Martin walked onto the stage with the microphone in hand and a benevolent look on his face.
“Thank you all for coming today. My daughter-in-law was just cracking a joke with you guys just now and it was purely for your amusement. Please don’t take her seriously. In fact, my granddaughter and grandson-in-law met each other four years ago and they share a four-year-old daughter.
“However, we were against their relationship at that time and after four years of trials and tribulations, we’ve finally realized that Jordan is a very loyal and driven person. That’s why we agreed to let them get married.”
As soon as he said that, there was endless discussion among the crowd.
“So it turns out they already have a child together. This punk is really something! Even after fathering her child, he has to be put under probation for four years. It really isn’t easy being the Howards’ son-in-law!”
Martin continued, “We won’t be accepting gifts for today’s wedding. Many friends and families have been presenting me with monetary gifts just now but I hereby declare that we will not be accepting a single gift today. Thank you all for your goodwill.”
The guests began discussing again.
“Someone of high status like Mr. Howard Sr. indeed shouldn’t be accepting any gifts. Otherwise, given his power in the world of business and politics, I’m afraid someone would give him a gift that’s worth over a million dollars!”
“Hah, over a million? You must be underestimating the Howards. I’m sure some people would dare to give gifts that are worth 15 million dollars!”
“Yeah, as long as the Howards accept the gifts, they’ll have to work for others. They can easily earn that money back.”
Martin looked at the crowd and said, “But I saw that many of you have come bearing gifts. Since ancient times, giving gifts to newlywed couples has always been customary. And so, we will graciously accept non-monetary gifts.”
As soon as Martin said that, the guests at the scene immediately got excited.
A middle-aged woman quickly got up and said, “Mr. Howard Sr., I’m the CEO of Feather women’s watches and I’ve brought a red, limited-
edition women’s watch that our brand has just launched. There are 900 18-carat gold beads on it that rotate with the dial, and together it forms the face of deer with the pre-paved track. I believe Miss Howard will definitely like it.”
Everyone was shocked.
“Feather women’s watches are akin to Hermes. That watch is probably worth more than a hundred grand, huh?”
“How impressive it is that they’re receiving the watch directly from the brand’s CEO. Unfortunately, it’s a gift for the bride and not the groom. Haha.”
Martin smiled faintly at her and said, “Thank you for the gift.”
Likewise, Lauren thanked her profusely.
Soon after, Russell also stood up and said, “Mr. Howard Sr., since it’s Miss Howard’s wedding today, I have a Graff ruby here, which I won at the Sotheby’s auction in 2014. I’d like to present it to Miss Howard today as a gift. I wish her a happy marriage!”
Russell took out a delicate little box and opened it to reveal the sparkling ruby to everyone.
“Wow! Graff ruby! I remember that it was auctioned off at a price of nearly $9 million in 2014! The price has long since doubled!”
“Oh my, almost $9 million? As expected of the richest man in Houston, Russell Miller is really wealthy!”
“Damn it, why did Old Russell stand out so quickly? He should be presenting his gift as the finale. Now that he’s given a $9-million gift, who would dare to stand up to present their gifts?”
Lauren was aware of Russell’s relationship with Victoria and Jordan, and she also knew how valuable the ruby was. In response, she said, “Mr. Miller, your gift is too valuable, I can’t accept it.”
However, Russell insisted, “Miss Howard, I got to where I am today thanks to Mr. Howard Sr.’s help. I’ll take it that you’re looking down on me if you don’t accept this gift.”
Having been put in a difficult position, Lauren looked helpless. “Grandpa, this…”
Martin laughed and said, “Yes, Russell and I were business partners before this and he still owes me a large sum of money. Just take this ruby as his repayment. Haha.”
After cracking that joke, Martin decided to just accept the gift. He had not only given Russell an out, but he also made sure that others wouldn’t have anything to say about it afterward.
Following Russell’s gift, there was a short silence for a while since no one had prepared a gift as expensive as that ruby.
In the end, a young man broke the awkward tension with a gift that was worth tens of thousands of dollars, after which the guests continued to present their gifts one after another.
However, looking at the guests who gave gifts, Salvatore and Tim felt terrible.
Salvatore said, “They’re all giving gifts to Lauren Howard. None of them are for Mr. Jordan!”
Tim said, “Yeah, it’s the wedding of two people after all. Would it kill them to include Mr. Jordan? They even specified that the gifts are for Lauren without even mentioning Mr. Jordan at all. This is infuriating!”
They weren’t being sensitive. In fact, many of the guests had already sensed it.
Elle and Dakota, who were sitting far away from them, didn’t even bother hiding their laughter.
With a smirk, Dakota laughed and said, “That former brother-in-law of yours, Jordan, is behaving like a fool out there. So many people have brought gifts but not a single one is for him.”
Elle sighed and said, “Yeah, it seems like this wedding is only for Lauren. I really pity Jordan. This is exactly what happened during the wedding when he married my cousin. After they get married, Jordan won’t have any status anymore. She’ll definitely cheat on him unrestrainedly. Ah, I wonder what Lauren’s character is like. Will she cheat on Jordan like my cousin did?”
While snacking on some nuts, Dakota smiled and said, “What are you worried for? Isn’t it right for him to be made a cuckold? He deserves it for being a live-in husband. I’d cheat on him too. Hmph!”
Other than Dakota, the others also mocked Jordan.
“Haha, nobody cares about this groom. None of the gifts are for him and he doesn’t have a presence here at all.”
“What groom? He’s more like the bride. Miss Lauren is the one who wears the pants in the relationship, haha.”
Hailey stood up again at this moment!
Grabbing onto Hailey’s hand, Brad growled at her. “Hailey Camden, what are you doing? Are you trying to create trouble again? Sit down!”
In response, Hailey took out a beautiful rose gold necklace from her bag.
“Who’s creating trouble? I’m giving a gift!”
Brad was instantly stunned the moment he saw the valuable necklace in Hailey’s hand.
‘Isn’t she here to make a scene and ruin the wedding? Why did she prepare a gift?’
Hailey suddenly said, “Jordan Steele! You’re so incompetent. It’s your wedding today and not a single person here is giving you a gift!”
Jordan cursed in his head, ‘You bitch, what are you trying to do? You’re not done, are you!?!’
“Also, Jordan, your wife, Lauren Howard, is the bride today but she isn’t wearing a single piece of jewelry except for her wedding ring. It must be because you’re too poor to buy her anything!”
Indeed, the Howards had a rule that stipulated that men had to be the ones to prepare the jewelry that the bride was to don during the wedding. The women of the Howard family were not to buy their own jewelry.
Hailey suddenly smiled wickedly and took out the rose gold necklace.
“This necklace is worth a few hundred thousand dollars. Jordan bought this for me previously. Miss Howard, I’ll gift you this necklace on Jordan’s behalf!”
Everyone was shocked that Hailey was going to give something that she had used to Lauren!