Chapter 1

Karen was so pleased she could not stop smiling as she slapped her thigh. "That's right! That is exactly what I would expect from a VIP! You really do think differently now that you're a business owner! Alright, then. It's New Year's Day. We have a deal!"

Then, she cheerfully dragged Toby outside. "Come on, Toby. Let's go buy some fireworks. Don't bother your cousin while he cleans the house. You'll get a big present in a few days!"

The smile disappeared from my face. I turned around and took out my phone before opening a shopping app.

I checked each item Toby had destroyed, took photos and screenshots, and saved them. After rounding it down, the total came to twelve thousand dollars.

By the time I finished cleaning my room, it was already noon.

After I came back from holiday shopping, the dining table was already covered with food.

Karen was sitting at the head of the table, gripping a crispy pork knuckle and chewing hard to the point of having grease all over her mouth. Meanwhile, Toby was using a fork and spoon to pick out food he did not like, scattering it everywhere.

My parents sat at the far end of the table, smiling awkwardly as they served Karen and Toby.

When Karen saw me come home, she spat a piece of bone onto the table. "Oh, you're back, Spencer. Come eat."

I looked at her coldly and sat down in front of my plate. Then, I picked up my fork and spoon.

"By the way, Spencer, you're twenty-eight this year, right?" Karen asked.

There it was again.

I kept my face blank. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Karen's eyes scanned me up and down. "Why else? You're almost thirty and still single. Look at the neighbor's son. He's three years younger than you, yet he already has two kids."

I picked up some salad from the salad bowl and calmly said, "I'm busy with work at the company right now, and I don't have time to think about that."

"What's the point of being busy?" Karen smiled in disdain. "For a man, it's pointless no matter how big his career gets if he doesn't have a wife to run his home and children to carry on his legacy. No matter how much money you make, you're just a well-paid wage slave.

"Besides, when your company goes public eventually, you're just going to let outsiders benefit from it, right?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Toby. "Look at our Toby. He's clearly the future of the entire extended Lane family. You make so much money, but won't it all end up going to Toby if you don't have a son?"

I almost choked on the corn in the salad. Her scheme was so obvious I could see it from the other side of the planet.

I said, "Karen, I earn my money through hard work. I can give it to whoever I want. By law, my direct heirs would be my parents. What does Toby have to do with it?"

I set down my fork as my voice turned cold.

Karen's face stiffened. Then, she quickly put on a sincere look as if she was simply worried. "Oh, why talk like I'm an outsider? I am saying this for your own good. How about this? I know a good match. Should I introduce you to her?"

I was about to refuse, but my mother nudged my leg under the table. Her eyes were full of pleading. She was afraid I would argue with Karen and ruin the holiday season.

I took a deep breath and held back.

"What kind of person?" I asked casually.