Tessa understood Everly's personality and nodded in understanding. "We know, Maddie. We're not angry, and we certainly don't blame you for anything. Go home and take good care of Old Mr. Flemming.
"If Old Mr. Flemming is handling Everly's marriage, then we can rest easy too. He has good judgment. Still, we should look into Mr. Brown.
“Just because the York family is good doesn't mean he's good as well. Some people act one way in public, and another behind closed doors. We won't bother anyone. We'll just quietly look into him ourselves."
Maddie said, “My father-in-law will handle that. Everly means the world to him. He'll never be careless when it comes to something as important as her future. He's lived far longer than us and has much more experience. If he thinks highly of someone, I believe that man really is exceptional."
“That's true. Then we won't worry about it anymore. Drive carefully. We asked you to stay for dinner, but you insist on going home."
“My father-in-law isn't feeling well, so I should go back and check on him.”
Tessa nodded again, gave a few more reminders, and watched Maddie get into the car. Once it drove away, she turned back into the house.
Inside, she found her husband sitting on the sofa, smoking. She walked over and sat beside him. "Don't smoke so much. It's bad for your health.”
"I'm in a bad mood. I'm just having a smoke to clear my head.
"Say, how did I end up with a niece as stubborn as Everly? Out of all my nieces and nephews, she's the only one who refuses to give me any respect."
Tessa said, "What can we do? Our family business has gone downhill, and we have to rely on the Flemmings to get by."
"It's not about the business. It's her personality. Everly is incredibly stubborn. Once she makes up her mind, nothing can change it. In addition, she was raised by Old Mr. Flemming, so she isn't even particularly close to her own mother, let alone an uncle like me."
"If you know that, then leave her marriage alone. There's no point. She won't listen to us anyway. If you keep interfering, you'll only annoy her. Once the older generation is gone, she might turn against us completely."
Steven's expression darkened. "I'm her uncle. She wouldn't dare to turn against me, would she?"
"You can wait and see. She doesn't even care about her own mother's feelings. Who do you think you are to her?"
Tessa sighed. "She has high standards, but she's very clear-headed too. She knows that many of the men who approach her don't genuinely love her. They're after the Flemming family fortune.
"She won't settle for a man unless he has good character. She's even said that she could go for IVF to have a child."
Steven said, "I'm only trying to find a
way for our family to secure our future. If she marries a man I introduce, I'll be both her uncle and her matchmaker. With those two connections, she won't be so quick to cut off Zellerco.
"I'm her uncle, so I still have some influence with her. If I don't secure our future now, once I step down, the next generation of our family will have even less standing with her."
Everly was not close with her cousins either. They barely kept in touch.
Tessa was silent for a moment before saying, "Steven, I think it would be better if we stopped interfering in Everly's affairs. That way, we won't anger or offend her, and she'll still remember that we're family.
"If we keep interfering and upsetting her, she'll turn against us. She's only leaving the Zellers alone now because she respects the older generation. Once they're gone, Maddie won't be able to stop her.
"Be honest with yourself. Are the men you've been introducing to her really good men?"
Steven was speechless for a moment before retorting, "They're only lacking a little in ability and
family background, and maybe
little too flirtatious. Everly is se Strong-willed. What truly exceptional man would be willing to be a househusband?
"She's not ugly, but she's not breathtakingly beautiful either. I'm worried she won't be able to hold on to a marriage. She needs a man who's a little less dominant, who she can keep under control.
"I'm doing all this for her own good. The man Old Mr. Flemming chose for her, Mr. Brown, is too outstanding. Do you think he'd really be interested in her? How many men genuinely don't care about a woman's looks?"
Tessa disagreed. "We can't know for
sure unless they try. They could make a strong partnership. And you
said it yourself. Everly isn't ugly
She's the type of woman who grows
more attractive the longer you
ather.
"She just doesn't put much effort into dressing up. If she actually took the time to
dress up, she'd be stunning."