The next day, evening.
Virtue Retreat.
Because so ti was delayed on the road, when Nora Scott arrived, the three brothers were already gathered in the private room.
"Are the gifts ready?"
As soon as she reached the door, she heard Pedro Langley’s inquiry.
Nora Scott paused in her steps.
"Brother, does he look proper to you? Two weeks ago, he said to prepare gifts for eting the family, and reminded us each ti like I was eting the parents and elders. I’m pretending to be angry, but I’m not actually mad."
"It’s proper to bring gifts when eting the sister-in-law."
The voice was relatively steady and solemn, it must be Pedro Langley’s elder brother, Lucas Langley, without a doubt.
Thomas Langley was indignant, "Whose side are you on?"
"Loughton’s side."
"..."
"Even the third one is no longer single, what about you? Last ti, the girl your sister-in-law introduced to you ended up crying because you took her bungee jumping. If she had found you, she would have surely beaten you up. You’re all grown up, but still so playful—"
A tirade of education ca out, endlessly flowing, it was indeed quite engaging.
Nora Scott chuckled softly and pushed the door open.
Six pairs of eyes turned towards her simultaneously as they heard the sound, all focusing on her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
As she walked in, Nora Scott smiled warmly and spoke with a relaxed deanor.
Seeing her, all three of them were noticeably impressed.
People tend to have an appreciation for beautiful things, and Nora Scott was delightful to the eyes. She had put on a subtle amount of makeup today, and her attire was more refined than usual, exuding a calm and ethereal aura. Removing her wide-brimd hat, every gaze was captivated.
—She truly isn’t photogenic.
Those who had only seen her photos, like Lucas and Thomas Langley, both thought so.
"It’s still early."
Pedro Langley chid in to help.
Thomas Langley Lucas Langley: "..." It’s already more than a quarter-hour past the agreed ti, could you at least keep it sowhat realistic when lying?
Nora Scott smiled lightly, walking over to Pedro Langley and sat beside him.
"Elder brother, Lucas Langley."
"Second brother, Thomas Langley."
Pedro Langley tipped his chin slightly, gesturing towards them one by one, essentially introducing them to Nora Scott.
The three brothers, aside from so resemblance in their eyes and brows, differed greatly in terms of image and temperant.
Lucas Langley looked like soone who was serious, ticulous, and far-sighted. Even at a family al, he wore a suit and tie, exuding steadiness. Thomas Langley was different, dressed casually and carried himself with a free and easy flair, a certain casualness that bordered on pretentiousness.
Pedro Langley was sowhere in between, emphasis on the word "noble". He had a natural air of sophistication, making it clear at a glance that he was a gentleman of higher standing.
Nora Scott, neither obsequious nor arrogant, was neither nervous nor overly relaxed, greeting them naturally, "Elder Brother" and "Second Brother" casually spoken.
She considered eting family a significant event worthy of preparation. However... words like uneasy nervousness never had much relevance to her; she didn’t feel intimidated at all in person. Yet, both Lucas Langley and Thomas Langley were startled by her aura, slightly withdrawing their presence, and inwardly sighing that Pedro Langley might have a wife who’s quite the authority in the future.
"Hello, sister-in-law."
Thomas Langley smiled and greeted Nora Scott.
Lucas Langley nodded slightly to Nora Scott.
At this mont, Pedro Langley said, "Let’s order food first."
The importance lay not in eating, but in the eting. A few casually ordered dishes later, under Pedro Langley’s suggestive gaze, the two elder brothers reluctantly brought out the gifts they had prepared.
"Sister-in-law, just a little sothing."
Lucas Langley was the first to take out a gift.
Seeing this, Thomas Langley almost fell off his chair. He glared with surprise towards Pedro Langley.
—Is this your doing?
Pedro Langley responded with a single word through his gaze.
—Yes.
Lucas Langley had prepared a black card for Nora Scott, just processed two days ago.
From the day he got permission to et Nora Scott, Pedro Langley called Lucas Langley, first hinting for him to prepare a gift. Later, seeing Lucas Langley’s hesitations about what Nora Scott prefers, Pedro Langley offered so pointers. After hanging up, Lucas Langley realized he had been led into a trap by Pedro Langley but had no choice since it was the daughter-in-law Loughton had his eyes on, so he agreed.
Nora Scott was calm and composed, briefly surprised, then looked at Pedro Langley and understood, accepting it with a smile.
Next was Thomas Langley.
"I heard from Pedro that my sister-in-law loves studying chanical techniques. I happened to have sothing—"
When he took out the gift, Thomas Langley’s heart bled.
It was a chanical Bird he had acquired at a high price, with several hidden chanisms: it could move to designated places, store weapons, and even change shape, all through chanical operations. Such an item was priceless and money was trivial; the issue was that there were too few of them available.
Pedro Langley had coerced him to bring out his most precious belonging.
Otherwise—
No matter how beautiful the sister-in-law, he wouldn’t give it.
He opened the brocade box, took out the chanical Bird, looking as if he was being forcibly separated from his lover.
However, Pedro Langley glanced at it, noticed the familiar ginkgo mark on the chanical Bird, and unhesitatingly said, "No, change it."
To give Nora Scott sothing she herself had made was quite inappropriate.
"Huh?"
Determined as he was, Thomas Langley was stunned, unable to react.
Nora Scott also paused, understanding the humor, and couldn’t help but laugh.
She had heard from Katherine Collins that Thomas Langley loved chanical techniques and collected items that were generally impractical, and didn’t think much of it. But as it turns out—
???
This brother has quite a discerning eye.
Before Thomas Langley could react, Pedro Langley, who had long planned his next move, directly suggested, "The Blood Jade you flaunted around during the New Year would be quite good."
Nora Scott has a slight interest in collecting antiques.
—Even though most of the ti, others gifted them to her. However, she never rejects anything. Whether authentic or fake, as long as it looks good, she keeps it in her study to enjoy.
Previously, when Pedro Langley hinted at Thomas Langley to get sothing valuable, he was actually referring to antiques. He never expected—
The chanical Bird treated as a toy for Nora Scott?
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