Chapter 796

"You mentioned bringing her back to the country for marriage. That won't work." Alexander Hamilton tapped the table lightly with his fingertips. "She's already liquidated all her domestic assets. Returning would be pointless. Besides, Vincent Croix is still searching for her."

Adrian Valentine's brow furrowed slightly as his fingers absently traced the rim of his glass.

Alexander assumed he was reluctant to leave his life back home and was carefully choosing his words when Adrian spoke: "Personally, I don't mind. But Mr. and Mrs. Langley—though they've adjusted here—still long for their homeland."

The response made Alexander raise an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected Adrian to be so considerate, especially toward Bianca Langley's parents.

"You've met them already?" Alexander's tone carried subtle meaning. Memories of his own grueling trials with Evelyn Carter's parents surfaced, making Adrian's progress seem meteoric in comparison.

Adrian's ears tinged pink. "More or less. They know I'm serious about marrying Bianca and urged us to get engaged first." His weekly visits with Bianca to see her parents had planted the idea of a hometown wedding.

The Langleys were cultured people who could live comfortably in Canada. Yet leaving their homeland—first from the capital to Hudson City, now across oceans—left them wistful.

Adrian noticed and wanted to fulfill their wish.

After a thoughtful pause, Alexander said, "Hudson City is out, but the capital could work." In Vincent's current state, he wouldn't dare make waves there. As for wedding-crashing? Alexander dismissed the notion. Bianca would never give him the chance.

Adrian's eyes brightened, but before he could thank him, Alexander shifted topics: "The Langleys are settled. What about your parents—"

A crisp clink of glass interrupted from the living room.

Bianca was tilting her head back, taking a swig of ice-cold beer. Evelyn Carter sat frozen, clutching a thermos that had mysteriously filled with steaming red date tea, its sweet aroma wafting through the air.

"Health kick?" Bianca leaned in, tapping the thermos with a mischievous grin. "Prepping for something?"

Evelyn played dumb and countered: "Just storing up energy for wedding planning."

Bianca's smile faded slightly. "We might not hold it here after all."

Evelyn's heart skipped. Baby Chloe was scaling her sleeve, tiny feet planted on her knees, babbling as she tried to clamber onto the couch.

"It's about the location." Bianca sank lazily into the sofa, her curls glowing honey-gold in the warm light. "I've lost my taste for weddings. The last one was extravagant enough—my photos hung in the studio for two years."

She mentioned Vincent with the detachment of discussing a stranger.

"This time, I don't even want the marriage license. Adrian only agreed to postpone that, but regarding the ceremony..." She shook her beer can. "We're at an impasse."