...

The weather on Christmas was unpredictable.

It was snowing all night. When Riya woke up in the morning, the entire city was covered by snow.

In the air was a faint chill.

It was a little comfortable and a little gratifying.

As soon as Riya’s hand touched the snow on the ground, a large hand pulled her over.

Stefan held her hands. He frowned and said in a low voice, "Cold."

Riya curled her lips indifferently with a bit of disdain, "I’m not afraid of the cold. You’re a man, how can you be so weak?"

With that, she pulled her hand out of Stefan’s grip, bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, and threw it over.

The snowflakes scattered on the man’s chest and left a snow-white mark on his black cashmere coat.

The man looked down at her and calmly warned, "Take care."

Riya was not afraid of his ice-cold face. She grabbed the snow on the ground and throw it over again.

With a triumphant face, she said, "I like snow games. I like it!"

She ran away in the snow.

The snow on the road had not been cleaned up. The surface was frozen. When stepped on it, one could hear a crunching sound.

Riya ran joyfully while throwing snow at him.

Although she deliberately avoided the man’s face, his coat was soon covered in snow.

Perhaps being too thrilled, she nearly slipped down.

Riya was shocked and subconsciously protected her belly.

The man stepped forward and caught her in his arms.

She fell in his warm embrace, not the cold snowy ground.

The man’s hands were warm and strong. She was well protected.

Above her head, Stefan’s shocked voice sounded, "Stop running!"

What if she fell?

Riya blinked, looked up at the man, moved her lips, and whispered, "Stefan, are you worried about me or the baby?"

This was a question that would hurt women’s hearts.

The man took a deep breath and said coldly, "Of course, I’m worried about the baby."

Riya’s face instantly turned cold.

Men are indeed all devils.

Stefan frowned and said, "If you are not pregnant with my child, I’m afraid you will not marry me."

Riya glared at him and said in a bad tone, "Are you using the baby to force me to marry you?"

"As long as you marry me, it will be fine."

No matter what, even if it was because of the baby in her belly.

He had waited for her for so many years and did not want to wait anymore. Riya saw his serious face and push him away. She whispered, "Old fogey."

He really didn’t know what she was thinking at all and didn’t know how to make her happy.

Obviously, a smarter man would answer he was worried about the mother instead of the baby.

Stefan refused to do this.

It was really infuriating.

Although Riya felt awkward in her heart, she did not say anything else.

When they arrived at her family’s old house, the servants were cleaning snow.

In the huge courtyard, there were snow hovers moving back and forth, and the servants were very busy.

Even though the sun was hidden behind clouds, it was exceptionally bright.

Because of the white snow, the cloudy sky had a different luster.

"Miss Riya is back. Quickly go and report to Mr. Marley."

When the butler saw Stefan’s car, he immediately turned to the servant beside him and gave the order happily.

The butler quickly came over and opened the car door for Riya.

As soon as Riya got out of the car, she walked around the car and frowned with slight dissatisfaction.

"This is obviously his car. How did you know I am back?"

Riya said to the butler, pointing to Stefan beside her.

The butler smiled and said, "Mr. Key called home last night and said that you were with him and would come back tomorrow morning."

Riya let out a bored ’um’ sound.

She turned around and saw that the trunk of Stefan’s car was full of gifts.

"What are you trying to do?"

He came to visit her family so frequently, but not every time he would take gifts.

He was so close to her family that they treated him as a family member.

Stefan said in a serious tone, "It’s the first time I’ve come to ask for a marriage, so I naturally have to bring something."

Otherwise, would a family agree to marry their daughter to him?

Riya curled her lips and looked at the gifts indifferently, "Who did you learn all these from?"

He was getting more and more sophisticated. She felt that she did not know him anymore.

The man turned up the corner of his mouth and said softly, "Bruce said it."

Riya rolled her eyes and sneered disdainfully, "He is a person who doesn’t even have

father-in-law. How can you ask him?" The man nodded with a serious face.

