Encounter

Steven, Gracia, and their second daughter, Liana Tan, were already sitting at the dining table with the Lie family.

Although she was two years younger than Natasha, Liana's figure and face were no less than her sister's. Her way of dressing was almost the same as Natasha's, precisely imitating her sister's style.

At the side table, Michael Lie sat with his wife, Selena Yap. By their side were their two children, Jamie and Yuning.

Everything about Michael is like Eddie, from his face to his movements and expressions. However, he appeared significantly older, particularly given that he was in his early fifties.

Despite her old age, Selena Yap still looks young because she is a cultivator, and she also maintains her beauty by spending a lot of money on beauty treatments.

Their son, Jamie, is the complete opposite of Eddie. They were about the same height, about 6'2" (1.88 m). However, he is more casual and quite messy with slightly long black hair in a long wolf cut. He wears an earring on his right ear, the top of his white shirt is left unbuttoned, and a silver necklace is around his neck.

Yuning Lie is slightly younger than Jamie, and she is still 18 years old. She is quite adorable with her long brown hair tied in a ponytail, with a long-sleeved purple shirt covering her small and slender body, combined with a knee-length purple skirt.

As they started to enjoy their dinner, Michael made an inquiry. "Where is your eldest daughter, Brother Steven?"

"Brother Michael, Natasha is helping Jessica to take care of young cultivators from other countries, so she can't join us for dinner." Steven kindly responded, but he was still thinking about the results of his wife's investigation about Michael."

"Did you forget to tell your daughter that we were coming here, Gracia?" Selena asked, but her tone wasn't friendly, and they could hear the annoyance in her voice.

Gracia was offended by Selena's way of asking, but she kept her smile and politely answered. "I've already informed my daughter about this dinner, but she promised Jessica to help her with the gala, and she's not one to break her promises."

Selena gave a light nod of understanding, but she still didn't like Natasha's absence from their dinner, making her feel disrespected by her.

"Is Natasha still in a relationship with Eddie, Aunt?" Gracia and Steven looked at Jamie with surprise. "My friend's sister is their old friend from college, and I learned about their relationship from her."

"Nath, she—"

Before Gracia finished her words, Liana had already answered Jamie. "They have been lovers since they entered high school, and they are the perfect couple. I really like Eddie, and I hope they will get married soon."

"Liana."

"Humph." Liana snorted at her mother, as she did not like Gracia's desire to match Natasha with another man, especially a man like Jamie, whom she considered a thug. 'A thug like you shouldn't think of getting closer to Nath!'

Gracia wanted to reprimand Liana, but Steven immediately stopped her. "Eddie and Nath do like each other, but we haven't agreed to their relationship because his cultivation couldn't break through after he reached the perfection stage of the elementary realm, which was several years ago."

"You shouldn't have allowed your daughter to have a romance with such a useless man in the first place, and you should have forced her to leave him. If she continues to have a relationship with him, her future will definitely be ruined." Selena then patted her son's shoulder. "Jamie is a year younger than your eldest daughter, but his cultivation is a step ahead of hers, and he has reached the early stage of the forming realm. If you want her future to be good, you must find her a talented husband like my son."

Bang

Liana slammed the table as she stood up; she hatefully glared at Selena before leaving without saying anything. Steven and Gracia didn't stop her from leaving because it would only make her angry, so they waited for her emotions to subside first.

Jamie was not bothered by Liana's departure, as he had no interest in her. In contrast to Yuning, who sighed in her heart because her mother had gone too far.

"Your second daughter has no manners; she—"

"That's enough, wife." Michael finally spoke, but he was too late because the atmosphere had turned sour. "You don't need to interfere in their affairs and focus on our family."

Selena gave a slight smirk as she glanced at the two hosts, but Gracia suddenly asked. "Brother Michael, do you remember Vivian Zhang?"

"Wife, don't—"

"It's okay." Gracia stopped her husband and asked once more. "Do you remember her, Brother?"

Selena's expression turned ugly because she brought up Vivian Zhang in their conversation, but Gracia paid her no heed because she was the one who started it all first.

"I do." Michael nodded. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"

Gracia smiled as she stole a glance at Selena. "Your wife said that my second daughter had no manners, but she forgot that she stole you from Vivian Zhang, who was pregnant with your child at the time."

