought her here to introduce her to his grandparents, with hardly any advance notice.

So far, he'd said nothing about the actual nature of their relationship, though...

Willow looked to Jasper, beseeching his aid.

Jasper answered for her, "That's right, Grandma."

Hearing him say this caused waves of warmth and also angst to surge through Willow's heart. So he'd really proclaimed her as his girlfriend...

Cindy looked at him askance. "Child, my question was for Willow."

She turned back to the young woman with a smile. "See how Jasper worries for you, worries that I might cause trouble for you. Don't you worry, Grandpa and I are both easy-going folk. Once you're a part of the family, you'll always be family, as good as my own blood."

What a kindly, affectionate woman this Cindy was! Willow's heart warmed to her tremendously.

"You're wonderful, Grandma!" Willow said, showing her a mellow smile.

“Ahahahaha! Thanks to your compliments, I shall be in a fine mood all the way into next week!" Cindy was beaming widely, her heart filled with delight from these words.

Jasper decided this was a good moment to present his gift to his grandmother, “Grandma, here's the most exquisite design our company has produced yet. I've ordered only one-item to ever be made-and it's just for you."

"Oh? Let's have a look at it, then..." Cindy accepted his present, opened the lid, and lifted out the garment within.

It was an evening gown, deep red, with a phoenix embroidered upon it in gold thread. Splendor and elegance, with hints of modern flair.

Cindy fell in love with it at once. "Isn't this lovely! No one is sweeter than my darling Jasper!"

Willow, too, was awed by the sight of it. What a marvelous dress! Truly, the pinnacle of fashion.

Frank eyed this gift thoughtfully. "After that fiasco with the stolen designs, how do you have anything like this left to spare?"

Previously, the elderly man had attended that fashion show with the highest hopes, only to witness first- hand the plagiarism scandal unfolding.

He'd been planning to select something from that show for his wife. Alas, it was not to be.noveldrama

As a result, he had been furious.

"This is from that last round of designs," Jasper explained. "Zeigler Corporation is ours now, after all." Frank was utterly stunned by the audacity of this concept. So Zeigler Corporation's designers and craftspeople were all working for Hughes Corporation, now?

Going so far, just for the sake of this one dress? Now that was extravagance.

Cindy didn't understand a word of their exchange, nor did she have any interest in business matters. Taking Willow by the hand once more, she said, "The meal is ready to be served. Come on, I'll show you to your seat."