"I also consulted Julian. He said the more presents, the better." Riya nodded, "This is a bit more reliable."

Although she was not clear about it, Julian must have given a lot of things in order to marry Margaret, whose mother was so protective of children.

Riya waved her hand indifferently and said, "A few gifts are fine. You used to give quite a lot of gifts. You come often, don’t be so courteous?"

She felt that over the years, no matter how valuable the antique jade was, Stefan was willing to take it to her family.

Her grandfather was happy to receive them and never felt embarrassed.

It was estimated that with his own private collections, it would be no problem to open two museums.

She grabbed the man’s arm and urged, "Hurry up and let’s get in."

After that, she turned around and instructed the butler behind, "Take out all the gifts and have them put in my room."

If there was anything she liked, she could keep them.

Stefan was stunned and was about to say something when Riya pulled him into the room.

Because they had arrived too early, the other members of the Marley family were not up yet.

Riya sat uneasily in the living room. For the first time, she felt that the family living room was a little too big and boring.

"Where is Grandpa?"

She urged, unable to wait any longer.

The butler said, "Mr. Marley is washing up. He asked you and Mr. Key to wait in the living room for a while. Breakfast is prepared in the kitchen. Mr. Marley invited Mr. Key to have breakfast together."

He bet that they hadn’t eaten anything since they came so early.

Stefan nodded his head without any trace of shyness. After all, this was not his first time eating breakfast here.

Riya looked up at him uneasily and then quickly lowered her head.

She coughed uneasily and whispered, "Don’t be nervous later. Just answer whatever my grandfather asks you. There’s no need to be afraid."

No matter where it was, the process of proposing marriage was always similar.

First, ask about the man’s family and extended families and all the details.

Stefan looked at her, confused, "Why should I feel nervous? Don’t they know everything about me?"

He had come to the Marley family countless times and was already familiar with them!

...

There was a slight noise coming from upstairs.

Riya looked up and saw Mr. Marley coming down with the servants.

Though in his senior age, he was kept strong.

In fact, he was stronger than the servants. His steps were firm and quick.

"Grandpa!"

Riya instantly stood up from the sofa and hurried to the old man’s side, affectionately holding his arm.

In the entire Marley family, Mr. Marley had never interfered in the company’s affairs.

However, he was definitely the one to decide on Riya’s matters.

No one in the family could ill-treat her, his only granddaughter.

If Riya was unhappy, the old man could make the entire Marley family cheer her up.

Upon seeing Riya, Mr. Marley was overjoyed. He looked her up and down with a frown, "How did my granddaughter lose weight?"

Why didn’t she look as elegant as before? It must be because she was not taken good care of.

Mr. Marley immediately turned to Stefan.

Stefan also stood up and called out respectfully, "Mr. Marley."

Riya shook the old man’s arm unhappily and said childishly, "I’m trying to lose weight. How can I be fat?"

"What do you mean to lose weight? A girl needs to be plump to have good fortune. Who dares to dislike my granddaughter!"

Mr. Marley put on a cold face and instantly the entire room was alert.

Riya secretly caught a look at Stefan and complained in her heart, "Who else can it be? Isn’t it the expressionless and shameless man standing there? I am pregnant with his baby."

"Riya has had a bad appetite recently. I didn’t take good care of her."

Stefan said frankly, actually voluntarily admitting his mistake.

Riya snorted and thought, "Idiot, do you need to stand up for such a thing?"

"Grandpa, how can I wear nice clothes when I’m fat? Don’t you want me to become beautiful?"

Riya pouted and looked at Mr. Marley with dissatisfaction.

She was good at dealing with the old man.

Sure enough, the old man instantly became nervous and coaxed her, "Riya is grandpa’s most beautiful treasure."

Riya immediately smiled in satisfaction and looked back at Stefan with some pride.

"See, I am the only one who has power over Mr. Marley," she said in her mind.

"Well, it is so cold and you came back from River City. You don’t spend your Christmas with Grandpa. Ah, Grandpa is very lonely."

