A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

"Gideon, that's not how it works. If you really like our Yvette, shouldn't you treat her a bit better?" Yvette's father chimed in, his voice dripping with expectation over the table.

"Exactly, Gideon," her uncle added, leaning back in his chair, "Your family's rolling in dough, and the cash gift you've offered is pretty, well, pathetic, don't you think?"

"If you're serious about marrying her, you ought to step it up a notch!"

"We're not asking for a fortune, but you could at least help out Yvette's little brother, right?"

"We get it, the Bakers probably look down on us, the Jansens, since you've got all that money! But, come on, that's your wife's family we're talking about. Isn't it a bit disrespectful? If even you don't respect us, how can you expect others to?"

"So, if you're set on marrying our Yvette, just increase the money! We're not being unreasonable here, just triple it, and we're good! Don't think we don't know you've got the cash!"

"Honestly, the wealthier folks get, the stingier they seem!"

"Yvette's a real gem, you know. Raising her took a lot of time and money! It's like you're buying her out, so you need to pay up properly, or there's no wedding!"

Yvette's family, along with a bunch of distant relatives, were all clamoring around Gideon, pressuring him to cough up more money. If he didn't, well, the wedding was off the table.

Gideon's face was a stormy shade of red; he didn't say a word, just stood there, taking in the scene.

Yvette stood anxiously by his side, her nervousness growing by the second. She knew Gideon was already on the fence about marrying her.

After all, he had a reputation. He'd bailed on Calliope at the altar once before. A second time wouldn't be much of a stretch for him.

If he really got fed up and decided to walk away, what would that mean for her?

She'd worked so hard to snag a spot in such a prestigious family, to finally become his wife. With the finish line so close, what would she do if it all fell apart now?

"Dad, Mom, Unele... I'm begging you, please stop this, okay?" Yvette pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "Gideon's already given us more than enough. If I'd chosen someone else, would you even have this much? If you keep this up, I'll call the whole thing off, and then you'll get nothing!"

Yvette shot a furious look at her family and the gathered relatives.

But the Jansens weren't swayed.

Her mother, Verena, let out a

derisive laugh, "Yvette, you

ungrateful child! You're not evennet defending the Baker net

married yet, and you're already

swnev

"Come on, sis, who knows what kind of life you'll have marrying him?"

"Exactly, Yvette, we're just trying to secure your future, so you won't be mistreated!"

"Besides, the ceremony's already set. Families like theirs care about their reputation; they wouldn't cancel it last minute, would they?"

"Gideon, just hand over the cash, or we're taking her back with us!"

"Yeah, and if this wedding doesn't happen, it'll be the Bakers who'll be humiliated!"

The Jansens figured they had them cornered Surely, the Bakers couldn't call off the wedding now. They continued to hound Gideon, some even-eyeing Eamon from across the room.

"Isn't that old guy the one who calls the shots in your family?"noveldrama

"Let's go have a word with him!"

As a group started to make their way towards Eamon, Gideon's anxiety hit a boiling point. He snapped, "Are you guys ever gonna quit? My granddad won't give you a dime!

If you keep this up, I don't care about saving face anymore! No wedding, no nothing, and you can ask her yourself—I don't love her anymore!"