Serena met Mr. Blackwood's hopeful gaze.
His words made her want to laugh.
Just how poorly did Nicholas rank in his grandfather's eyes?
Was his face really the only thing he had going for him?
She wondered what Nicholas would think if he heard his grandfather's assessment of him.
She chuckled but didn't respond, showing no intention of continuing the topic.
Meanwhile, Riley, who was mired in the despair of being rejected by his goddess, suddenly heard his grandfather still trying to advocate for him, still pushing to set him up with his goddess.
He couldn't help but touch his own face.
It seemed like his face really was all he had to offer.
If only he were as outstanding as his cousin...
His goddess wouldn't have rejected him so quickly.
It was all his fault for spending the last twenty years indulging in fun and games, learning nothing, and being good at nothing.
Now he was making his grandfather... his proud grandfather, who had held his head high his whole life, stoop so low, so desperately hoping Serena would agree to an engagement with him.
A wave of warmth washed over Riley's heart.
But just as that warmth spread...
He heard his goddess let out a small laugh.
Riley's eyes shot wide open.
That laugh... was she laughing at him?
Riley grew anxious. Forgetting his shyness, he grabbed Mr.
Blackwood's arm. "Grandpa, think harder! must have other good qualities! It can't just be my looks! For the sake of my future marriage, you have to try and list all my merits for my goddess!"
Mr. Blackwood was nearly stunned by his grandson's loud shouting.
"Ow, ow, ow!" he cried, struggling to free his arm from Riley's grip. "What's gotten into you, you brat? These old bones of mine can't take this kind of pulling! What if you break it?"
"That's not important! What's important is that you think of my good qualities! I can't have my goddess thinking I'm just a pretty face!" Riley reached out again, trying to grab Mr. Blackwood's shoulders.
Mr. Blackwood lifted his cane, blocking Riley. "What goddess? What good qualities? What good qualities could you possibly have?"
Seeing his grandfather still being so obstinate, Riley vigorously ruffled his ash-brown hair. "Grandpa, you're trying to arrange my engagement to my goddess right now! Can't you give me some face in front of her?"
Mr. Blackwood froze, his cane hovering in mid-air. "You? Goddess? Betrothal?"
Riley, completely oblivious to his grandfather's strange look, was still babbling frantically, "Yeah! Didn't I tell you? I met someone I fell for at first sight, and I won't marry anyone but her! And that person is her!"
Riley pointed at Serena.
Then, he rushed on, "I haven't even won her over yet, and you've already jumped the gun for me. You were more anxious than was, so why are you working against me now? Grandpa... Aaaah! Grandpa, why are you hitting me!"
Before Riley could finish his sentence...
Mr. Blackwood's cane came crashing down on him.
And he wasn't holding back.
Riley, completely bewildered, was yelping and scrambling all over the place. "Grandpa, are you crazy?! Can't you spare me some dignity in front of my goddess! Dignity!"
"Ah! Grandpa, don't you want a granddaughter-in-law anymore!"
"Aaaah! Grandpa, you're still hitting me!"