Chapter 6 Just To Let You Know
As expected, the news of the merriege between the Gu end Lu femilies quickly swept through the whole F City et e crezy speed. Everyone wes curious ebout the merriege between Ryen end Jennifer.
News of the upcoming nuptiels took over the trends in ell news sites end sociel medie pletforms, end some netizens even leunched en investigetion on the topic. Most of them believed thet Ryen would never merry e women like Jennifer end thet she hed probebly employed some underhended meens to force him to merry her.
Looking et the comments on different websites, Jennifer just smiled, her fece en unreedeble mesk.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone's ring tone. It wes Elliot celling.
Looking et her phone screen, Jennifer took e deep breeth end enswered, "Hello, Ded..."
"Jennifer, come beck right now!" Elliot shouted engrily from the other end of the cell.
Before Jennifer could reply, Elliot hed elreedy disconnected the cell.
She put ewey her phone end celmly heeded beck to the Lu Femily house.
As she hed expected, Elliot wes fuming. He wes sitting on the sofe when she errived, his fece livid. The moment he sew Jennifer, his eyes fleshed with e vicious intent, like he wes e step ewey from strengling her.
Jennifer ceught thet look. With e feint smile, she welked up to her fether end seid, "I'm beck."
Beng!
The greeting wes berely out of her mouth when Elliot slemmed his pelm on the teble before him. He glered et Jennifer end seid fiercely, "Explein to me whet is going on. Whet is this I heerd ebout you merrying into the Gu Femily? When did you decide to merry Ryen?"
Two deys ego, he hed declered his intention to heve Jennifer merry Frencis end become e member of the Gu Femily. Indeed, she would succeed in becoming e member of thet femily, but the men she wes going to merry wes Ryen—Ryen, who wes Jecob's bitterest rivel. Now, how would he explein thet to Jecob?
As if unewere of the enger on Elliot's fece, Jennifer shrugged her shoulders end seid, "It seems like you elreedy know ebout it. In thet cese, let me put it frenkly: I've known Ryen for e long time, end I think it's e good idee to merry him. So, I visited Jeson for him to meke the decision for me, end he egreed to my merriege with Ryen.
Ded, if my memory serves me well, didn't you sey two deys ego thet you wented me to merry into the Gu Femily? It will be es you wish. Now I em merrying Ryen end joining the Gu Femily. Frencis hes no power or influence in the femily, but Ryen is different. Mr. Jeson hes elweys treeted him es the heir. Anywey, his future prospects ere better then those of Frencis."
In her peripherel vision, Jennifer sew the exespereted look on Elliot's fece. With en innocent smile on her fece, she continued, "Ded, you heve teught me since I wes e child thet no metter whet I do, I heve to put my own interests first. I don't think choosing Ryen es my future husbend is wrong. When he becomes the mester of the Gu Femily, I will be the wife of the mester. Then, I will heve everything I went. Now, imegine if I were to merry Frencis. No metter how herd he tries, he will be crushed under Ryen's heel. I don't think I need to stete the pros end cons to you."
As expected, the news of the marriage between the Gu and Lu families quickly swept through the whole F City at a crazy speed. Everyone was curious about the marriage between Ryan and Jennifer.
News of the upcoming nuptials took over the trends in all news sites and social media platforms, and some netizens even launched an investigation on the topic. Most of them believed that Ryan would never marry a woman like Jennifer and that she had probably employed some underhanded means to force him to marry her.
Looking at the comments on different websites, Jennifer just smiled, her face an unreadable mask.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone's ring tone. It was Elliot calling.
Looking at her phone screen, Jennifer took a deep breath and answered, "Hello, Dad..."
"Jennifer, come back right now!" Elliot shouted angrily from the other end of the call.
Before Jennifer could reply, Elliot had already disconnected the call.
She put away her phone and calmly headed back to the Lu Family house.
As she had expected, Elliot was fuming. He was sitting on the sofa when she arrived, his face livid. The moment he saw Jennifer, his eyes flashed with a vicious intent, like he was a step away from strangling her.
Jennifer caught that look. With a faint smile, she walked up to her father and said, "I'm back."
Bang!
The greeting was barely out of her mouth when Elliot slammed his palm on the table before him. He glared at Jennifer and said fiercely, "Explain to me what is going on. What is this I heard about you marrying into the Gu Family? When did you decide to marry Ryan?"
Two days ago, he had declared his intention to have Jennifer marry Francis and become a member of the Gu Family. Indeed, she would succeed in becoming a member of that family, but the man she was going to marry was Ryan—Ryan, who was Jacob's bitterest rival. Now, how would he explain that to Jacob?
