Chapter 78

"Hey, Joyce, life must be good to you lately, huh? Looks like you've put on a few pounds." Ronald, seated across from Joyce, made the remark offhandedly.

Katrina turned to her daughter at his words. How much weight could Joyce have really gained?

Katrina subtly lifted her hand and pinched her daughter's arm, feeling the unexpected softness. "What's going on?" she inquired in a subdued tone.

Joyce,looking somewhat bothered, responded, "I don't know! l've just been really hungry all the time." As she spoke, she reached for a side dish.

Katrina's brow furrowed, about to comment, when the door to their private room burst open.

Richard and Alexander entered, smiling as they presented a thoughtfully wrapped gift to Katrina. "Sorry for the delay, Mr. and Mrs.Harper. Traffic was a nightmare," Richard apologized.

Katrina eyed Alexander, who seemed disengaged, more interested in his phone than the event.

Katrina beamed, encouraging Alexander to sit next to Joyce and addressing Richard warmly, "Oh, please,there's no need for formalities here. You can call my husband Caiden and me Katrina. Let's keep it relaxed."

Katrina was skilled at smoothing over any awkwardness, her words weaving a sense of unity and ease.

Her approach made it clear to all present; this gathering was more than a mere family dinner. It was a strategic move to cement an alliance between the two families.

This contrasted sharply with Daniela and Alexander's hastily arranged wedding, which had lacked a formal introduction to family members.

Now,with Alexander present, they nodded in approval.

He was mature and composed-a perfect match for Joyce.

"Alexander, I'm Joyce's second uncle, Wyatt. Over there is her third uncle, Ronald. We haven't had much interaction before, but from now on, let's keep in touch. We're family, after all." With a swift motion, Wyatt finished his drink in one gulp.

As he set down his empty glass, he noted that Alexander had only sipped his water.

His expression darkened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a smile as he refilled his glass. "So,Alexander, I hear your business is flourishing. You're in the renovation industry, correct?"

Wyatt, who also owned a small renovation company, made a modest living with orders just in the hundreds of thousands annually. "Should you have any upcoming projects, consider involving me." He clapped the young man sitting next to him on the shoulder. "This is my son. He's green but eager.It would mean a great deal if he could shadow you and learn from the best. What do you think?"

Wyatt had done his homework before the dinner, aware of Alexander's significant status in the industry.Securing a position for his son under Alexander could potentially elevate their family's standing in the fiercely competitive local business environment.

Alexander stayed silent during Wyatt's proposal, prompting Katrina to intervene. "Let's focus on the meal,everyone.Alexander, don't worry about drinking. Make yourself at home, relax and enjoy the food."

Despite Wyatt's attempts to steer the conversation back to business, Katrina smoothly redirected each time.

Finally,Wyatt slammed his glass onto the table, chuckling scornfully. He realized that while Daniela, not being Katrina's bioogical daughter, could be subjected to familial pressures without much concern from Katrina, Alexander was a different story.

Alexander represented a direct benefit to Katrina, and she would not allow any encroachments on what she considered her personal asset.

Wyatt rolled his eyes at this.

Katrina remained unfazed. In her view, only she was entitled to reap benefits from her daughter or her prospective son-in-law.

As the meal progressed, a plate of steamed fish was served.

The fish, cooked to perfection without a drop of wwater, was tender and flavorful, a dish Joyce always relished.

Katrina slid the dish towards Joyce with a warm smnile, then turned to engage Richard. "Richard, when we first met, we were both in our early thirties. Now here we are, our children grown, time slipping by. It's remarkable how fast the years go, isn't it?"

Richard recognized Katrina's tactic immediately.

Everyone at the table understood.

Katrina was subtly setting the stage to steer the conversation towards Joyce and Alexander's impending union.

Richard offered a polite smile in return. "Yes, indeed, time does fly."

Earlier, en route to the dinner, Richard had discussed the situation with Alexander. He viewed Daniela as a coveted match currently beyond reach. For the moment, maintaining stability with Joyce was prudent.

By neither accepting nor dismissing the proposal outright, he could delay decisions until Daniela's intentions became clearer.

Shoud she show signs of a change of heart, a reunion might still be feasible. If not, Joyce would serve as an adequate alternative.

Feeling it was the right moment, Katrina began to extol Joyce's virtues enthusiastically. "Joyce is a wonderful girl. She's charming and unlike some young women who flounder at the sight of a suitor. No,Joyce has always shown exemplary discipline. She embodies the grace of a genuine lady, groomed to be the ideal spouse for a distinguished family. The man who marries her will indeed be fortunate. And you-"

"Urgh!" Joyce interrupted with a sudden gag, cutting Katrina off mid-sentence.

Katrina fixed her with a stern look. Now? At this critical moment while she was lavishing praise?

Joyce sat there, her face ashen, overwhelmed by the strong scent of the fish that she normally loved. Now,

it was repulsive, the smell invading her senses, triggering waves of nausea that coursed through her.

She pushed the plate away and muttered, "Please, go on."

Katrina's irritation was palpable as her eyes narrowed, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile,turning back to Richard. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, Joyce's character is impeccable. She's truly a wonderful-"

"Urgh!" Joyce gagged again, cutting Katrina off a second time.

Katrina's expression turned stormy with frustration. "Remove that fish!" she commanded the waiter sharply,her annoyance spilling over onto the staff.

When she faced Richard again, her expression had reset to one of calm and control, as if the previous outbursts had never occurred.

Richard couldn't help but be struck by her ability to maintain poise. Despite the awkward interruptions, she appeared utterly unruffled.

Internally, he cringed, feeling a secondhand embarrassment for her situation.