Chapter 79: Conditions

Monica immediately climbed out of bed and anxiously asked, "How is Mom reacting? She didn't call me."
"That's because your good brother, me, kindly came up with a reason for you and said you went to a friend's house," Eric said, "so now I'm calling you to coordinate our stories to avoid any slip-ups later."
She was extremely touched, "Brother, you're the best!"
"I think so too," Eric laughed, "Hand the phone to Steven."
Steven sat up and took the phone from her hand.
Eric got straight to the point, "My mom isn't so easily fooled, you understand what I mean, right?"
Steven looked down at Monica, squeezed her earlobe, and then pulled her into his embrace, "Hmm, I understand."
Mrs. Perez accepted Eric's reason just to spare Monica from embarrassment, it didn't mean she actually didn't know where her daughter had gone.
In any case, it was time to face the situation.
After Eric hung up the phone, he turned around and saw Mrs. Perez standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at him with displeasure.
"Come here."
Mrs. Perez walked towards the study, and Eric casually stuffed his phone into his pocket and followed her up the stairs.
The spacious study that Eric usually used as his office had now been taken over by Mrs. Perez. She sat in the chair, leaning back against the backrest, with a plain leather document bag on the table, without anything on the cover.
He leisurely sat on the edge of the table, with one leg bent and propped up, picked up the document bag, and flicked open the opening with his fingertips, taking a quick glance inside.
"You're quite efficient, aren't you? You've already investigated everything about me?"
Mrs. Perez sneered, "I haven't settled the score with you yet. Your sister's confusion can be forgiven, but you, as her older brother, didn't try to stop her a bit? Do you have any explanation? Your best friend laid hands on your sister?"
"They are in a free relationship; how can I stop them? Besides, don't you like Steven? Didn't you praise him for being young and promising?"
"That's a completely different matter." Mrs. Perez knocked on the table.
"He has exceptional personal capabilities, a sharp mind, and unquestionable work performance. But it doesn't mean he would be a good partner. He is not suitable for Monica, do you understand?"
"I don't understand, I don't have a girlfriend."
"You're increasingly becoming good at fooling me." Mrs. Perez walked around the desk and grabbed Eric's ear. "You'll drive me crazy sooner or later."
Eric lowered his head, letting his mother grab his ear. "What are you so worried about? I've known Steven for ten years, and I can see his character clearly. For all these years, he has only been with Monica and no one else. He truly loves her, and now he has a successful career. Isn't that enough for your standards?"
Mrs. Perez let go of his ear, furrowing her brows. "And so what? Having wealth that matches hers and loving her, are these not the most basic?"
Mrs. Perez's expectations for her son-in-law were indeed strict.
Eric thought for a moment. "Do you have the same requirements for your future daughter-in-law?"
Mrs. Perez gave him a look. "With your trashy personality, I'll be thankful if you can avoid being a bachelor."
She turned back and sat down at her chair, pulling out documents from the folder and flipping through them one by one.
Eric leaned on the edge of the desk with both hands. "So, what's your plan now? Do you agree?"
Mrs. Perez didn't even lift her head. "It's not that simple."
Eric agreed, a smile on his lips. "Indeed, he should face some difficulties."
When Monica returned home, Mrs. Perez didn't ask anything, behaving as usual. This secretly relieved Monica, thinking that the matter had passed.
However, a week later, Steven requested to visit their home.
Monica was eating at the time and almost choked. She looked at him in disbelief. "We've only been dating for a week, and you want to meet my parents?"
"Just a visit."
Mrs. Perez knew about what happened between them that night, but she didn't inquire. This wasn't about turning the page or giving silent approval, but rather the first test for Steven. If he also pretended to be oblivious, it would definitely leave a worse impression on her.
Monica took a tissue to dab at the corner of her lips, hesitating. "But I haven't even talked to my mom about it..."
"No need, have some confidence in me, babe." Steven looked at her somewhat distressed expression and smiled. "Leave it to me."
*
As the sky grew dark, Monica sat on the rocking chair in the garden, anxiously looking at her phone.
Today was the day Steven was supposed to visit. When Mrs. Perez found out, she didn't react, making Monica even more unsure of what her mother's attitude would be.
The sound of an engine came from outside the courtyard. She immediately jumped off the rocking chair, and Chocolate, who was at her legs, followed her to the door, pouncing straight ahead.
A man stepped out of the car, holding something in his arms.
Through the living room window, Mrs. Perez saw this scene and shook her head with a sigh.
Steven hugged Monica as she rushed towards him and kissed her forehead before letting her go. "I brought something," he said.
He went around to the trunk and retrieved two gift boxes, walking side by side with her into the garden.
The living room was well-lit, with Mr. Perez, Mrs. Perez, and Eric all present, sitting together on the sofa, giving it the air of a tribunal.