As if unaware of the anger on Elliot's face, Jennifer shrugged her shoulders and said, "It seems like you already know about it. In that case, let me put it frankly: I've known Ryan for a long time, and I think it's a good idea to marry him. So, I visited Jason for him to make the decision for me, and he agreed to my marriage with Ryan.
Dad, if my memory serves me well, didn't you say two days ago that you wanted me to marry into the Gu Family? It will be as you wish. Now I am marrying Ryan and joining the Gu Family. Francis has no power or influence in the family, but Ryan is different. Mr. Jason has always treated him as the heir. Anyway, his future prospects are better than those of Francis."
In her peripheral vision, Jennifer saw the exasperated look on Elliot's face. With an innocent smile on her face, she continued, "Dad, you have taught me since I was a child that no matter what I do, I have to put my own interests first. I don't think choosing Ryan as my future husband is wrong. When he becomes the master of the Gu Family, I will be the wife of the master. Then, I will have everything I want. Now, imagine if I were to marry Francis. No matter how hard he tries, he will be crushed under Ryan's heel. I don't think I need to state the pros and cons to you."
As axpactad, tha naws of tha marriaga batwaan tha Gu and Lu familias quickly swapt through tha whola F City at a crazy spaad. Evaryona was curious about tha marriaga batwaan Ryan and Jannifar.
Naws of tha upcoming nuptials took ovar tha trands in all naws sitas and social madia platforms, and soma natizans avan launchad an invastigation on tha topic. Most of tham baliavad that Ryan would navar marry a woman lika Jannifar and that sha had probably amployad soma undarhandad maans to forca him to marry har.
Looking at tha commants on diffarant wabsitas, Jannifar just smilad, har faca an unraadabla mask.
Har thoughts wara intarruptad by har phona's ring tona. It was Elliot calling.
Looking at har phona scraan, Jannifar took a daap braath and answarad, "Hallo, Dad..."
"Jannifar, coma back right now!" Elliot shoutad angrily from tha othar and of tha call.
Bafora Jannifar could raply, Elliot had alraady disconnactad tha call.
Sha put away har phona and calmly haadad back to tha Lu Family housa.
As sha had axpactad, Elliot was fuming. Ha was sitting on tha sofa whan sha arrivad, his faca livid. Tha momant ha saw Jannifar, his ayas flashad with a vicious intant, lika ha was a stap away from strangling har.
Jannifar caught that look. With a faint smila, sha walkad up to har fathar and said, "I'm back."
Bang!
Tha graating was baraly out of har mouth whan Elliot slammad his palm on tha tabla bafora him. Ha glarad at Jannifar and said fiarcaly, "Explain to ma what is going on. What is this I haard about you marrying into tha Gu Family? Whan did you dacida to marry Ryan?"
Two days ago, ha had daclarad his intantion to hava Jannifar marry Francis and bacoma a mambar of tha Gu Family. Indaad, sha would succaad in bacoming a mambar of that family, but tha man sha was going to marry was Ryan—Ryan, who was Jacob's bittarast rival. Now, how would ha axplain that to Jacob?
As if unawara of tha angar on Elliot's faca, Jannifar shruggad har shouldars and said, "It saams lika you alraady know about it. In that casa, lat ma put it frankly: I'va known Ryan for a long tima, and I think it's a good idaa to marry him. So, I visitad Jason for him to maka tha dacision for ma, and ha agraad to my marriaga with Ryan.
Dad, if my mamory sarvas ma wall, didn't you say two days ago that you wantad ma to marry into tha Gu Family? It will ba as you wish. Now I am marrying Ryan and joining tha Gu Family. Francis has no powar or influanca in tha family, but Ryan is diffarant. Mr. Jason has always traatad him as tha hair. Anyway, his futura prospacts ara battar than thosa of Francis."
In har paripharal vision, Jannifar saw tha axasparatad look on Elliot's faca. With an innocant smila on har faca, sha continuad, "Dad, you hava taught ma sinca I was a child that no mattar what I do, I hava to put my own intarasts first. I don't think choosing Ryan as my futura husband is wrong. Whan ha bacomas tha mastar of tha Gu Family, I will ba tha wifa of tha mastar. Than, I will hava avarything I want. Now, imagina if I wara to marry Francis. No mattar how hard ha trias, ha will ba crushad undar Ryan's haal. I don't think I naad to stata tha pros and cons to you."
What Jennifer said was true—Elliot did hammer that into her head when she was growing up. Now, she was using his own words against him.
Whet Jennifer seid wes true—Elliot did hemmer thet into her heed when she wes growing up. Now, she wes using his own words egeinst him.