Gracia's revelation shocked Jamie and Yuning. They knew Vivian Zhang because she was the daughter-in-law of the Kho family, but they never knew that their father had such a relationship with her in the past, which their grandparents deliberately omitted.

Selena immediately stood up from her seat and pointed a finger at Gracia. "How dare you—"

"Enough!" Michael shouted at his wife. "I have repeatedly asked you to watch your words, but you always think that you are the greatest and always look down on others."

"Why—"

"Silence!"

Selena shivered at her husband's cold gaze, forcing her to sit down and shutting her mouth. Jamie didn't dare say anything when his father was angry like that, and he delayed asking about his relationship with Vivian Zhang.

On Jamie's side, Yuning smiled faintly, pleased that her father had reprimanded her mother.

Gracia smiled triumphantly as she observed Selena acting like a scared cat. Michael suddenly asked her. "What is your purpose in investigating my past?"

"I'm sorry, but you are mistaken because I didn't investigate my past, and I heard this matter from someone." Michael's brows wrinkled, as he thought about who might have investigated his past. "The one you are investigating must be Jordan Liem."

"Liem family?" Michael and Selena were both surprised.

Gracia nodded at him. "Jordan did it at the request of a secret person."

"What information do you have about Vivian Zhang?" After Michael asked that, Selena glared at him angrily, but he paid her no attention. "Please tell me everything."

"Wife—"

"I cannot tolerate others insulting my family." Gracia then spoke to Michael. "Vivian Zhang gave birth to your son, but no one knows his identity. According to Jordan, she abandoned her son in front of a house because her family's condition was bad in the past, and she gave birth without a husband because you married this woman. She tried to find him again after marrying Liam Kho, but her efforts were unsuccessful because the owner of the house had long since moved out, and their identities could not be found anywhere."

Michael clenched his fists tightly, and they could see the regret on his face. He immediately stood up and said goodbye to Steven and Gracia. "I'm sorry, but we have to go home now."

Michael's wife and their two children immediately followed behind him, but Selena stole several glances at Gracia, and her eyes were filled with hostility.

Steven released a soft sigh. "You shouldn't have revealed that matter, Wife."

"Do you think I should keep quiet?" Gracia replied nonchalantly. "I admit Jamie is talented, but I will never let Selena insult my two daughters, and I revealed this matter to avenge her insult toward them. The Yap family is indeed rich, but they are not as wealthy as ours. Her marriage to Michael allowed her family to move up a class, but it also led to her becoming arrogant."

"I'm too lazy to argue with you." Steven left his wife to talk to his second daughter.

Gracia's lips curled up as she imagined the situation between Michael and Selena. She was sure that he would try to find his son with Vivian Zhang, and it would make his wife furious. "If that arrogant woman hadn't insulted my two daughters, I definitely wouldn't have revealed it, so she can blame herself for what happened tonight."

===

Eddie, Jordan, and the two women had arrived at the venue, where a large crowd had already filled the place.

"Ed!" Eddie turned to the voice and saw Jessica running quickly towards him. He raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw a mature man, a mature woman, and a young girl walking a little distance behind him. Although he spent most of his time in his villa, he always kept up with the news in their country. Jordan also previously gave him data about their identities so he could immediately recognize them.

Jordna, Natasha, and Leah smiled when they saw the three people. They are Liam Kho and his wife, Vivian Zhang, who is also Eddie's biological mother. The young girl is their only daughter, Nathalie Kho.

When she arrived in front of them, Jessica grabbed Eddie's hand and wanted to pull him to meet the three people, but he gently brushed her hand away and left them straight away.

"Sister Jess, he's not ready to meet them yet." Natasha then chased after her lover, followed by Jordan and Leah.

Jessica was disappointed with Eddie's attitude, but she herself was aware of her feelings. The three people had arrived behind her, and Vivian Zhang asked her. "Is he the brother you were talking about earlier?"

"Yes, he is my brother, Eddie." Jessica then turned to them. "My brother is quite introverted and rarely communicates with others, and only a few people usually communicate with him, so I hope the three of you don't misunderstand his attitude."

"Mother, why do I feel like that man's face looks similar to yours?" Nathalie Kho suddenly asked.

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