The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 595

Chapter 595 A Formal Welcome

Chapter 595 A Formal Welcome

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“This…” Miranda instinctively bristled, an immediate objection poised on her lips.

Wayne’s brow furrowed deeply, opening his mouth to intervene, but Sander simply raised a hand, silencing them both with a single, authoritative gesture.

He let out a heavy sigh, his tone shifting from commanding to gently persuasive as he addressed them. “I know you two are incredibly fond of Riley as a daughter–in–law. She is a composed, well–mannered young woman who carries herself with the grace of old money. Personally, I am quite pleased with her as well.”

Then, his expression sobered, the weight of a century of tradition settling back into his features. “But the Torres family is an institution that has stood for over a hundred years. The protocols established by our forebears cannot be altered on a mere whim. For my centennial celebration, relatives have traveled from all corners of the country to return home. You must allow the family to witness her sincerity and competence firsthand. Only then will the broader clan be convinced, allowing her to truly establish her standing within these walls for the future.”

Seeing that Miranda still looked visibly aggrieved, Sander added a note of reassurance. “Do not worry. We are not living in the Dark Ages, after all. This so–called assessment is merely a formality–a chance to evaluate her character and aptitude. No one is going to make this genuinely difficult for her.”

With those words, Sander had effectively offered a diplomatic compromise while simultaneously invoking the sanctity of ancestral rules and clan obligations, leaving the Torres couple with no room to argue further.

Wayne knew his wife had a fiery temper and zero patience for archaic, exclusionary formalities. Terrified that she might lose her composure and lash out at the elders, he secretly gave her hand a firm, warning squeeze under the table. Stepping back to comply, he addressed Sander with a respectful nod. “You are right. I will… discuss the situation with Riley later.”

Yet, as they exchanged a glance, the couple knew they faced a daunting hurdle.

The hardest person to convince in this entire saga would not be the reasonable and adaptable Riley–it would be their son, a man who was fiercely, almost zealously, protective of his wife.

Given the way Sebastian doted on Riley these days, if he were to discover that his wife was being subjected to such indignities simply to gain acceptance into the family fold, he would likely flip the table in a rage and humiliate everyone in the room.

At that precise moment, Riley and Sebastian remained completely oblivious to the high–stakes

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Chapter 595 A Formal Welcome

debate unfolding behind closed doors.

:

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Sebastian took Riley’s hand, guiding her away from the clamor of the main hall and leading her on a slow, leisurely stroll through the sprawling grounds of the estate.

The architecture here was timeless and elegant, radiating the austere charm of a dynasty that had weathered a century. Compared to Cedar Creek she had seen back in Havenbrook, this place possessed an even heavier atmosphere of solemnity and gravitas.

Riley had heard whispers of an unspoken Torres family tradition–requiring the younger generations to return to the ancestral estate for a mandatory period each year to immerse themselves in family history and cultivate a sense of belonging.

Curious, she glanced up at the man walking beside her. His expression was cool and composed, a stark contrast to the questions bubbling in her mind. She asked softly, “Did you come here often when you were little?”

Sebastian’s footsteps slowed imperceptibly. He answered with a flat detachment, “Not really. Whenever I came as a child, the estate was crawling with cousins and distant relatives my age, but I just wanted to be left alone.

“They thought I was odd, and I found them exhausting. My parents and the rest of the family couldn’t do much to change it.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Later… after my condition improved somewhat, I started coming back a bit more frequently.”

Riley nodded in silent understanding.

Given Sebastian’s naturally withdrawn and aloof personality during his childhood, it made perfect sense that he would instinctively avoid such complex and socially demanding

environments.

She decided to shift the topic to something lighter. “So, back then, did you have even one or two friends your age who you got along with? Even a little bit?”

From what she knew, close confidants like Colin and the others had only entered his circle around the time he took the helm of the family business–when their professional interests and strategic goals aligned.

She was genuinely curious if there had been any flicker of warmth or connection in that otherwise barren childhood of his.

“No,” Sebastian answered bluntly.

Then, as if sensing the underlying pity in her inquiry, he turned his head to look at her. On his usually stern face, a rare hint of awkwardness surfaced. He frowned slightly and asked in a low

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Chapter 595 A Formal Welcome

voice, “Are you thinking that I’m… too much of a loner?”

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Seeing him act so obviously concerned about her opinion while trying to maintain his air of cool indifference, Riley couldn’t help but let out a soft, melodic laugh.

Under the pale moonlight, her eyes sparkled as if they held the entire galaxy within them.

She was just about to answer, ready to reassure this man who appeared so invulnerable on the outside yet occasionally revealed such deep–seated insecurities…

When suddenly, a crisp, pleasantly surprised female voice drifted from the path just beyond the rockery ahead.

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