Chapter 117: Chapter 117

"Commemorating and missing can both be done in the heart. When you’re better, you can go and visit." Daniel comforted me, his eyes fixed on mine, adding deliberately, "I’ll go with you."

"You’ll go with me?" I was surprised, then quickly understood what he meant. This text is hosted at NoveI-Fire.ɴet

He wanted to "meet the parents."

But I hadn’t officially agreed to him yet.

After my initial shock, I quickly brushed off the topic, "Let’s talk about it when I’m better. You might not have time then."

Daniel just smiled and didn’t reply, clearly noticing I was avoiding the topic.

After the acupuncture session, it was almost one in the afternoon.

Back in the car, Daniel said, "Since it’s inconvenient for you to move around, let’s not eat outside. I’ve ordered food to be delivered to your place."

He always took care of everything in detail, considering everything thoroughly.

Anyone who interacted with him would feel extremely respected and comfortable.

Back at my place, Daniel got out of the car and accompanied me upstairs.

Unexpectedly, as soon as we stepped out of the elevator, I looked up to see my aunt and grandmother standing in the corridor.

Upon hearing the elevator sound, my aunt turned around, joy crossing her face, "Lily is back! We didn’t come to the wrong place."

Since I moved here from the villa, my aunt had been here once, but grandma had never visited.

"Grandma, Aunt, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?" I was greatly surprised and walked forward with difficulty.

My aunt quickly stepped forward to support me, feeling distressed, "Grandma said if we told you in advance, you would definitely say you’re fine and refuse to let us come."

"..." I smiled, at a loss for words.

Grandma looked at me, extremely worried, "Where did you get hurt? Why are you walking ? What did the doctor say?"

"Grandma, it’s really nothing, just a surface wound. It’ll be better in a few days." Concerned about her health, I downplayed it.

We all chatted in the corridor until Daniel reminded us, "Let’s go inside and sit down. You can’t stand for long, and the elderly need to rest too."

At his words, both grandma and my aunt turned their eyes towards him.

"And who might this be—" Grandma hesitated, looking curiously.

I felt a tightness in my heart, recalling how grandma and my aunt had previously expressed disapproval of me being with Daniel, leaving me momentarily at a loss.

But I still had to introduce him.

"Grandma, Aunt, this is Daniel. He lent me money at the auction to help me buy the bracelet, and a few days ago, when you were sick, grandma, he was the one who helped find a specialist." I stood next to Daniel, raising my hand slightly to make a formal introduction.

"This is my grandma and aunt..." After speaking, I looked back at Daniel and spoke softly.

Daniel exuded an aura that clearly spoke of his extraordinary background.

Both grandma and my aunt were accustomed to certain formalities and looked a bit tense, "So this is Mr. Carter. Lily’s told us how much you’ve helped her, thank you so much."

Daniel nodded politely, "No need for thanks, grandma. It was nothing."

While they exchanged polite words, I stepped forward to open the door and invited, "Let’s talk inside."

With that, everyone went inside.

Daniel intentionally lingered behind.

After grandma and my aunt went into the living room, he looked at me and said quietly, "You stay with grandma and aunt. I’ll head back now."

I felt a bit overwhelmed, knowing I should ask him to stay since he hadn’t even had lunch yet. It seemed unfair to just let him go.

But recalling grandma and my aunt’s disapproval, a part of me reflexively wanted to avoid the situation.

I hated my own timid and indecisive demeanor, yet I couldn’t bring myself to confidently declare my feelings for him, let alone give him a defined place in my life.

I looked at him expectantly, a guilty expression on my face, hesitated, and then decided to ask, "You haven’t eaten yet, going on an empty stomach—"

Just as I said this, the elevator chimed, and the door opened. A young man in formal attire stepped out, holding a thermal box.

"Mr. Carter, here’s the lunch you ordered." The young man saw him and respectfully handed over the thermal box.

I reached out to take it, but Daniel, worried about me carrying something, quickly grabbed it first, "Thanks, appreciate it."

"No need to mention it, Mr. Carter."

The young man returned to the elevator while I looked at Daniel. I spoke again, "Why don’t you eat before you leave?"

Daniel chuckled, a deep tone in his voice, "It’s enough that you care. I thought when you saw your elders, you’d wish for me to disappear immediately."

"..." I looked at the faint self-mocking smile in his eyes, feeling very guilty.

Because I did have that thought.

"I’ll carry this in, you go sit down," Daniel said, one hand holding the thermal box and the other supporting me as we walked into the living room together.

"You two haven’t eaten yet?" my aunt asked with surprise.

"Hmm, I went for a treatment around ten and came back right after," I explained.

Daniel placed the thermal box on the dining table, then turned to grandma and my aunt, politely saying, "Grandma, Aunt, you stay with Lily. I’ll take my leave."

Despite his prestigious status, he carried no arrogance but was rather gracious and courteous.

