As autumn twilight wrapped the Montgomery estate like golden silk, Celia’s car pulled up to the grand entrance.
She stepped out gracefully, carrying prepared gifts in one hand while casually tossing
her keys to a nearby security guard.
“Don’t put it in the garage–I’ll be heading home later tonight.”
The guard nodded and drove the car away.
Celia climbed the steps with her gifts and pushed open the carved mahogany door. Cold wind scented with pine followed her inside as crystal chandeliers already bathed the dining room in warm light. Her aunt–now the Montgomery family matriarch–was placing the final dish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, on the table. Hearing Celia’s footsteps, she turned with a smile, her pearl earrings catching the firelight.
“Perfect timing! Come eat.”
Celia greeted her warmly and handed her gifts to a servant before going to wash her hands.
When she returned, her mother emerged from the kit Whitfield carrying a steaming bowl of ginger soup.
“It’s so cold out, and you’re dressed so lightly. Aren’t you worried about catching cold?”
Her voice was full of concern. She wouldn’t relax until she watched Celia finish every drop.
Her aunt smiled approvingly at the mother–daughter pair, her eyes supporting her sister–in–law’s words. “Put on a coat before you leave. Don’t catch a
chill.”
Celia nodded repeatedly until both women were satisfied.
As the table settings were arranged, Grandfather Montgomery appeared, leaning on his ebony dragon–head cane.
“Let us begin.” At the old man’s words, everyone picked up their chopsticks.
Following Montgomery family tradition, the meal passed in near silence except for the soft clink of utensils, maintaining proper decorum.
Celia was especially careful not to make a sound in her grandfather’s presence, knowing her parents‘ situation.
After dinner, her parents were summoned to Grandfather’s study.
Seeing Celia’s worried expression, her aunt gently patted her hand and led her to the sofa.
“Don’t worry. Grandfather won’t do anything to your parents–they’re still his son and daughter–in–law.”
Hearing this, the concern in Celia’s eyes eased, replaced by a silent sigh.
Every visit to the old estate included the ritual of Grandfather scolding her parents.
Though Celia had repeatedly explained to Grandfather that the marriage problems were largely her fault, not her parents‘, he stubbornly insisted it was their doing.
Actually, with the Montgomery family’s power, Celia hadn’t needed to marry into the Whitfield family.
But her parents had insisted, so she’d gone through with marrying Knox.
Grandfather had been furious, supporting Celia’s freedom to love and even approving of her marrying Mason.
Learning of the arranged marriage, he’d flown to the States to scold her parents, saying the Montgomerys would never need to stoop to marriage alliances with families like the Whitfields, no matter how dire their circumstances.
But her parents remained stubborn, insisting the marriage to Knox was necessary.
Neither side would budge, so Grandfather had threatened to take Celia away. But her parents refused to let her go–only they knew the difference between Knox and Mason at that time.
That Stunid
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Chapter 18
So Grandfather returned to France, cutting off contact with their branch of the family.
Later, when they suffered under Knox’s hand, the aftermath led to their whole family coming to France. Only after Celia and her parents apologized did Grandfather reconcile with them.
Learning how Knox had mistreated Celia in the States, Grandfather wanted revenge.
But remembering her previous life, Celia felt her suffering in this life was payment for what she’d done to Knox before.
She and Knox were even now–neither owed the other anything.
So under Celia’s persuasion, Grandfather abandoned his revenge plans, only warning them never to have any contact with Knox again.
At every family gathering, Grandfather would bring this up to lecture her parents and make them stay vigilant.
He said Celia could remain unmarried forever, but she must never be hurt again.
Her parents knew they were in the wrong, so they accepted Grandfather’s scolding meekly each time.
Celia felt guilty too, but her parents said they deserved it.
It was their fault for not explaining clearly from the start, causing such long–lasting misunderstandings. That evening, at Grandfather’s and her aunt and uncle’s urging, Celia’s family stayed at the old estate.
