“Mm.” Mason Scott responded, hesitated for a moment, and said, “Then let’s go.”

After hurriedly saying goodbye to her mother and getting back in the car, Mason Scott immediately looked much more at ease than before. “This is good enough.” After all, it had been eight years apart; such a somewhat formal meeting actually made her feel relaxed.

Ian Mitchell didn’t really catch what she said; he was thinking about that thoughtful, scrutinizing look Pamela Ford had just given him, and doubts crowded his mind—had she remembered something?

Mason Scott noticed he hadn’t started the car for a long time and seemed lost in thought, so she couldn’t help but nudge his hand. “Ian Mitchell the driver, have we landed back on Earth yet?”

Her bright eyes smiled at him, but Ian Mitchell’s doubts hadn’t cleared, and now he was starting to get a headache. Why did it feel like certain traits in someone—traits that used to give him such headaches—were making a comeback lately?

Is it really true that a leopard can’t change its spots?

As it turned out, the ancients were right, and his premonition was spot on.

At twenty-seven, Mason Morgan was certainly much more mature than she’d been at eighteen or nineteen, but some of the little quirks Ian Mitchell had once known so well clearly hadn’t disappeared with age. For example, if she couldn’t win an argument, she’d resort to being unreasonable; she was getting more and more clingy; she’d pick out the dishes she didn’t like and give them to him; and so on…

Well, Lawyer Mitchell secretly admitted, he actually enjoyed it. Besides, getting her to bring back these little habits hadn’t been easy.

The wedding banquet was set for a month and a half later. Ian Mitchell planned to take some time off after the banquet, so he was busy wrapping up as much work as possible and delegating what he could. He’d already turned down the invitation to be a special guest host on “Legal Time.” As for the wedding preparations—making the guest list, booking the hotel, and all the other troublesome details—Ian Mitchell handled almost everything himself, leaving Mason Scott with a surprisingly light load by comparison.

Actually, all these things could have been left to a professional wedding planner, but Ian Mitchell clearly preferred to do them himself.

Of course, Mason Scott had her own headache: she couldn’t find a bridesmaid.

Amy Mitchell was out—she’d rushed to get her marriage certificate right after the New Year.

Ruby was even more out of the question. Mason Scott had already been treated to several big meals by her, under the pretext of “concealing the true marital status from the kind and pure masses.” When Mason Scott brought it up, Ruby wailed, “No way! If I’m a bridesmaid again, I’ll never get married myself!”

Her horrified expression made Mason Scott feel terribly guilty.

Then there was Scarlett Scott, who had called Mason Scott after hearing the news from Ian Mitchell. Her tone was much gentler than at their last meeting, and she even said she wanted to play matchmaker.

In short, none of them would be bridesmaids.

The final choice was a bit unexpected.

That night, Ian Mitchell was in the bedroom reading some particularly demanding materials and had strictly forbidden Mason Scott from making any noise to disturb him.

Mason Scott was lying on the bed writing invitations. The guest list had already been prepared by Ian Mitchell; all she had to do was copy it neatly. But what character was this? Ian Mitchell’s handwriting was so messy.

Mason Scott held up the paper, turning it this way and that for a long time.

She couldn’t recognize it.

She bit the end of her pen. Should she ask Ian Mitchell? She looked up at his focused expression…

He had said not to disturb him…

Forget it, better not ask. She’d just skip it for now.

Of course, Mason Scott wasn’t really that obedient. Back in college, her specialty had been pretending to comply while actually defying. Back then, the worst Ian Mitchell would do was give her a sour look and scold her a bit. Now that they were married, it was different—some of Ian Mitchell’s “punishments” were completely unrestrained. Honestly, Mason Scott was a little afraid of him.

Thinking about it made Mason Scott blush. She could never have imagined this side of Ian Mitchell before.

But it was so boring… As she copied, Mason Scott couldn’t help herself. She grabbed a blank sheet of paper and scribbled quickly.

—“Ian Mitchell, you’ve made me fall out with my colleague.”

She handed it to him.

This didn’t count as talking to disturb him, right?

Ian Mitchell hadn’t planned to pay attention to her, but when he glanced at the note and saw the words, it seemed serious, so he wrote underneath—“What happened?”

—“Taylor Jensen, you know her, right? Now she knows I knew you before, and she’s really mad, thinks I hid it from her on purpose. But given how things were back then, how could I explain?”

Ian Mitchell rubbed his brow and wrote on the little note—“Is it serious?”

