Chapter 920
After listening to Florence, Sienna glanced at Elio.
Elio nervously swallowed, his mind racing with worry that Sienna might reject his proposal to Candice. His hands, damp with sweat, fidgeted against his pants, a clear sign of his anxiety. Sienna lifted the envelope slightly, saying, “Elio, actually…”
Before Sienna could finish her sentence, Elio bowed his head. He was trembling with nerves. “Aunt Sienna, I will cherish Candice even more than you do. Please, allow me to marry her.” Sienna was taken aback. Daniel chuckled softly, murmuring, “Look at what you’ve done to poor Elio.”
Sienna quickly explained, “I just wanted to say that all these formalities aren’t necessary. Our family is very easygoing; we won’t make things difficult for you two young people.”
Elio breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Aunt Sienna.”
“Please, have a seat,” Sienna gestured, taking her own seat and motioning for him to do the same.
Elio sat down, picked up his cup, and took a sip, looking visibly tense.
The elders of the family were delighted, especially the uncles, thrilled at the idea of their beloved little princess marrying the wealthiest man in Norvania, especially one they had seen grow up. Knowing his background, they were all satisfied with Elio.
As everyone chatted, Candice’s cheerful voice rang out, “Wow, why are there so many gifts at home? Is it…”
Midway through her sentence, she followed Jasper into the living room. Upon seeing Elio there, she suddenly became demure, her playful demeanor replaced by shyness as she nervously glanced at him. Elio looked at Candice with an intense gaze.
“It’s the engagement gifts sent by Leo,” Florence explained.
Hearing they were engagement gifts, Candice’s heart raced, feeling both bashful and nervous. She bit her lip, smiled shyly, and averted her gaze from Elio.
Sienna observed her daughter’s reaction, then glanced at Elio, feeling that they didn’t quite look like a couple.
The awkward shyness between them felt like they were still in the early stages of getting to know each other.
Florence continued, “Candice, in a
few days, you should also bring some gifts and formally visit his parents with Elio. Then we’ll arrange a time for both families to sidown and discuss the wedding.”
Candice was pulled by Jasper toward the sofa. She wanted to sit next to her parents, but Jasper deliberately pushed her toward Elio, saying, “Sit with your fiancé.”
The word “fiancé” immediately made Candice’s face flush with embarrassment. She awkwardly sat next to Elio, her face turning red as she avoided his gaze.
Elio looked at her tenderly, his smile gentle as he gazed at her. After she sat down, she looked up at Elio and smiled softly. Their eyes met filled with warmth and shyness.
Sienna sensed something amiss and quickly asked, “Leo, Candice, how long have you been together?”
Elio hesitated for a moment. Candice nervously glanced at Elio, then at Sienna. “We…”
He decisively replied, “A little over a month.”
That was since the day they had become intimate. Their meetings were few, hardly enough to be considered spending time together or dating.
Sienna pursed her lips and smiled lightly, considering her daughter’s future. She didn’t want to rush things and risk the two being unsuitable for each other. “We’ll accept the engagement gifts, but let’s wait a bit longer for the wedding plans. There’s no rush. Spend more time together and get to know each other better.” Rushing into marriage without dating or spending time together to see if they were truly compatible would be irresponsible.
Elio didn’t want to delay. If he could
he would have gotten the marriage certificate on that day to prevent any unexpected twists. Nervously he began, “Aunt Sienna, actually…”
Daniel interrupted, “Yes, spend more time together. Let’s discuss the wedding plans after the new year.”
Candice didn’t see anything wrong with that.
Suddenly, Elio quietly grasped her hand, applying slight pressure. Surprised, Candice looked up at him and noticed his troubled expression. He didn’t look pleased. Candice caught his hint and said to her family, “Let Leo and I decide on the wedding date, okay?”