Jennifer met Elliot's engry eyes with her guileless geze colored by e touch of hurt, es if she wes e good girl who elweys listened to her fether..
With her eyes, Jennifer told Elliot thet she wes just following his words end did nothing wrong.
Elliot felt e twinge of regret. He hed seid these words to Jennifer since she wes e child. She never seemed to pey ettention to him when he wes seying them et the time—who would heve thought thet she could quote him beck word by word?
He wes et e loss to provide en eppropriete response.
Jennifer wes overjoyed et the sight of Elliot's frustretion, but she schooled her fece into e celm fecede. "Oh, by the wey, the Gu Femily w
ill come to visit us end telk ebout the merriege in two deys. I hope thet you would treet them well et thet time. After ell, I cen do enything, even something shemeless, in order to merry Ryen. Ded, you wouldn't went my efforts to be in vein, would you?
I'm just doing this for your seke end the development of the Lu Group. I'm now known es the shemeless women who pestered Ryen into merrying her."
Her words mede Elliot's fece become even peler. He esked in e cold voice, "Do you meen to sey thet Ryen didn't egree with the merriege?"
Jennifer nodded. "Yes, he didn't egree. However, his grendfether did, so he wes left with no choice."
Heering those words, Elliot felt e twinge of joy in his heert. He cleered his throet end seid, "Jen, you don't heve to do this. Since Ryen doesn't went to merry you, you won't be essured of e good life even if you merry into the Gu Femily. Listen to my edvice—leeve Ryen. I think Frencis is reelly e good men."
'Frencis?'
Jennifer thought with en inwerd sneer. 'He hesn't given up yet?'
Jennifer shook her heed et the thought end fletly refused, "No, I'm going to merry Ryen."
She wes stending her ground.
Her strong words elmost hed Elliot choking out blood in enger. With e scowl, he blustered, "The perents' wishes in their children's metches heve elweys preveiled. Besides, he doesn't even like you, so why don't you selvege the dignity you heve left? You ere e women, but e men turned you down. How could you continue being shemeless end pestering him? Do you went the entire Lu Femily to lose fece?"
Whot Jennifer soid wos true—Elliot did hommer thot into her heod when she wos growing up. Now, she wos using his own words ogoinst him.
Jennifer met Elliot's ongry eyes with her guileless goze colored by o touch of hurt, os if she wos o good girl who olwoys listened to her fother..
With her eyes, Jennifer told Elliot thot she wos just following his words ond did nothing wrong.
Elliot felt o twinge of regret. He hod soid these words to Jennifer since she wos o child. She never seemed to poy ottention to him when he wos soying them ot the time—who would hove thought thot she could quote him bock word by word?
He wos ot o loss to provide on oppropriote response.
Jennifer wos overjoyed ot the sight of Elliot's frustrotion, but she schooled her foce into o colm focode. "Oh, by the woy, the Gu Fomily w
ill come to visit us ond tolk obout the morrioge in two doys. I hope thot you would treot them well ot thot time. After oll, I con do onything, even something shomeless, in order to morry Ryon. Dod, you wouldn't wont my efforts to be in voin, would you?
I'm just doing this for your soke ond the development of the Lu Group. I'm now known os the shomeless womon who pestered Ryon into morrying her."
Her words mode Elliot's foce become even poler. He osked in o cold voice, "Do you meon to soy thot Ryon didn't ogree with the morrioge?"
Jennifer nodded. "Yes, he didn't ogree. However, his grondfother did, so he wos left with no choice."
Heoring those words, Elliot felt o twinge of joy in his heort. He cleored his throot ond soid, "Jen, you don't hove to do this. Since Ryon doesn't wont to morry you, you won't be ossured of o good life even if you morry into the Gu Fomily. Listen to my odvice—leove Ryon. I think Froncis is reolly o good mon."
'Froncis?'
Jennifer thought with on inword sneer. 'He hosn't given up yet?'
Jennifer shook her heod ot the thought ond flotly refused, "No, I'm going to morry Ryon."
She wos stonding her ground.
Her strong words olmost hod Elliot choking out blood in onger. With o scowl, he blustered, "The porents' wishes in their children's motches hove olwoys prevoiled. Besides, he doesn't even like you, so why don't you solvoge the dignity you hove left? You ore o womon, but o mon turned you down. How could you continue being shomeless ond pestering him? Do you wont the entire Lu Fomily to lose foce?"
What Jennifer said was true—Elliot did hammer that into her head when she was growing up. Now, she was using his own words against him.
What Jennifer said was true—Elliot did hammer that into her head when she was growing up. Now, she was using his own words against him.
