Ruby Bluen smiled and responded to Lia Aiken, saying, "Miss Aiken, Lena really likes you. Even I, as her mother, rarely get to taste the breakfast she makes personally." She glanced at Ivan Horne and added with a smile, "Lena loves making breakfast to please her big brother; only he gets such a special treat."

The implication is that Lena Horne loves everything associated with her big brother.

While Ivan was speaking with Lia, he sent a message to Jimmy, asking him to handle the trending topics on the internet. After listening to his second aunt, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket and, with a smile, took Lia's hand and said, "Second Aunt, today I'm riding on Lia's coattails."

With a little exertion, he gently pulled Lia up. Lia felt a bit shy in front of his family, but Ivan was indifferent to it and persisted, so Lia just followed his lead.

From the attitude of the Bluen sisters, Lia felt she had passed today's meet-the-parents test in a roundabout way.

As for the opinions of the Horne brothers, Lia felt they weren't very important. These two men were famously devoted husbands, having pampered their wives from a young age well into their later years, a kind of matrimonial love that Lia particularly envied.

Lia hoped that she and Ivan could also maintain their love until they were both gray-haired.

Though Lia didn't have a mother's guidance, nor did she receive much family affection, she had a wonderful mentor in Charlotte Lewis, who taught her many things and advised her that in marriage, the man's family background is very important.

Whose family background could be better than Ivan's?

Lena's cooking was indeed quite remarkable.

Had she not tasted it herself, Lia wouldn't have believed that such a cherished young lady could make such delicious food.

The breakfast ended with everyone's joy.

Because Lia was Ivan's girlfriend and was visiting the Horne Family for the first time, even though it was Marcel's home, Julia was very thoughtful and suggested that Ivan take Lia out for a stroll to help digest the food, actually giving the young couple some time to talk about love.

Julia understood her son very well, knowing how busy he was. Even after confirming his relationship with Lia, he didn't have much time to accompany her, so she seized the opportunity today for her son to spend some quality time with Lia.

For any couple, no matter how sweet the beginning, a long separation can easily fade the relationship, leading to conflicts until they break up.

Ivan held Lia's hand as they walked through his uncle's yard, their intertwined fingers occasionally swinging gently.

"Ivan, do you think your parents will like me?"

Ivan laughed, "Don't worry, they'll like you very much. I'm almost thirty years old and have never dated. Growing up with Camila as childhood sweethearts, after she married Jimmy, everyone thought I stepped aside for brotherhood and worried I'd never marry. My mom's been anxious beyond measure; she likely wouldn't find fault with any woman now."

Lia was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "So you've also been pressured into marriage."

Ivan smiled wryly, "It's Syrena-style reality."

Many are well into their thirties without marrying; they might not be in a rush, but their parents certainly are.

Ivan heard of people returning home for the New Year, spending the holidays in constant matchmaking sessions.

Although his parents didn't arrange blind dates for him, it's a fact that his mother was anxious.

"You know my situation; will your parents dislike it?" It's said that people in love sometimes lose their wits.

Before meeting Ivan, Lia was a smart and composed girl. After falling in love, she also worried about this and that like many do, despite Julia and her husband's apparent approval of her and their sincerity.

Ivan leaned slightly, his handsome face close to her cheek, stealing a kiss, then said with a soft laugh, "No matter your circumstances, we care only about you as a person. Lia, I think your concern is misplaced. There's no need to worry about how my parents see you, as long as I'm sincere, like you, and wish to spend my life with you, that's all that matters."

Before she could ask, Ivan pulled her into his embrace, speaking earnestly, "Lia, some words are useless if said too much, proof lies in actions. I'll prove to you with my actions that you've chosen the right person."

Lia felt a bit shy. She was truly anxious in love, even though Ivan had repeatedly assured her of his genuine intentions.

"Alright, I won't ask anymore or worry; I'll trust you completely."

"Ring, ring, ring..." The phone's ringtone has a knack for interrupting moments.

This time it was Lia's phone.

It was Charlotte Lewis calling.

Charlotte didn't know Lia was with Ivan and called as soon as she saw the trending topics online.

Grace Chandler used her contacts in River City to expose Lia's family background; the goal was to disseminate it beyond just newspaper reports, to reach a wider and faster audience via the internet, so it could be known across Syrena, not just in River City.

Because Ivan was spending time with Lia and had Lena urging them, he hadn't personally dealt with the online issue yet. He intended to handle it later, and although he sent a message to Jimmy to help, eradicating it wasn't instantaneous.

In short, those who needed to see it, saw it.

After answering her senior sister's call, Lia's face changed immediately.

Noticing her expression, Ivan asked concernedly, "What's wrong?"

Lia didn't answer but hurriedly went online.

Seeing this, Ivan immediately understood and quickly grabbed her phone. Lia looked up at him, her face pale, trembling lips questioning, "Ivan, did you know about what's online?"

She reached out, nearly breaking down, demanding, "Ivan, give me the phone, I need to see it!"

It was about her background.

She wasn't her father's biological daughter; she was born from her mother's affair with her uncle? Her mother's death was because her father caught her in the act, and out of shame, she took her own life? Sister Charlotte said those bed photos only had the private parts pixellated; the faces weren't censored. She resembled her mother so closely that one might think they were photos of Lia without reading the captions.

This news was something Lia found hard to accept.

How could her mother be such a person?

In her heart, Lia defended her mother, but remembering her father's years of abuse, her heart tightened, possibly, what was online was true.

Deep in her memories, her father was truly good to her before she turned six; after her mother's death, he treated her poorly. She didn't know why her mother died, she was young then, and her father never told her. Maybe he did, but she couldn't remember.

Lia thought a lot, no wonder, even after nineteen years, her father still hated her mother. If Lia disobeyed, he would threaten her with her mother's soul, saying he would desecrate her mother's grave.

Such deep betrayal, how could her father not resent it?