"Have you still not been able to reach Wien? The guests have antived." Shirley walked up, her voice tinged with urgency.

Carlisle had called countless times, but yet again, there was no answer. His expression darkened as he slammed his phone onto the table with a loud bang. "That ungrateful lad Is he trying to drive me to my grave?"

Upon seeing his frustration boil over, Shitley's face turned grim. She had waited for this day for years. There was no way she was going to let things fall apart now. shirley bit her lip and forced her expression into something softer. She plastered on a smile and swallowed her irritation, gently placing a hand on Carlisle's amn before guiding him to sit on the nearby sofa,

"Calm down, Carlisle. Don't let this ruin your health," she said in a soothing tone, handing him a glass of warm water.

Carlisle snatched the glass but slammed it onto the table instead of drinking from it.

"How can I calm down?" he growled. "Today's the day of his engagement to try! All the guests are here, and he has the nerve to vanish? He won't even pick up his phone! He thinks he's too grown to listen to me now?"

Shirley saw her chance and gently steered the cornersation where she wanted it. "Don't be too hard on him, Carlisle. He's just a kid. What if someone's putting ideas in his head, convincing him to hide away?

She sighed, pretending to hesitate, before adding, "Katrina has never liked ivy. Maybe she's the one stirring things

1. up.noveldrama

"You know she's always wanted Wren and Clara to be together. Now that Wien and Ivy are about to get engaged, it's no surprise she'd be unhappy."

She paused for a dramatic effect, watching Carlisle's face darkened further. "If this is too difficult, maybe calling off the engagement would be for the best. We wouldn't want Wren caught in the middle, which might keep your family's peace." Carlisle's anger flated even more Wren and Ivy's engagement is my decision, not hers! It she has a problem, she can take it up with me. This family doesn't nvolve ansund her"

He tumed to Shirley with a softer expression, with guilt and affection in his eyes. "This is my fault for not raising Wren better. When he returns, I'll ensure he understands what he's done. Ivy doesn't deserve this, and I won't let her be humiliated." Aflicker of satisfaction crossed Shirley's face, but she quickly masked it with a look of humble gratitude. "Carlisle, you've always been s want you to feel stuck in the middle. As for Katrina_,"

so good to me. I just don't

"You've always been so considerate, thinking of everyone but yourself," Carlisle interrupted, his tone softening further. "Meanwhile, she's had an easy life here, espying all the benefits of this family. Does she ever think of you?"

Tear wrilled in Shirley's eyes as she leaned into Carlisle's chest, her voice sweet and coy. "I don't mind, Carlisle. For you, I'd endure anything"

Carlisle couldn't help but react to her soft demeanor. Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her closer, their proximity turning intimate,

Shirley, upon sensing his distraction, spoke carefully. "The guests are already here. Sooner or later, we'll have to face them. But if Wren doesn't show, how are we going to explain it? What about the engagement?" She was determined not to let this opportunity slip through her fingen.

If today went as plaimed, her daughter's engagement to the Zaclean family heir would be finalized. No one would dare look down on her again, and she'd finally lave a rigiatul place in the Zachuman family, free from anyone's scrutiny. Carlisle considered her words for moment, his expression. It Wen doesn't will posinas plained. His marriage to ivy is not up for debate"

show, we'll tell everyone he had urgent b

business out of town. The engagement

Relier Hooded Sharley'sdest, and the weight she'd been carrying all day lifted. The future she had worked so hard for was finally within reach.