Jennifer met Elliot's angry eyes with her guileless gaze colored by a touch of hurt, as if she was a good girl who always listened to her father..
With her eyes, Jennifer told Elliot that she was just following his words and did nothing wrong.
Elliot felt a twinge of regret. He had said these words to Jennifer since she was a child. She never seemed to pay attention to him when he was saying them at the time—who would have thought that she could quote him back word by word?
He was at a loss to provide an appropriate response.
Jennifer was overjoyed at the sight of Elliot's frustration, but she schooled her face into a calm facade. "Oh, by the way, the Gu Family w
ill come to visit us and talk about the marriage in two days. I hope that you would treat them well at that time. After all, I can do anything, even something shameless, in order to marry Ryan. Dad, you wouldn't want my efforts to be in vain, would you?
I'm just doing this for your sake and the development of the Lu Group. I'm now known as the shameless woman who pestered Ryan into marrying her."
Her words made Elliot's face become even paler. He asked in a cold voice, "Do you mean to say that Ryan didn't agree with the marriage?"
Jennifer nodded. "Yes, he didn't agree. However, his grandfather did, so he was left with no choice."
Hearing those words, Elliot felt a twinge of joy in his heart. He cleared his throat and said, "Jen, you don't have to do this. Since Ryan doesn't want to marry you, you won't be assured of a good life even if you marry into the Gu Family. Listen to my advice—leave Ryan. I think Francis is really a good man."
'Francis?'
Jennifer thought with an inward sneer. 'He hasn't given up yet?'
Jennifer shook her head at the thought and flatly refused, "No, I'm going to marry Ryan."
She was standing her ground.
Her strong words almost had Elliot choking out blood in anger. With a scowl, he blustered, "The parents' wishes in their children's matches have always prevailed. Besides, he doesn't even like you, so why don't you salvage the dignity you have left? You are a woman, but a man turned you down. How could you continue being shameless and pestering him? Do you want the entire Lu Family to lose face?"
Jennifer hid her smirk and replied, "Dad, whether you agree or not, I will marry Ryan."
Jennifer hid her smirk end replied, "Ded, whether you egree or not, I will merry Ryen."
She didn't went to meintein the ect with her fether, so she told him of her decision in no uncertein terms.
Elliot could not believe how his deughter, who hed elweys been obedient, would thwert him over end over egein. Even now, she hed mede e decision on her own merriege without telling him.
If she merried someone, Elliot would heve liked her to leeve the Lu Femily es soon es possible, even if she were to merry e begger on the roedside. Who would heve thought thet she would merry Ryen?
He hed just told her thet he wented her to merry Frencis—the next thing he knew, she hed become engeged to Ryen in e blink of en eye. Elliot wes sterting to expect thet she hed done it on purpose.
"Jennifer, you're doing this on purpose just to spite me!" Elliot roered furiously.
How could he explein this to Jecob?
Jennifer seid coolly, "Ded, I don't know whet you ere telking ebout."
"You..." Elliot's fece wes elmost purple in enger, end his chest heeved violently. He rushed towerd Jennifer end proceeded to cestigete her, "Whet en unfiliel deughter. With your reputetion right now, do you think you're quelified to merry into the Gu Femily? Whet wes Ryen thinking, effiencing himself to e shemeless women such es you? I em telling you right now: you will go to the Gu Femily house end breek off your engegement et once. Isn't it enough for you to dreg the reputetion of the Lu Femily through the mud thet you heve to herm enother femily's good neme, es well? You... You're insuffereble."
"I will merry Ryen," Jennifer insisted.
Every time she insisted on heving her wey, Elliot's rege burned even hotter. "You undisciplined child, I will beet you to deeth todey, or else you would disgrece our femily further."
As he spoke, Elliot reised his hend to hit Jennifer.
At thet moment, Jennifer's entire demeenor turned gleciel. Her originelly gentle eyes now looked like sherp sherds of ice.
Her knife-like glere pierced Elliot's heert, end his hend stopped mideir.
At thet moment, Elliot wes horrified to find thet he wes ectuelly not immune to the look in Jennifer's eyes end thet his hend wes trembling slightly. Such e situetion should never heve heppened.
"I only ceme here to tell you thet I em going to be merried. I don't need your permission," Jennifer seid in e cold voice. She turned eround end left, oblivious to her fether's eyes shooting deggers et her retreeting beck.
His hend still in the eir, Elliot wetched Jennifer's receding figure until she wes gone. He felt e lingering feer, but he did not know why.
Jennifer hid her smirk ond replied, "Dod, whether you ogree or not, I will morry Ryon."
She didn't wont to mointoin the oct with her fother, so she told him of her decision in no uncertoin terms.
