The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 1160

The moment the words left his mouth, the room fell into an astonished silence. Arnold rolled his eyes, "Dude, are you for real? How can you be so clueless?"

Bobby chimed in with a smirk, "Looks like my tough love yesterday did the trick. Finally cracked the code, huh?"

Graham piped up, baffled, "Hold up, what's this got to do with us if you're chasing after Anna?"

Anna, equally puzzled, asked, "Why is everyone suddenly talking about chasing me?"

"Listen, kiddo, if you're aiming to court our Anna, it's up to her to say yes or no. We can't very well forbid you from seeing each other right from the start, can we?" Brooke pushed her reading glasses up her nose, the young man's forwardness nearly giving her a heart attack.

Who shows up with such fanfare on the first visit just to court someone? Is this some kind of joke?

Graham, seizing on Brooke's cue, added, "After all, it's you who wants to spend a lifetime with Anna. We're here to vet you, but if Anna isn't into you, better not to beat a dead horse. We're not exactly pushovers in this family!"

Soren raised his hand in a pledge to Graham and Brooke, "Don't worry, I came here today to ask for your blessing. I promise I'll treat Anna right."

Anna could feel the intense gaze of five people on her, Soren's burning the brightest.

Arnold snorted, "Soren, you sure know how to make yourself at home. First, you shock my folks, now you're straight-up calling dibs on Anna. Who do you think you are?"

Facing Arnold's challenge, Soren kept his cool, unlike the day before. He knew he was out of line yesterday and took the criticism as deserved.

Anna felt awkward amidst the tense atmosphere, at a loss for words. She hadn't expected Soren to show up, let alone be so upfront about his feelings.

It was clear as day to her that Soren was sincere, but the suddenness of it all left her floundering.

was ready to let go of this relationship, Soren

out. You and Arnold can handle a guy like him, right?" Brooke voiced her concern, suspecting Anna was too shy to reject Soren.

his gaze away from Anna,

affection, finding it

help

some advice, "Feeling shy? He's just expressing his interest, and you can always

and the honesty in his eyes convinced her to give him a chance for Anna's sake. After all, there would be plenty of time to judge his character. The more they encouraged her, the more confused Anna

as everyone

felt like an eternity before Arnold, on the verge of dozing off,

took a moment to process her

you're willing to give me

but snap, "Don't get too cocky. You've just got

with his hand,

less, barely

Graham and Brooke decided to keep Soren for lunch, creating an oddly tense

already a couple meeting the parents,

about a drink?" Graham offered, pulling out

it seem

the lavish spread,

volimet

up whatever had.

help but comment, "Really, Mom? You' didn't pull out

for Bobby yesterday." Contenthis

Arnold's hand in a reassuring gesture, understanding Arnold's attempt at lightening the