All the more, with Lucas’ encouragement, Aurora felt she wasn’t so plain after all. Just as he had said—if he liked her, wasn’t that enough?

Her eyes grew more resolute. Hand in hand, they walked inside, where his parents were waiting on the sofa. The moment Edward and Diana saw Aurora, their eyes lit up. Never had they seen a woman who matched their son so well. Simply standing at his side, her presence was a perfect balance to his. Aurora wore a pale blue dress, her long, glossy hair swept up and secured with a single hairpin, its tassels swaying gracefully with each step. As the two of them crossed the living room, his parents felt as though they were watching a celestial maiden descend.

Even Diana, herself a beauty, couldn’t help parting her lips in surprise. She whispered to Edward, “Darling, look at this—our son really found such a stunning woman?” Even now, she could hardly believe it.

Edward, equally astonished, nodded. “Yes, dear, you’re not seeing things.”

Before Diana could celebrate, the couple had already reached them. Lucas spoke first. “Dad, Mom, I’ve brought Aurora home to meet you. It was wrong of me not to tell you sooner. I’m here to make it right today. But the fault is mine alone—she had nothing to do with it.”

Hearing his words, Aurora’s heart stirred. She was just about to speak when Lucas gently clasped her wrist. She had been quietly marveling at how much of an elegant beauty Diana was, so this was where Lucas got his looks. But then she glanced at Edward beside her, tall and striking in his own right. It was clear Lucas had inherited the very best from both of them. Aurora couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—Lucas really had inherited the best of both parents.

When Diana suddenly clasped her hand, she was caught off guard and didn’t quite know what to do. “Madam… no, Mom, I…?” The word “Madam” slipped out instinctively, but seeing the wounded look in Diana’s eyes, Aurora quickly changed it.

In the next second, Diana’s face blossomed into a radiant smile. “Ah, that’s better. That’s my good daughter-in-law.”

“Mom, let me introduce…” Lucas started, but Diana shot him a glare. “Such a wonderful daughter-in-law, and you kept her from me for so long? Just you wait. Of course I know none of this is Aurora’s fault. Every bit of blame, I’ll settle with you.”

Lucas was speechless. It felt like he had walked straight into a trap.

Edward chimed in from the side, “Boy, you should know very well what happens when you make your mother angry. And yet you dared to act so recklessly.”

“I didn’t—at the time—”

Lucas looked up only to meet three pairs of accusing eyes. In the end, he chose the safer route and shut his mouth. He had known his parents would like Aurora. But he hadn’t expected that the moment she walked through the door, they would already be united with her, leaving him the odd one out, like some unwanted stray.

As expected, once Diana saw her son silenced, she finally smiled with satisfaction. She held Aurora’s hand tightly, reluctant to let go, her eyes brimming with pride and joy.