At that moment, the sound of a door opening echoed from downstairs, followed by the voice of Celeste Harrington's mother,"Why are you so late? Celeste has already brought Ryan home." There was a hint of reproach in her tone, and then she lowered her voice, as though unwilling for us upstairs to hear her words.

Her father responded in a weary but expectant voice,"Good, good."

Soon after, her mother's voice called out from below,"Celeste, bring Ryan down for dinner."

Celeste smiled at me, her eyes filled with both anxiety and anticipation,"Let's go, meet my parents."

As we descended, we were met by her father, who had just emerged from the bathroom. He was slightly portly, likely from frequent social gatherings, and his appearance was imposing. However, in the home, he exuded a relaxed demeanor, without any hint of arrogance. He greeted me with a smile,"Ryan, come, let's have a drink. Celeste has finally brought her boyfriend home. Seeing you reassures us greatly."

"Dad, really? Are you trying to suggest that I'm never going to get married, or that you want me out of the house sooner?" Celeste said half-jokingly, a blush creeping onto her face.

At that moment, her mother arrived with a bowl of steaming soup,"Your father's right, you know. Look at how old you are, and still no partner. You never listen when I tell you, but thank goodness you've met Ryan. He seems like a good young man."

Her parents truly had a gift for conversation, expressing their care without causing any discomfort. Celeste glanced at me, her eyes gleaming with pride,"Do you think my judgment is poor?"

"Ryan, take a seat. From now on, this is your home, feel free to relax. I'll grab a bottle of wine," her father enthusiastically invited.

Her mother quickly interjected,"Don't drink too much, don't get Ryan drunk. The young man has plans later on tonight!"

"Alright, alright, just a couple of glasses," Uncle Harrington relented at Aunt Harrington's words, appearing somewhat intimidated by his wife.

We all settled at the table, and Aunt Harrington's cooking was truly impressive. The spread looked like something a restaurant chef might prepare. The table was laden with dishes that were as visually appealing as they were fragrant, each one carefully crafted, making one's mouth water.

Uncle Harrington poured two glasses of wine, handing one to me,"There aren't many rules at home, so just relax. Try the dishes your Aunt made; her cooking is unbeatable. No matter how busy I am outside, I always look forward to her meals. Let's see how you like these."

"I'm already quite accustomed to it. The moment I saw Aunt's cooking, I knew it was going to be amazing," I replied sincerely, truly impressed by the flavors and presentation.

"Enough talking, let's eat! Here, Ryan, try a piece of fish," Aunt Harrington said with a beaming smile, placing a piece of fish into my bowl.

Seeing my hesitance, Uncle Harrington raised his glass,"Let's toast, just the two of us. And you'd better treat my daughter well from now on."

Aunt Harrington teased,"What, you won't let your daughter treat Ryan well too?"

Having been gently scolded by his wife, Uncle Harrington quickly corrected himself,"They should both treat each other well."

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Aunt Harrington then turned to me, her tone curious,"Ryan, who else is in your family?"

I responded,"It's just my father, my mother, and me."

Uncle Harrington nodded thoughtfully,"Your parents must really spoil you, being an only child."

"Yes, they've always treated me very well," I replied, feeling a warmth fill my chest.

"Ryan, what does your father do?" Aunt Harrington inquired with a smile, her tone tinged with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, my heart filled with unease, yet I decided to speak candidly,"Uncle Harrington, Aunt Harrington, there is something I must confess as well. My father once owned a construction company, but it went bankrupt, leaving behind substantial debts. He now works for another construction firm, and my mother also holds a job. They are both striving to pay off the debts, though they know it is a futile effort. The situation at home is likely worse than most. It was because of the bankruptcy that I wasn't able to finish my university studies." I spoke the truth about my family's predicament, feeling guilty for the warmth and hospitality extended to me by Celeste Harrington's parents.

Upon hearing my words, the atmosphere at the table grew noticeably colder, and a silence settled among us. Aunt Harrington's face flickered with surprise, but it was quickly masked by calm. Uncle Harrington furrowed his brow, seemingly lost in thought.

After a brief pause, Uncle Harrington looked up and spoke with solemnity,"Last night, Celeste mentioned your family's situation. In truth, it's not a major issue; don't let it trouble you. As your father's peer in this field, I can tell you that, yes, there are times of prosperity, but when things go awry, it's just as your father's case. However, there are far fewer men with his integrity—many would have absconded with the funds. In this industry, debts of ten million or even a billion are not uncommon."

He paused, taking a sip of wine before continuing,"I've also spoken with some colleagues from Eldoria today and learned more about your father's situation. Frankly, your family's troubles aren't a great scandal. While your father's company went under, the primary cause was that his business partner absconded with the money. The bank came after him, and obtaining financing to proceed with development became impossible. The debts are tangled, but if someone could track down the person who ran off and secure a loan guarantee, your father could be freed from the situation. That development project has been stagnant for seven years now, and its value should be considerable. Not just ten million—your father could very well make a fortune."

I was deeply moved by his words. I hadn't expected Uncle Harrington to understand my family's plight so thoroughly, let alone offer such insight without judgment. Celeste's eyes, too, shone with tenderness and encouragement as she gently took my hand, offering me quiet comfort.

I had never truly understood the complexities of my father's situation. It seemed there was much more to the project than I had ever imagined. Could my father have been set up? The thought was too unsettling to entertain.

"But your father must act swiftly. If the government moves to seize the abandoned property, there will be no way to stop it," Uncle Harrington said, his brow furrowing in a mix of concern and helplessness.

"Uncle Harrington, if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known any of this about my father," I replied, momentarily stunned. The reality of the situation was far more intricate than I had ever imagined.

Uncle Harrington sighed, patting my shoulder reassuringly,"As long as you can find that person, everything will work out."

"That person?" I asked, confused,"Who are you referring to?"

"An old business partner of your father's, someone who worked with him on that project," Uncle Harrington explained."He holds the key contracts and knows the flow of funds, but he disappeared for reasons unknown."

I took a moment to reflect and said,"I'll ask my father when I get home, to hear what he thinks about it."

Uncle Harrington nodded, his eyes filled with hope,"So don't worry about your family's debts. They're not as dire as you think. Even if your father can't recover, I'll help you sort everything out. You two young people, just enjoy your life together."

Seeing the warmth of his words, Aunt Harrington quickly added,"Ryan, you see, you don't have to worry about—"

Uncle Harrington cut her off, saying,"Ryan, there's no need to worry. Any troubles, we'll take care of them for you."

I was deeply moved. Just the day before, we had been strangers, and now, here they were, thinking about me, my future, and my family's troubles. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

"Thank you, Uncle Harrington, Aunt Harrington," I said sincerely, my eyes moistening with emotion.