Chapter 494
….
Old Mrs. Horton subconsciously looked toward the direction where the Olsen family members were. However, the Olsens were all tall and robust, and Keira, standing among them, was completely obscured. Old Mrs. Horton could only vaguely see a woman in an evening gown but couldn’t make out her features. She just humphed and didn’t go over to greet them. Instead, she let the servants help her sit down on the sofa.
As soon as she sat down, she heard someone nearby discussing something.
“The Hortons really look down on the Olsens! It’s one thing not to entertain them, but the Olsens have been here for so long, and Mr. Lewis Horton hasn’t even come downstairs.”
“Old Mrs. Horton only glanced once, then didn’t look again…”
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Horton furrowed her brow and immediately turned to Oliver. “What’s going on? Lewis was delayed because of unexpected business at the office, wasn’t he? Didn’t he instruct you to entertain the Olsen family properly? How come you didn’t go to greet them at the entrance?”
Although Old Mrs. Horton didn’t like the Olsen family’s daughter, the bare minimum courtesies had to be maintained!
Having heard this, Oliver touched his nose. “Grandma, it wasn’t like that. We were just busy.”
“Busy with what? Are you so busy that you forgot to entertain the Olsens? I think you’re just making excuses, wanting to ruin the marriage alliance between Lewis and the Olsen families!”
After scolding him, she turned to Jake. “What about you, Jake? Did you also fail to entertain the Olsens?”
Jake lowered his head and stayed silent.
Since Keira’s death, Jake seemed to have grown up overnight, gaining the ability to discern right from wrong. When someone from the first branch of the Horton family did something too outrageous, he would also intervene. Because of this, both Old Mrs. Horton and Lewis became more tolerant of him.
Seeing Jake silent and reluctant, Old Mrs. Horton couldn’t help but frown and shout, “Jake? Go greet the Olsens and apologize to them!”
But Jake looked at her. “Grandma, you clearly liked Keira as well. She has only been dead for four months. How could you do the same as my Uncle Lewis?!”
Old Mrs. Horton immediately let out a sigh. “Jake, I know you can’t forget your aunt, but your Lewis is still young. He can’t just give up on life like this!”
Jake turned his head away. “I don’t care. I won’t go.”
Not wanting to push him further, Old Mrs. Horton turned to Nathan. “Then you go!”
Nathan said, “Mom, you don’t understand. The Olsen family spoiled Miss Olsen. I was just teaching her a lesson, letting her know the Hortons are not like the Olsens!”
Old Mrs. Horton was taken aback. Nathan then pushed Victoria forward. “This is the foster daughter of the Olsen family. Listen to what she has to say!”
Old Mrs. Horton then looked at Victoria, frowning.
Victoria coughed before speaking. “Mrs. Horton, the truth is, my sister has been raised outside and grew up with a spoiled temperament. She’s been divorced and has a child, so sometimes she acts rashly. Please don’t take it to heart!”
After she finished, Victoria sighed again. “Actually, she’s quite nice. It’s just that sometimes she’s fierce and likes to resort to hitting people… We had a minor verbal conflict, and she tends to be quite hands-on…”
Nathan scoffed. “Mom, you hear that? Who nowadays reacts by hitting people? I think she has just been too accustomed to living in poverty. She’s vulgar and unrefined. How could someone like that become the head of the Horton family? Miss Victoria, continue. What other faults does she have?”
Victoria sighed again. “Her previous husband deeply hurt her, so now she likes the obedient types. The best would be fresh college graduates…”
“Haha, Lewis is certainly not that! With her strong personality, when the two of them get together, won’t they just fight?! Harmony is most important between husband and wife, and two thorns together will make this household restless forever! Mom, let me tell you, she’s not the right one. Since the Olsen family is all here, I’ll just go and call off their engagement! It’s not like the Olsen family has only one daughter. If they must have a marriage alliance, there is still Victoria, right? If Lewis disagrees, having Jake marry her would do just as well!”
Nathan was fanning the flames again.
The more Old Mrs. Horton listened, the more frustrated she became. Lewis was said to be utterly submissive to this fiancée, but who would have thought that this fiancée had such a bad reputation?
She furrowed her brows, somewhat displeased. Someone else chimed in. “I heard she is not abiding by women’s virtue and has a boyfriend.”
“Exactly… I heard that not long ago, because of her, the Gill family almost fell out with the Olsen family. The Olsen family had just acknowledged this daughter, and already such a big scandal has occurred, which shows that Miss Olsen is really a jinx!”
A cluster of gossip was babbling incessantly, speaking ill of the Olsen family’s daughter. Old Mrs. Horton felt it was outrageous and suddenly stood up. She glanced around at everyone and let out a mocking laugh. “Looks can be deceiving, and rumors are not to be trusted! Nathan, Oliver, even if the Horton family really intends to break off the engagement with the Olsen family, we must not neglect our guests. That’s basic manners! Where is your hospitality?!”
Old Mrs. Horton was furious. The first branch was so selfish that it was unsettling! Just to split up Lewis and the Olsen family, they actually did something so disgraceful; it was unacceptable!
Old Mrs. Horton said, “Fine, I’m old, and it’s like I’m invisible to you all, isn’t it? Then I will go and apologize myself. You can just sit here!” She stood up straight and, with the help of her maid Fiona, walked over to the Olsen family.
On the way, Fiona asked, “Ma’am, that Miss Olsen was spoken of so poorly. There might really be some problems. Are you really going to apologize?”
Old Mrs. Horton said, “The apology is for the lack of hospitality; as for this marriage, when did I ever agree to it? I’ve said before I only have one granddaughter-in-law! The marriage alliance between the Horton family and the Olsen family needs further consideration!”
Even though Old Mrs. Horton wasn’t loud, she let everyone hear her clearly. Curious glances began to sway in her direction. Some eyes gleamed with the excitement of watching a commotion unfold.
Victoria curled her lips. “Let there be a commotion. It’s better if things get stirred up.”
It was said that Mr. Lewis Horton respected his grandmother the most. As long as Old Mrs. Horton walked over and made a few inflammatory remarks, there would definitely be an argument, and Lewis would undoubtedly break off the engagement with Keira!
The guests watched as Old Mrs. Horton approached the Olsen family. “Which one of you is Miss Keira Olsen?”
As soon as these words were spoken, several people stepped aside. Old Mrs. Horton immediately spotted “Keira.”