Chapter 16 Meeting His Parents
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Chapter 16 Meeting His Parents
“What?” Grandma’s tone shifted sharply. “It must be Jillian! The company was fine until she came back. This is definitely her doing! I’m going to settle this with her!”
I wasn’t sure what Archie said to her after that, but it was enough to calm her down. No one came to bother me again.
At noon, I ordered takeout. Later, Logan came to pick me up.
“If your brother had just followed the path you had laid out for him, the company wouldn’t have to be in this mess. But he turned a winning hand into a losing one,” Logan said as he drove.
I frowned slightly. “How long can it hold out?”
“At most, a little over two weeks,” Logan replied. “Our company has already started preparing for an acquisition.”
Hearing that left a bitter taste in my mouth. Watching something I had nurtured for so long deteriorate made me feel complicated.
Sensing my mood, Logan reached over and took my hand. “The company will still be in your hands in the future.”
I shook my head. “I know you have plans for it. Merging it into Harmon Group might actually be for the best. To be honest, my parents founded this company, and real estate was always its core business. But it was never really my area of expertise.”
Harmon Group, on the other hand, was built on real estate. With Logan managing it, he could carve out a better future for the company.
Leaning back in my seat, I said, “I’d rather focus on the daily commodities industry.”
Logan smiled. “Then here’s to you reaching new heights, Ms. Houghton.”
Suddenly, a few photos surfaced online. They were taken during our trip to Atruarea. Logan’s face was clear, while mine was mostly obscured–just the back of my head or a partial side profile could be seen. Anyone who wasn’t familiar with me wouldn’t recognize me
After all, Logan was the heir to Harmon Group. His father, Jackson Harmon, had already stepped back, leaving Logan in charge. Therefore, any gossip about him instantly attracted attention.
Logan raised his hand sincerely. “I swear, I had nothing to do with this.”
I studied the photos carefully, “Huh, they were taken at just the right angles. Not a single front–facing shot of me.”
Logan played dumb. “There’s an easy fix, darling. Just say the word, and I’ll make an official announcement right now.”
“Oh, please. We’re meeting your parents tomorrow. How am I supposed to face them with this nonsense all over the Internet?”
I hadn’t even met them yet, and I had already stolen their son away. More than that, I was worried his parents might find the whole thing improper.
“You don’t have to worry. No matter what happens, I’ll take care of it.” Logan ruffled my hair. “Now, let’s get some rest. You’ll need your energy to meet your in–laws tomorrow.”
I shot him a look. “Why does that sound like I’m heading into battle?”
Logan chuckled. “Alright, alright. There’s no need to stress. You’ll charm them easily.”
Even with Logan’s teasing, I was still nervous about meeting his parents for the first time.
We brought gifts and drove to the Harmon residence.
Logan’s mother, Lydia Parry, was a kind–looking woman. The moment she saw me, she took my hand with a gentle smile. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for you, Jill, Can I call you that?”
Her kindness instantly put me at ease. “Of course… Lydia.”
I was shy when I said it, but Lydia’s face lit up with joy. She pulled me inside and sat me down.
“It’s so good to see you.” Then, she took out an emerald bangle she had prepared in advance and handed it to me. “It’s just a little something from the family–nothing too special. Just wear it for fun.”
She said it so casually, but I knew its worth. Even at an auction, it would cost millions of dollars.
“Thank you, Lydia.”
Jackson was just as warm. “Jill, if this brat ever bullies you, just come to us. We’ll make sure he pays for it.”
Chapter 17 Starting to Regret
