Chapter 198 Does Being an Adult Mean You're Independent?
"Marcus, let's not talk about my sister," Summer interjected sweetly. "She's just gone through a divorce. She probably needs some time to adjust."
Her words caught the attention of both individuals in the room.
Before Marcus could respond, Daphne's gaze turned ice cold as she addressed Summer with an unprecedented seriousness, "My mother only gave me one sister and her name is Lydia. Please don't get it wrong, Miss Wen."
There was a pause as Summer appeared taken aback by her assertiveness in Marcus's presence.
"What do you mean divorced?" Marcus' face tensed into a severe frown.
Daphne simply replied, "It is just as what it sounds like."
"When did you get married? And to whom?" Marcus' brows furrowed, his face clouding over with displeasure. "I wasn't aware of this!"
Daphne glanced at Summer. Her dad couldn't have informed Summer about the divorce. The most Summer could have gleaned from their last heated conversation was Daphne's past involvement with Charles, not the details of her divorce.
"Why are you looking at Summer?" Marcus' hand slammed down on the table, his temper flaring as he glared at Daphne, "I'm talking to you!"
"I got married two years ago," Daphne didn't elaborate, "There was no ceremony, so I didn't mention it."
She knew how absurd it sounded. But her life was her responsibility and discussing it now would only complicate things further.
"Who did you marry?" Marcus' pressed, wanting just that one answer.
Daphne didn't want to say. She genuinely did not want to bring it up at all.
"I'm already divorced and it doesn't matter to whom," Daphne tried to avoid an argument by changing the subject, "If there's nothing else, Marcus, I should head back to the office. I've got a lot to work on."
With Summer there, it was a given that any conversation today would likely spark a conflict. If there wasn't anything else, she didn't want to stick around any longer than necessary.
"Is it because you’ve grown up that you think you're too tough to handle?" Marcus was clearly unsatisfied with Daphne's response, "You think I can't control you?"
"Did you ask me here just to pick a fight?" Daphne knew it wasn't respectful to address an elder this way, but she really didn't like Marcus's personality.
Marcus was fuming and just when he was about to give her another piece of his mind, a warm voice laced with a hint of a smile intervened, "What's all this commotion today? So many people gathered?"
Daphne followed the voice and saw Gavin approaching in a suit, a faint smile on his lips.
Their eyes met and without words, they communicated, ‘What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work at this hour?’
Gavin gave her a knowing look, ‘Knowing that you and Marcus don’t see eye to eye, I thought I'd come by to defuse the tension.’
Daphne remained silent. He didn't need to go to such lengths. If the conversation broke down, she'd simply leave. She wouldn't argue with Marcus since he was her senior, but that didn't mean she couldn't walk away.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Noticing Gavin's arrival, Marcus' frown eased slightly, but he still asked with an air of sternness.
In Marcus' world, there was still a touch of favoritism towards men over women. Daphne didn't care much about that; as long as her parents didn’t share that view, it was fine.
"I was at work, but there was an issue at the company that needed Daffy’s attention," Gavin explained calmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "She wasn't at the office, so I came to find her."
Marcus' face remained stoic, "The company can’t function without her, is that it?"
"That's actually true," Gavin said with a chuckle, not minding the attitude at all, "You have no idea how incredible Daffy is. She just secured a highly profitable partnership for the company recently."
"She should be learning some arts and grooming herself," Marcus expressed his dissatisfaction upon seeing Daphne's business attire, "Staying at the company is useless."
As the words came out, a slight change flickered across Gavin's eyes. Yet, Daphne was unaffected, letting the criticism go in one ear and out the other. She knew exactly what Marcus was implying.
It was nothing more than the old notion that marriage was a woman's greatest achievement.
"Just look at the daughters of high society, all dolled up and pretty," Marcus rambled on insistently.
"Daffy doesn't need to get dolled up to be pretty," Gavin replied with the plain truth, "Besides, everyone has different aspirations. They like to groom and dress up; Daffy likes to make money. There's no conflict between the two."
Murphy was clearly annoyed by his comment.
Summer took the opportunity to smooth things over, "You're not wrong, Gavin; Daphne is indeed beautiful. Even without fancy dress, she dazzles wherever she goes."
Daphne remained silent. Gavin said nothing either. Both were slightly uncomfortable with Summer's remarks about 'Gavin’s sister.'
Marcus glanced at Daphne with a twinge of dissatisfaction, "Being good-looking doesn't count for much. When it comes to competing in talent, she falls short."
Daphne just lifted her brows but didn't say anything.
"You might have the wrong idea about Daffy…" Gavin started to explain.
He knew Daffy was vastly talented; she had held an art exhibition in her teens, and a piano piece she composed was used in a competition. Back then, she was quite young but received praise from masters in various fields.
Although seven or eight years had passed, Daphne’s skills in those areas would have only improved, so why was Marcus implying that she was inadequate?
Before Gavin could finish, Daphne tugged at him. Confused, Gavin looked at her, not understanding her gesture.
Over the years, your father has been protecting you, keeping you out of the public eye," Marcus said, ignoring Gavin and looking firmly at Daphne, "Now that you're grown up, it's time for you to start contributing."
Gavin was perplexed. ‘What was going on?’
"I called you here today to see if you had someone in mind for marriage, to arrange a union for you," Murphy continued, "But since you've been married before, I'll make the arrangements."
"I won't enter an arranged marriage," Daphne stated flatly.
Marcus was adamant, "You don't have a say in this."
"An arranged marriage is just a means to add value to the Murphy Group," Daphne said indifferently, unconcerned with Marcus's attitude, "Even without it, I can create value."
That's the thing about people; they’re never satisfied.
The Murphy Group's current success was enough; there was no need to rely on marriage contracts to sustain it.
But for Marcus, he only thought about using marriage to develop the group further, to take it to new heights, and to maximize profits.
"Arrogance!" Marcus didn't believe Daphne's claim, "What can you do that I wouldn't know? This isn't a discussion today; I'm informing you. If you won't comply, I'll have Qingyu take your place."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
