True Love Waits

Evelyn replied flatly, "Any date is okay by me."

Things were a little awkward. It was a pretty straightforward question. Calvert decided to make sure all this went smoothly. "The 20th then. I'll reserve the venue for the engagement party. Don't worry about a thing, Evelyn. Uncle Carlos, Aunt Debbie, anything you want to see at the party? Maybe a memorial to a loved one? A family crest, perhaps?"

"No, I'll leave it to you." Carlos was unreadable. The whole time the two families were discussing the engagement, he acted as amiable as a gentleman. He gave no advice, and made no requests.

Debbie looked at Evelyn and curled her lips. "Evelyn is not ostentatious at all. Maybe just invite a few close friends. We can wait and hold a major ceremony for the wedding."

'There won't be a wedding, not if I have anything to say about it,' Debbie murmured to herself.

Calvert replied obediently, "Okay. I know what Evelyn likes, so I'll make sure that she enjoys it. It's her night, after all."

Rowena remained silent as a deer. She gritted her teeth and looked at Evelyn, who had been staring at her phone the whole time. She thought it was so unfair to Calvert.

They were discussing their engagement, but Evelyn acted like she didn't care at all. How could she disrespect the Ji family like that?

Later on that evening, the Ji family left the Huo's. As soon as they got into the car, Ally began to complain to Langston. "I don't understand what Calvert sees in her. Look at the way she acts. She looks down her nose at us. She doesn't respect her elders. She made it look like we were desperate to get married. She's rich and hot. So what? She messes around with a gigolo and leaves a trail of dead boyfriends in her wake. It's an honor for Calvert to marry her, to think highly of her. She doesn't deserve him at all. She really pisses me off!"

She heard from Rowena that Evelyn had been dating a doctor.

Calvert sat there behind the wheel, concentrating on the road. He didn't say a word.

Langston was a henpecked husband. Despite his wife's constant nagging, he just said, "We should look at the big picture. The Huos are a big deal. Tons of influence and money. If we can make the marriage work with Evelyn and Calvert, the Ji family will be unstoppable."

be happier to have a marriage

Calvert, you're really dead set on Evelyn? You want to marry

don't date before you're married, how are you supposed to know what you want?" But that was now. Once Evelyn and Calvert

come on. You know she's just sleeping around. She'll probably do

pursue this line of thinking anymore,

lower lip, Rowena didn't

unhappy look, she got upset. Taking a breath to keep her cool, she said, "Hey. I know I'm not your biological mom,

a brother?' Rowena knew very well

more pronounced. "I need you to butt out of my relationship with Evelyn. Who I date is my business. Now Rowena, on the other hand, is about ready to start dating.

knew very well how she felt about him. Why did he still

she was sad, Calvert said nothing more. He didn't even cast a glance

was an uncomfortable silence in the car.

the morning of the 8th when Evelyn

up. He

but by the time they pulled up in front of the place,

only a few people in the city knew Vernon's last name.

it. Vernon told him once. His full

had never been married, but he'd dated a

by, fewer and fewer women were interested. Now, he was all alone.

marry. Actually, Vernon didn't intend to tell anyone, but Sheffield managed to wrangle the

would never marry anyone else. He was only