“Yeah, really serious. I found a chance to explain everything to her carefully, and even asked her to be my bridesmaid. She agreed ^^ but she said she won’t give me a red envelope :(” She drew a pitiful crying face at the end.

It really was serious.

Ian Mitchell tossed the note in the trash and pulled her up. “I think you’re just too bored.”

She fell into his arms, his hand around her waist. She grinned, trying to get up, her hands braced on his chest, the fresh scent from her shower filling his senses…

For a moment, Ian Mitchell was completely captivated.

All of this was what he had longed for, and from now on, no matter what, he would never let go.

A few days before the wedding banquet, an unexpected visitor arrived at the law firm.

That day, Ian Mitchell had just returned from the prosecutor’s office when Beth immediately said, “Lawyer Mitchell, a lady has been waiting for you for quite a while.”

Ian Mitchell looked in the direction she indicated. The visitor stood up as soon as she saw him, nodded at him with elegant composure—it was Mason Scott’s mother, Pamela Ford.

“Please enjoy your tea.” Beth placed the tea on the coffee table in front of Pamela Ford.

“Thank you.” Pamela Ford inclined her head slightly. As the former mayor’s wife, she was undoubtedly poised and gracious.

Beth quietly closed the door, and the office immediately fell into an unusual silence.

Pamela Ford studied the silent young man behind the desk and was the first to speak: “We met briefly last time; you should still remember who I am.”

“Of course.” Ian Mitchell replied coolly, “Mrs. Zhao.”

The distant form of address made Pamela Ford even more suspicious. She softened her expression and said, “You don’t have to be so formal. Since you’ve married Mason Jr., it’s only right for you to call me mother-in-law.”

Ian Mitchell smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Pamela Ford continued with a smile, “If you’re not used to it, you can call me Ms. Ford.”

“Ms. Ford.” This time Ian Mitchell complied, “I’m curious—what brings you here?”

Pamela Ford took a sip of tea, looking calm. “Last time, after just a few words, Mason Jr. had a lot of praise for you. I’m just here to get to know you better, Lawyer Mitchell, there’s no need to be so on guard.”

“If Mason Scott knew how much you cared about her, she’d be very happy.”

Pamela Ford looked at the sharp-eyed young man and smiled kindly. “Are you feeling wronged on Mason Jr.’s behalf?”

Ian Mitchell’s face was expressionless. “Mason Scott has never felt wronged, so why should I bother?”

“True.” Pamela Ford frowned slightly and sighed, “From childhood, I never fulfilled my duties as a mother to Mason Jr.. Partly because of work, partly because her father and I didn’t have a good relationship, so I inevitably neglected her. Fortunately, she wasn’t too sensitive and grew up healthy.”

She paused, seeming a bit emotional, then continued, “Actually, I want to make up for it now, but I don’t know if I still have the chance.”

Faced with her sincere words, Ian Mitchell remained unmoved. “If Ms. Ford wants to express motherly love, why not go directly to Mason Scott? That would be more straightforward.”

Pamela Ford studied his expression carefully. “You seem rather hostile toward me?”

“Perhaps it’s just your imagination.”

An awkward silence fell.

Pamela Ford picked up her teacup again, gently blowing on the tea leaves. After a while, she said, “I wonder what your parents do for a living, Lawyer Mitchell? If possible, perhaps both families could formally meet.”

“That’s probably not possible. My parents passed away long ago,” Ian Mitchell said calmly.

“Oh? I’m very sorry to hear that.” Pamela Ford sounded apologetic, but there was no surprise in her eyes, as if she already knew. She hesitated, then asked, “Did they die of illness?”

A wave of weariness swept over Ian Mitchell.

By now, he was well aware of Pamela Ford’s real purpose. She had probably already figured out who he was, but didn’t know how much he knew about the past, so she was probing indirectly. Ian Mitchell could have pretended not to know, but suddenly he was tired of all this endless circling.

“Ms. Ford.” His tone was flat. “Why beat around the bush? Why not just ask me if I know that my father’s death was related to Mayor Zhao?”

At these words, the gentle, kind mask fell from Pamela Ford’s face. She shot to her feet, her voice sharp but uncertain: “So you do know! Why did you marry Mason Jr.? Was it to get revenge on us?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you why I got married.” Facing her questioning, Ian Mitchell replied coldly, “Besides, I don’t have the patience to weave such a long revenge.”

Pamela Ford scrutinized his expression suspiciously for a long time before saying, “I don’t believe you.”

Ian Mitchell replied bluntly, “Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant to me.”

Pamela Ford was at a loss for words. After a moment, she asked, “Does Mason Jr. know about this?”