Although the Marley family is very big, they didn’t care about festivals.

In particular, half of Marley’s companies were overseas. Those foreigners had totally different customs.

Other families were joyous and while the Marley family was quiet. Mr. Marley really looked like an old man who stayed behind.

What was the good to have so many children? No one was with him on holiday.

"Grandpa, I’m coming back now. I’ll definitely spend Christmas with you next year, okay? Besides, don’t we spend New Year’s Day together?"

Riya whispered but the old man snorted.

Although he was angry on the face, it was obvious that he was just scaring her.

"Every time you come back only after I have urged you three or four times. None in the family comes to see me often."

Riya pursed her lips and said childishly, "Grandfather, I am thinking of you even when I am not with you."

Smiling, he was happy to be spoiled by his granddaughter.

He raised his head to look at Stefan, who was standing at the side, and said, "Take a seat."

Mr. Marley sat down with him on the sofa. The servant served him his favorite tea.

The butler stepped forward and said, "Miss Riya, there is some food in Mr. Key’s gifts. May I put them in the refrigeration room?"

"It will go bad in the room."

Riya nodded and waved her hand, "Take some out and let grandpa have a taste."

Hearing this, Mr. Marley was surprised. He turned to look at them and said, "Why do you bring me presents?"

Riya blushed and whispered in embarrassment, "I didn’t buy it. He bought it." The woman’s voice was a little muffled, but the old man could still hear it clearly. He looked up at Stefan.

Usually, when he came over, he did bring him gifts, but not so many at once like today. Stefan was not as casual as he used to be.

He looked serious and a little nervous.

The old man raised his eyebrows and looked at the two of them, "Is there anything wrong?"

"These are all small gifts for you. I don’t have much time for preparation. I would be honored if you like them."

Stefan sounded nervous as if he was afraid that the old man would not accept these things.

Of course, the Marley family did not need the gifts in the first place. Stefan only wanted to leave a good impression on Mr. Marley.

"What...does this mean?"

Mr. Marley hesitated. He glanced at his granddaughter who was blushing and whispered, "What is the matter?"

He thought, "Don’t tell me the Key family is going to go bankrupt and need the Marley family’s help?"

"I’m going back to my room."

Riya immediately stood up from the sofa. She didn’t dare to look at the old man anymore and quickly ran upstairs.

The old man was surprised. He looked at his granddaughter and then turned Stefan. He asked, "She agreed?"

Stefan nodded and said with a serious face, "Riya is pregnant. We want to get married as soon as possible."

Of course, before the wedding, he had to take her to get a marriage certificate.

The old man was shocked for a moment before a smile appeared on his face.

"Good! I’m going to have a great-grandson soon."

The old man’s deep laughter echoed in the room. He was dancing like a child.

Stefan was a little nervous. Although he was not surprised by the old man’s consent, he was still relieved.

The old man glanced at Stefan and snorted, "You’re too slow. How long do you take to make my granddaughter agree to this marriage? Is that girl alright?"

Stefan pursed his lips and said frankly, "It is not our first child. This time, I want to get married quickly. After all, my family is urging me, too."

He was the only son in his family.

All these years, he had been single. His parents had already suspected that there was something wrong with him and asked him to go and have a check in the

hospital.

If this continued, he was afraid that they would drive him crazy.

The old man nodded and said, "Yes, yes, we have to hurry up. Don’t wait till her belly is big. Otherwise, wearing a wedding dress won’t look good. She’ll be angry again."

The old man snorted coldly. Although he had a look of indifference on his face, he couldn’t help but smile.

He looked at Stefan and said, "I am happy to marry Riya to you."

Even he had waited for so many years for the two young people to get married. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Stefan was too slow to make the marriage come true.

Taking out some of his usual decisiveness in the business world, Stefan need not worry about the marriage at all.

Stefan immediately stood up and bowed deeply to the old man, "If Grandpa agrees, we want to go and get the marriage certificate tomorrow!"

Things might change if he didn’t hurry.