My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)
Chapter 1886

Hendrix looked him up and down, and then raised his hand to shake Jordan's.

The two brothers were meeting for the first time, and things were going quite harmoniously. Perhaps Jennifer was telling the truth. With the exception of Nathan, everyone in the family was looking forward to Hendrix's return.

Jordan spoke again and tried to smooth things over, "Father, today is a good day. Why don't you let me bring Hendrix to the company to take a look?"

"No need." Nathan completely ignored the enthusiasm on Jordan's face, and then got up and walked to the dining room. "Let's eat first."

Jordan, who was accustomed to this behavior, shrugged his shoulders and followed behind.

I wanted to shake my head in disapproval at the sight of this. I still had to eat at the same table with them in such a depressing environment; things surely couldn't get worse than this. Hendrix finally calmed down and was the first to respond. He led me to the dining table and sat down.

The atmosphere at the table felt a little strange.

Nathan sat very still and wore a grim and depressed expression while Suanne smiled and ordered the servants to set the dishes; though her smile felt rather fake.

I quietly observed Hendrix's face. He didn't look at me, but patted me on the back of my hand under the table, indicating that I should stay calm. That was the only way I could feel relaxed. After what felt like a decade, Nathan finally said, "Let's eat."

He then cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. The others began to eat as well, with no intention to talk while they ate. Thus, the dining table fell into a long silence. Suanne suddenly stood up with a smile. "Arianna, you're not in good health, so I made some nourishing soup specifically for you. I'll fill up a bowl for you."

Her smile was pleasant, but it still carried the same artificiality as before, as if she was trying to play a part she did not fit in.

I stood up quickly. "That's alright, Mom. I'll do it myself."

Although I wasn't a fan of this kind of pretentious manners, Suanne was still older than me. It was impolite for me to have her attend to me.

Following Suanne into the kitchen,

she turned off the fire as the pot was still boiling. She picked up a white porcelain ladle and scooped some

soup into a bowl, lifting and retracting her wrist as she did so.

Her movements were

and

precise, as if she wamely

skilled at cooking.

I watched from the side, observing her graceful figure from afar. Her voluptuous figure gave me the illusion that she was still a young beauty.

When Suanne was done, she turned around and I hurried over to pick the soup-filled bowl up. But before I could do so, she had tossed the bowl of soup onto the table.

With my hand hanging awkwardly in the air, I was stunned for a moment, only to find that the smile on Suanne's face had disappeared; in its place was a frigidly cold expression. Though I had expected it, I was still shocked by the speed her demeanor changed.

"Mom, since the soup has been overcooked, I will be drinking it." After saying that with a fake smile, I turned to leave.

Suanne's cold voice sounded instantly, "Why the hurry? The longer the soup is cooked, the better it will taste. Don't you understand this?"

Her condescending attitude was just like the others I knew; it was that self-righteous Marshall attitude.

"You don't have to beat around the

bush. Just say what you want to say. The longer we delay, the more

only pretending to be amicable- because you don't want him to treat you with hostility. But don't forget that your son is a very smart person. He will see through your sham soon."

suspicious Hendrix will get fel

This was as expected.

Perhaps Suanne was the one who poisoned me.

"You seem frank and smart enough. It's no wonder that Hendrix likes you, but you're mistaken if you think that you will be spoiled here. The Marshall family has always been very rule-oriented. Now that you're here, you should abide by those rules, in words and in deed, behave like a proper daughter-in-law!"