Grandma, already seated on the sofa, immediately got up upon hearing this, "But you haven’t eaten yet. Why leave on an empty stomach?"

Hearing my grandmother’s words, I immediately looked at him and persuaded, "Yes, at least have a meal before you go."

My aunt came forward and also urged, "You’ve been looking after Lily, busy all this time, how can you leave with an empty stomach? Come, let’s eat."

As she spoke, my aunt walked to the entrance and closed the door.

This left Daniel no choice but to stay.

"Alright then, I will trouble you and aunt," he said, displaying impeccable manners, grace, and emotional intelligence. Truly flawless.

My face flushed, my heart raced, and my hands trembled slightly from nervousness.

However, observing the reactions of my grandmother and aunt closely, they didn’t seem to mind Daniel. It felt like, in those brief moments, they were won over by his charisma, inside and out.

Daniel opened the food boxes one by one and gave me a look. I snapped back to attention and immediately turned to ask, "Grandma, Aunt, have you eaten? If not, join us, there’s more than enough food."

My aunt said, "We had lunch before we came."

"Yes, Grandma eats like clockwork every day, don’t you remember?"

I nodded, recalling that this was indeed the case.

So it would just be Daniel and me eating.

My aunt got up to pour water. Before I could even react, Daniel stood first, "Aunt, let me help you—"

"No need, no need, you sit and eat, I can do it myself," my aunt responded politely, repeatedly declining.

I glanced at him, my expression subtle, my heart anxious.

I never thought, so unprepared, that he would meet the two most important elders in my life.

I knew that everyone had their own thoughts, but on the surface, we all maintained courtesy, even careful respect.

This atmosphere made every second feel like a year.

After pouring hot water for Grandma, my aunt sat down on the sofa.

After a while, my aunt couldn’t hold back and started the conversation, "Mr. Carter, you and Lily... are you two close?"

The undertone of probing in her words was unmistakable, and I was so embarrassed, feeling like I was being roasted alive.

"Aunt...don’t—" I was about to interrupt the topic, but Daniel replied before I could, "Aunt, I am pursuing Lily, but she hasn’t agreed yet. She got injured these past few days, which is why I had the chance to take care of her."

"..." I was frozen there, my entire body feeling like it was burning.

In this short half-day, I’d faced my friend’s straightforwardness, and now Daniel’s brave confession.

They didn’t ask for my permission; each bravely pushed ahead, regardless of whether I could handle it.

And the impact was also felt by my aunt and grandmother on the sofa.

They obviously didn’t expect Daniel to be so direct and brave. Their faces froze, forgetting to react.

Daniel gave a reserved smile, "Sorry if my answer startled you, but I am serious. Lily saved my life when we were young, twice. I originally wanted to thank her in person, but I missed the chance. Later, when she came to Fallhaven for college, I met her again..."

Saying this, Daniel turned to look at me, a restrained smile on his lips, "But I didn’t approach her to reconnect, and she had long forgotten me, but I’ve always kept it in my heart."

My cheeks burned, my head buzzing with needle-like sensations — nervous, panicked, yet excited and joyful.

Initially, it was my aunt who spoke first, taking the upper hand.

But sincerity is always a trump card.

Daniel’s response was gentle, polite, and heartfelt, leaving my aunt and grandmother stunned, unable to respond immediately.

Daniel had seized control of the scene.

He paused for several seconds, the air almost solidifying, until I deliberately coughed lightly to awaken my stunned aunt.

"Hehe... so, Mr. Carter also went to Elmore?" my aunt finally said with an awkward grin, picking up the conversation at last.

"Yes, but by the time Lily enrolled, I was already in graduate school and didn’t stay long at the university before going out to work."

"That’s quite a destiny," my aunt nodded, her gaze shifting back to Grandma.

Grandma looked thoughtful, likely also at a loss for words.

Originally, they were not in favor, initially holding an attitude of "breaking up the couple," but who knew Daniel would be so responsible and genuinely sincere, momentarily rendering them speechless.

"Mr. Carter..." Grandma started to speak.

Daniel politely interrupted, "Grandma, just call me Carter Junior or Daniel."

Carter Junior? Daniel?

I looked up at him, thinking for our first meeting, he’s so naturally familiar, just like when we first met at Carter Manor.

With his top-tier wealthy family background, who dares?

Sure enough, Grandma hesitated, not daring to, and simply didn’t address him: "You and Lily’s circumstances are too disparate. Although Lily saved you, you’ve also helped her a lot, and repaying kindness should be enough; as for other things..."

Grandma paused, and Daniel wasn’t intimidated at all, immediately asking, "Are you worried that if Lily is with me, she might be bullied?"

I gripped my spoon, my face nearly buried in the bowl.

He’s so direct! No beating around the bush!

"The Carter Family is known for its strict rules, and my grandfather was especially strict in disciplining me. Rest assured, I would never bully a woman, and certainly never Lily. Even if, a million to one, things between Lily and me don’t work out, I would never mistreat her."