Steven politely greeted everyone and presented the gifts he had brought. Bella poured tea, and he thanked her, standing tall with a dignified demeanor.
Mrs. Perez had been scrutinizing him all along, and she calmly picked up her tea, lightly blew on it, and only after a moment spoke up.
"Everyone's time is precious, so I won't beat around the bush. I do not agree with the two of you being together."
Upon hearing this, Monica was momentarily stunned and then furrowed her brows. "Mom..."
Steven seemed unfazed by Mrs. Perez's reaction. "I understand that you have concerns about me, and it's natural. However, I ask you to give me a chance to prove my commitment to Monica."
Mrs. Perez remained silent.
Steven pulled out a stack of documents and presented them one by one.
"This is a business analysis report of Sterling Holdings, conducted by a neutral third-party organization. Of course, it's only for reference. As someone in the industry, you should be able to make your own judgment. Sterling Holdings is a company in a rapid upward trajectory. I can't say for certain what the future holds, but it definitely won't be lacking at the current stage. The business is very stable and can afford all of Monica's expenses."
"This is my personal education and family background. My parents divorced when I was young, and I was raised by my grandfather who passed away during my high school years. Currently, my father holds a leadership position in the city, and my mother used to be a famous singer, but we haven't had any contact for many years. Aside from arranging her hospitalization and paying for all of her medical expenses when she fell ill recently, I have repaid her kindness for giving birth to me."
"These are all the details of my personal assets."
He calmly recounted, leaving nothing out, providing a thorough account of himself. Mrs. Perez remained silent throughout, but Eric could clearly sense a hint of satisfaction from her expression.
When it comes to business negotiations, most of them involve keeping certain moves hidden and playing around with deception.
However, Steven put aside all the tactics and showed his sincerity, completely disclosing his personal assets, making it hard for people not to trust him.
Monica was also curious and picked up the papers on the table, reading line by line.
"This is a stock transfer agreement drafted by a lawyer. After we get married, a portion of the Sterling Holdings shares under my name will be transferred to Monica."
The word "married" left her momentarily stunned.
When she recovered, she forcefully pressed her lips together to hold back the excitement, lowering her head and fidgeting with her fingers, unable to immediately calculate how much those shares were worth.
Monica glanced at Eric, and her expression clearly conveyed, "Silly."
Steven continued, "At the same time, Sterling Holdings will establish a new investment fund in Monica's name, for investments in new industry sectors other than biotechnology and technology."
He systematically explained one by one, with such an approach that it didn't seem like a visit, but rather like a marriage proposal.
Mrs. Perez looked at her husband sideways after listening, "What do you think?"
Mr. Perez was playing with the antique porcelain that Steven had brought, smiling, "Steven is good, very good."
Seeing her useless husband immediately changing sides, Mrs. Perez had no choice but to speak up herself. She picked up the documents, casually flipped through them, and put them back down.
Her tone remained indifferent, "Mr. Wright is indeed very sincere, but to be honest, money and shares are at most just icing on the cake for Monica. She already has the Perez family's shares. Even if she doesn't do anything, she will still have half of the Perez family's fortune. Choosing a son-in-law is just the most basic aspect."
"Now that Mr. Wright is so sincere, I might as well be straightforward as well. I do admire you, from a business perspective. Starting from scratch to achieve what you have today is quite remarkable. I highly appreciate the accomplishments you have made and the personal abilities you have demonstrated. You are definitely an outstanding talent, worthy of being matched with Monica."
She then shifted her tone, "But when it comes to love, it is about tolerance, responsibility, and emotional value. I have worked for many years and have come into contact with countless business elites like you. They have achieved great success in their careers, but very few can find equal success in their families. Most elites are self-serving and don't value personal relationships. For example, a few years ago, I worked with a company, and I met one of the executives a few times. At that time, he had just gotten married and was very happy, praising his wife's virtues and gentleness to others. But after two or three years, he had an affair and divorced his wife for a third party. The reason was hard to understand, simply because he was busy working and his wife was a full-time homemaker, which made him feel bored, so he ended up being involved with a female subordinate. Not to mention, in this industry, it is very common for wealthy men to have mistresses."
"It's unbelievable, right? But the fact is that many people are like that. At different stages, they have different goals, and the only thing that remains unchanged is that they love themselves the most." Mrs. Perez took a sip of tea and continued.
"Monica grew up under the love of our entire family. I know her character the best. Perhaps today, you really like her and can tolerate her coquettishness, let her cling to you, be willing to indulge her, make special trips to remote places and to transfer shares, and even establish a fund for her. But what about the future? Mr. Wright's career is currently in an upward trajectory, and you will only become busier in the future. Work will erode your patience, and Monica will always be like this, demanding company, pampering, and careful nurturing. You will find that she cannot give you what you need in terms of accomplishments and personal growth. You have to give it a careful thought."
