Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3043

"Dad, you don't need to get involved. Weren't you about to have a match? Go play chess with Mr. Harper," Emily says, giving the caretaker a look. The caretaker understands and, ignoring Shawn's protests, wheels him out of the room. "Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Harper was just looking for you. Let's go play chess. I'll bring you back in a bit."

The door clicks shut, returning the room to silence. Emily sits on the couch and takes a sip of her juice.

As if parched, she downs half the glass in one go.

Bonnie quickly hands her a napkin. "Slow down. Is it that hot out there?"

"Let me get you some more!" Gina eagerly reaches for the glass.

The two of them hover around Emily, waiting on her hand and foot. Emily doesn't move, merely asking in a calm voice, "How has Elliott been lately?"

Bonnie sighs dramatically. "Same old, same old. Working overtime every day and still not making much. He's lightyears behind you!"

Gina chimes in, "That's exactly why I prioritized your education and sent you abroad. I knew you had the brains for it. A degree from a top university really does make all the difference!"

Bonnie jokes, "Mom always had great foresight. If my mom had sent me to study abroad, maybe I'd be marrying a billionaire right now too!"

Gina adds, "Rich families don't care as much about background anymore. It's all about looks and education."

Bonnie replies with a knowing smirk, "Thank goodness the Sullivan family gave Emily such great genes."

The two women chatter back and forth. Emily neither argues nor joins in.

Finally, Gina steers the conversation to the main point. "Emily, I hear you're getting engaged to Mr. James? Why didn't you tell your mother about such wonderful news? I always said he liked you. I knew you were destined for great things, and I was right."

Bonnie jumps in, "Emily was probably just planning to surprise us!"

Bonnie rubs her belly and laughs awkwardly. "A billionaire family like theirs can't possibly offer pennies. I've heard that in high society, the bride price starts at tens of millions of dollars in cash, plus a set number of mansions and luxury cars. If they give any less, they'd be the laughingstock of their circle."

Emily looks at Bonnie. "Who would laugh at them? The James family?"

Bonnie is momentarily speechless. She's right. Does a family like the James family really need to prove themselves to anyone?

Gina can't wait any longer. "What exactly did the James family say about the bride price?"

Emily presses her lips together. "We talked about it. I turned it down."

Gina's face drops. "Why would you turn it down?"

Emily stares calmly at her mother. "A bride price and a dowry are supposed to match. If the James family gives me tens of millions, mansions, and cars, how am I supposed to match that with my dowry? Are you going to provide an equal amount for me? If you do, I'll take their money!"