Chapter 100
Chapter 100
"Stop! Rory, don't be impulsive!"
"Yes, Rory, what are you doing? You should in no way destroy an antique that is worth tens of millions.
Put it down!"
James and Elizabeth shouted nervously. They quickly put their hands under the gift box in Rory's hand,
afraid that Rory would really smash such a valuable blue-and-white porcelain on impulse!
Rory didn't relent. He looked straight at Phoebe and asked her to promise to accept it.
Under his intense gaze, Phoebe lowered her head and then nodded approvingly.
A smug smile crept over Rory's face immediately, and he then cast a glance at Tom who remained
silent. He took Tom's impassive face as a sign of subjection and felt even better.
"That's right. Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I just want to give you a gift. I'll be very heartbroken if you refuse me."
Rory put down the gift box and said with a smile, "open it and take a look. If you don't like it, I'll bring
you something more expensive."
James freaked out and broke out in a cold sweat. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the gift box
safely put on the table.
It was too much for him just now. Fortunately, he had a strong heart or he would have passed out.
However, he did not blame Rory. Instead, his heart warmed up, and he appreciated Rory even more.
Rory was such a good boy. All he did just now was only because he wanted them to accept the
antique.
Elizabeth was also relieved. She patted her chest and took a deep breath. The more she got to know
Rory, the more she was satisfied with him.
James and Elizabeth looked at each other and then started opening the box, both holding their breath.
It was so thrilling that their hands were shaking.
Phoebe's heart was thumping as well, her wide eyes locking on the box.
Only Tom looked very calm. There was no expression on his face except for a faint smile. He was not
being pretentious but such an antique was not enough to quicken his heartbeat, not to mention that it
was likely to be a forgery. Even if it was true, he wouldn't be stunned. When he was a boy, he saw
many of this in the Howard Family and even broke some. Besides, he was a billionaire now. The
interest he earned every day was a handsome sum.
But his composure was interpreted in an aggressive way by Rory and pissed him off. In his plan, Tom
would have overreacted out of jealousy, which would make Phoebe and her parents repulse him more.
However, the calmness on Tom's face was even tinged with disdain and it almost pushed him over the
edge.
Finally, James and Elizabeth opened the box and unraveled a piece of sublime blue-and-white
porcelain. It was luminous and delicate and had beautiful patterns, which all implied its age.
James gasped. His face turned red and he was so excited that he couldn't even speak clearly. "It's so
beautiful! It's marvelous! It's worth everything to have a look at the blue-and-white porcelain from the
Ming Dynasty."
Elizabeth also exclaimed, "wow! Is this really from the Ming Dynasty? It's too beautiful! Oh, that's too
much for me. Phoebe, give me a hand before I fall."
Elizabeth's face turned from red to pale. Ecstasy overwhelmed her and almost knocked the wind out of
her lungs. She gasped for air and staggered. Phoebe held her in time to keep her from tripping over
something.
But even so, she still looked disheveled and barely could sit stably on the chair.
Tom rolled his eyes speechlessly. If she couldn't even take this, how was she going to handle the fact
that her son-in-law, who she always despised, was a billionaire?
Phoebe was not an antique buff, but she knew some basic knowledge about it and could tell it was real.
Though she had seen big money, her heart could not help but beat fast and her face flushed.
Rory could not hide the smile on his face. He glimpsed Tom smugly before he asked affectedly, "Mr.
and Mrs. Scott, do you like this gift?"
"Sure! I can't like it more!" Elizabeth nodded gayly. As soon as she finished speaking, she felt dizzy
again.
James rubbed his hands. He was euphoric and touched the surface of the blue-and-white porcelain
scrupulously, afraid that he might deface it.
"Rory, where did y-you get it? I'm a-afraid it's very expensive, isn't it?" James stuttered.
"I won't call that expensive. I bought it at an auction a while ago. It's only 12 million dollars which can
be worth more as long as you like it." Rory bragged without changing his countenance.
"Awesome!" James gave Rory a thumbs-up, and the admiration and satisfaction in his eyes were full to
the brim. He said, "Rory, you gave me such a valuable gift, but I don't know what to give you back."
Rory made an uninterested gesture with a flick of his wrist, "Please don't say that. You're Phoebe's
father and that's a gift you deserve. But I have a request."
"Go ahead! As long as I can do it, I'll definitely help you!" James said eagerly.
Rory smiled at Phoebe and said, "my request is very simple. I just hope that you allow me to keep a
friendship with Phoebe. I want to visit her more often in the future and I'll be grateful if you don't kick me
out."
James and Elizabeth completely understood his subtext. He wanted them to fix him up with Phoebe.
Notwithstanding the presence of Tom, they didn't hesitate to give their promise. They ultimately had
never seen Tom as their son-in-law, so they nodded quickly. "Of course! You're most welcome in this Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
house. You can even spend a night here if you want."
Rory seized the opportunity and went further. He smiled bitterly and said, "that will be inappropriate.
After all, Phoebe is married. There are only two rooms here, and the sofa is taken by Tom. I don't have
a place to sleep."
Elizabeth blurted out, "that's no a problem. Just sleep in Phoebe's room!"
Tom's face darkened. His mother-in-law was simply so dismissive of him. Besides, he was still here
and he was Phoebe's husband. Those words embarrassed Phoebe too.
"Mom! You're not yourself!" Phoebe blushed.
Elizabeth didn't feel that there was anything wrong with her words at all. She said righteously, "nothing I
said is wrong. You and Tom aren't a real couple and you will marry Rory sooner or later. What's wrong
with him sleeping in your room?"
Flattered by the blue-and-white porcelain, James became shameless as well. He nodded and agreed,
"Your mother is right. You should go through the divorce procedures with Tom as soon as possible."