Chapter 1435 Rules Set in Stone
The atmosphere in the great hall was so tense you could hear a pin drop.
Nolan rose to his feet, regarding Selena with satisfaction.
"You do have some of Jason's presence about you. Stay here for the night, and once the results are in, I'll inform you and your..."
He genuinely seemed not to recognize Raymond, so after a moment's consideration, he continued, "Selena and her boyfriend can stay here for now."
Selena nodded, a smile on her face. "Thank you, Grandfather."
Tatum couldn't help but glance at Raymond's face again, her brow furrowing slightly, though she ultimately said nothing.
After walking a short distance away, Nolan instructed the butler, "Take Selena and her boyfriend upstairs, away from any potential confrontations."
This was exactly what Selena had been hoping for—an excuse to escape the crowd.
There were still over twenty Smith family members sitting in the hall, and once Nolan left, they would likely turn hostile.
Otto, in particular, looked absolutely livid.
She grabbed Raymond's hand, and they followed the butler to the elevator, which took them to the fourth floor of the mansion.
"Ms. Fair, sir, these will be your quarters," the butler said.
The room was spacious when the door opened.
But after becoming accustomed to the extravagance of the underground fighting arena, even the most luxurious surroundings barely impressed her anymore.
Once the door closed, Selena glanced around to ensure there were no surveillance cameras before frowning.
"I can't help feeling that Grandfather and Grandmother reacted strangely to you."
Both were highly respected individuals—why would they be so shocked at the sight of Raymond's face that they stood up from their seats?
Raymond touched his face thoughtfully, slowly shaking his head.
They walked to the window, and Raymond was visibly displeased.
Given his status and position, he never imagined that meeting his girlfriend's family would result in such apparent disapproval.
If they were deemed "incompatible," whom did the Smith family intend for Selena to marry?
Sensing his concern, Selena reached for his wrist. "No matter what happens, we'll stay together."
She then placed his hand on her stomach, her tone resolute. "We're a family. We won't be separated."
A smile flickered in Raymond's eyes, and he began to chuckle softly.
"I don't doubt you. I'm worried about what they might do. Jason never ended up with Barbara because of family pressure. Selena, even though Jason is bedridden now, he was once a legendary figure in his own right. If he couldn't stand against your grandparents, how could you?"
Selena had already considered this point, which made her grip his hand even tighter.
"If the priest says we're not compatible, we'll elope—go straight to that place to find my mother."
Raymond smiled again, his heart melting completely.
He held Selena in his arms, gently patting her back.
"If eloping would solve everything, I wouldn't hesitate. I'm just concerned they might have more tricks up their sleeves. With your father in a coma, no one can explain what happened back then or how exactly he was pressured by the family. That's why I'm worried."
But worrying was pointless now; they'd have to wait for the results.
Selena suddenly realized she hadn't seen Lawrence in the great hall.
Had Lawrence been so thoroughly stripped of his Smith family status that he wasn't even allowed to enter the premises anymore?
A knock sounded at the door. She opened it to find Richard.
Sensing what she was thinking, Richard explained on his own, "Lawrence can't come here anymore. Grandfather held a conference call and agreed to expel him from the Smith family. They'll also cut off all his future connections and contacts."
The Smith family was truly ruthless—a bone-deep ruthlessness that discarded people without a second thought.
Richard rubbed his forehead. "So now you understand why the Smith family doesn't tolerate internal conflict. Everyone must follow the rules here. Otherwise, it's not just about being expelled from the family. There was once a Smith family member who got involved with drugs—his fate was far worse than Lawrence's. The rules are inviolable."
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