Continuing the train of thought, Mrs. Perez threw out a series of questions.
'I've said so much because I want to ask, how much of your feelings for her are genuine, and how long will this genuine love last? Where do you place her in your priorities, and are you willing to sacrifice her for your career?'
Monica pursed her lips and looked at Steven.
"As Monica's mother, my top priority is my daughter's happiness," Mrs. Perez continued. "She is innocent and has no ulterior motives. She has never been in a relationship before you, so I have to be cautious. This concerns the rest of her life. I hope Mr. Wright understands the genuine concerns of a mother."
"It's not that you're not good enough, it's that you're not compatible," Mrs. Perez concluded.
"If you were just dating and experiencing the beauty of love, I wouldn't interfere. Monica would surely be the happiest person during that time. But if your goal is marriage, there will be many problems."
The room fell into silence after Mrs. Perez's words.
Steven listened quietly and replied, "Aunt, first of all, I want to say that you've used the wrong word. I won't 'tolerate' Monica's character and temper. She is wonderful in every way, and I like her in every aspect, more than you can imagine. I know you're worried that my feelings might be fleeting or that I love myself more. I don't know how to prove it to you, but I want to say that in the years I've known her, my love for her has never diminished. From now on, I will only love her more every day."
"Secondly, regarding the issue of careers that you mentioned. I will not sacrifice her for my career. The cause and effect are reversed. It's because of her that I have the motivation to develop my career."
Monica's ears blushed from his confession. She wanted to hug him, cuddle him, and kiss him, but with her parents and brother present, she restrained herself and sat still.
Mrs. Perez's expression didn't reveal any emotions, but the initial oppressive aura had diminished significantly.
She looked at Steven and didn't speak for a while before uttering a disconnected sentence, "Has Sterling Holdings released their annual forecast for this year? What is your performance target, aiming to increase by how many percentage points?"
This touched on business confidentiality, but Steven believed in the Perez family's integrity and answered, "30."
"60," Mrs. Perez stated in an unquestionable tone. "Show me a growth of 60 percentage points this year."
Performance growth forecasts are typically calculated using precise models, and Mrs. Perez immediately doubled the requirement, putting Steven in a difficult situation.
Monica was anxious and was about to refute, but Eric beside her covered her mouth and explained in a low voice, "Don't worry, Mom has been in business for many years and knows what she's doing."
He then lightly tapped her forehead and said, "You heartless girl, are you already trying to make your man compromise before getting married?"
While the two whispered to each other, Steven calmly responded, "No problem."
"At the same time, this year I do not want Monica to have a moment of unfairness in this relationship. If there is something I can't do, I won't give in."
In one year's time, Mrs. Perez set extremely high-performance standards for him.
In order to achieve them, he would undoubtedly be busy beyond measure. At the same time, she also demanded that he sincerely be in a relationship with Monica, not neglecting her in any way.
This was a great test for him.
Finally, Mrs. Perez revealed a smile, "If Mr. Wright feels troubled, he is free to not accept this condition."
"Certainly." Steven turned to look at Monica, "I will definitely do it."
"And," Mrs. Perez added, "Monica is still young, still a child. Mr. Wright understands what I mean, right?"
Implicit in her words was a reminder for him not to let Monica become pregnant at this time.
Steven nodded, "Understood, you don't even have to say it, I couldn't bear it either."
The heavy family meeting finally came to an end, and the Perez family accompanied Steven to the villa gate.
Mrs. Perez looked at Eric, "As the older brother, don't you have anything to say?"
"I have no issues, just one request." Eric raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Call me 'bro' and let's hear it?"
Whether Steven called out or not, Monica did not know. She waited by the car, placing the gift she had given him inside.
"What is this?" Steven asked.
"It's a homemade cookie." The two stood at the garden gate with no one around.
Monica could finally cling to him, she snuggled her head into his embrace, intimately burying it in his chest, "This time, it won't be burnt!"
He responded with a low grunt, lowering his head to kiss her forehead, then cupping her face and repeatedly kissing her lips.
She hooked her fingers with his, looking up to him, "How was today? Did you think my mom was too much?"
"No, it was much better than I imagined." Steven took the lead this time, interlocking their fingers, "I thought I would face greater resistance, but Aunt was actually lenient towards me."
"Why do I feel like you're pretending to be strong?" Monica didn't quite believe it, "It's already been a quarter of the year, can you meet the targets?"
He remained calm, "If I can't even do this, then I truly don't deserve to marry you."
Monica let out a huff, playfully saying, "You think too highly of yourself, who said I want to marry you?"
"Well then, it's me who wants to marry you." Steven smiled, cradling her face and deepening their passionate kiss.
The whispers of love between them dissipated into the night breeze. They held each other tightly, welcoming the dawn together.