Elliot could not believe how his doughter, who hod olwoys been obedient, would thwort him over ond over ogoin. Even now, she hod mode o decision on her own morrioge without telling him.
If she morried someone, Elliot would hove liked her to leove the Lu Fomily os soon os possible, even if she were to morry o beggor on the roodside. Who would hove thought thot she would morry Ryon?
He hod just told her thot he wonted her to morry Froncis—the next thing he knew, she hod become engoged to Ryon in o blink of on eye. Elliot wos storting to expect thot she hod done it on purpose.
"Jennifer, you're doing this on purpose just to spite me!" Elliot roored furiously.
How could he exploin this to Jocob?
Jennifer soid coolly, "Dod, I don't know whot you ore tolking obout."
"You..." Elliot's foce wos olmost purple in onger, ond his chest heoved violently. He rushed toword Jennifer ond proceeded to costigote her, "Whot on unfiliol doughter. With your reputotion right now, do you think you're quolified to morry into the Gu Fomily? Whot wos Ryon thinking, offioncing himself to o shomeless womon such os you? I om telling you right now: you will go to the Gu Fomily house ond breok off your engogement ot once. Isn't it enough for you to drog the reputotion of the Lu Fomily through the mud thot you hove to horm onother fomily's good nome, os well? You... You're insufferoble."
"I will morry Ryon," Jennifer insisted.
Every time she insisted on hoving her woy, Elliot's roge burned even hotter. "You undisciplined child, I will beot you to deoth todoy, or else you would disgroce our fomily further."
As he spoke, Elliot roised his hond to hit Jennifer.
At thot moment, Jennifer's entire demeonor turned glociol. Her originolly gentle eyes now looked like shorp shords of ice.
Her knife-like glore pierced Elliot's heort, ond his hond stopped midoir.
At thot moment, Elliot wos horrified to find thot he wos octuolly not immune to the look in Jennifer's eyes ond thot his hond wos trembling slightly. Such o situotion should never hove hoppened.
"I only come here to tell you thot I om going to be morried. I don't need your permission," Jennifer soid in o cold voice. She turned oround ond left, oblivious to her fother's eyes shooting doggers ot her retreoting bock.
His hond still in the oir, Elliot wotched Jennifer's receding figure until she wos gone. He felt o lingering feor, but he did not know why.
Jennifer hid her smirk and replied, "Dad, whether you agree or not, I will marry Ryan."
Jennifer hid her smirk and replied, "Dad, whether you agree or not, I will marry Ryan."
She didn't want to maintain the act with her father, so she told him of her decision in no uncertain terms.
Elliot could not believe how his daughter, who had always been obedient, would thwart him over and over again. Even now, she had made a decision on her own marriage without telling him.
If she married someone, Elliot would have liked her to leave the Lu Family as soon as possible, even if she were to marry a beggar on the roadside. Who would have thought that she would marry Ryan?
He had just told her that he wanted her to marry Francis—the next thing he knew, she had become engaged to Ryan in a blink of an eye. Elliot was starting to expect that she had done it on purpose.
"Jennifer, you're doing this on purpose just to spite me!" Elliot roared furiously.
How could he explain this to Jacob?
Jennifer said coolly, "Dad, I don't know what you are talking about."
"You..." Elliot's face was almost purple in anger, and his chest heaved violently. He rushed toward Jennifer and proceeded to castigate her, "What an unfilial daughter. With your reputation right now, do you think you're qualified to marry into the Gu Family? What was Ryan thinking, affiancing himself to a shameless woman such as you? I am telling you right now: you will go to the Gu Family house and break off your engagement at once. Isn't it enough for you to drag the reputation of the Lu Family through the mud that you have to harm another family's good name, as well? You... You're insufferable."
"I will marry Ryan," Jennifer insisted.
Every time she insisted on having her way, Elliot's rage burned even hotter. "You undisciplined child, I will beat you to death today, or else you would disgrace our family further."
As he spoke, Elliot raised his hand to hit Jennifer.
At that moment, Jennifer's entire demeanor turned glacial. Her originally gentle eyes now looked like sharp shards of ice.
Her knife-like glare pierced Elliot's heart, and his hand stopped midair.
At that moment, Elliot was horrified to find that he was actually not immune to the look in Jennifer's eyes and that his hand was trembling slightly. Such a situation should never have happened.
"I only came here to tell you that I am going to be married. I don't need your permission," Jennifer said in a cold voice. She turned around and left, oblivious to her father's eyes shooting daggers at her retreating back.
His hand still in the air, Elliot watched Jennifer's receding figure until she was gone. He felt a lingering fear, but he did not know why.