The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered

Her parents and three older brothers were all in the living room. When she walked in, all their eyes turned to her.

With the exception of Wendy Sutton, the four men all had grim expressions.

Nina Jennings was also there, having come home early to watch the drama unfold. Unnoticed by the others, she surreptitiously shot Yvonne a look that said, ’You’re on your own.’

She discreetly made the sign of the cross over her chest, muttering something under her breath.

Yvonne Lowell could read her lips. The woman was telling her, "God bless you, amen."

’It’s not that serious, is it?’ The corner of Yvonne’s mouth twitched. ’I just started dating someone.’

’It’s not like I committed some unforgivable crime. Why the grand inquisition? Are they going to drown me in a cage or just behead me?’

She calmly placed the bouquet on the coffee table and sat down in an armchair. "It’s so late. Why is everyone still up?"

Harrison Lowell, who was off to the side, sneered. He gestured toward the bouquet on the table. "Well, well, where have you been? Back so late? And you brought home a bunch of white flowers, too. So unlucky. I wonder who sent them. They must have terrible taste."

Wendy Sutton swatted him reproachfully before turning to Yvonne Lowell with a loving expression. "Nola, are you and Leo together now?"

"Yes. We just got together tonight," Yvonne admitted openly.

Wendy Sutton fought to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up into a wide grin, afraid her delight would provoke the four men in the room.

She’d always been fond of Leo Grant, even when he was just a boy. He was handsome, sensible, and polite. Not only that, but he was ambitious and successful in his career; outsiders often praised him more than they did her own eldest son.

She had watched him grow up, and their families knew each other through and through. In her heart, he was the perfect choice for a future son-in-law.

Back when the Grant Family had wanted to arrange a betrothal, she had actually been tempted. It was just a shame the men in her family were so vigilant, acting as if they were guarding against a thief. They probably wished not even a male mosquito could get near Yvonne Lowell.

After Yvonne was kidnapped, the matter was naturally dropped.

Now that her daughter was grown and had a mind of her own, she had no intention of bringing it up again. She wasn’t the kind of overbearing parent who forced her own wishes on her child.

She just never expected that after all the twists and turns, the two of them would still end up falling for each other. It must be fate.

Charles Lowell hesitated for a moment before speaking in a serious tone. "Nola, you’re still so young. There’s no rush to date. Why don’t you take some more time? You might even meet someone better, you know?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Yvonne Lowell’s eyes. "Then if I meet someone better, I’ll just dump him and find a new one. It’s just dating, not marriage, right? What do you think?"

’Charles Lowell’s expression was indescribable. Was that what he meant? Of course not! I just wanted you to wait a little longer before dating, not become some kind of heartbreaker!’

"That could work. Even princesses in ancient times kept male consorts, and our Nola is a princess, too. So, in my opinion, it would be best if Nola never married. Just keeping a few toy boys around would be pretty great."

Harrison Lowell said with a smirk, one leg crossed over the other, "That way, Nola can stay home forever. And as for those toy boys, if you get tired of them, you can just swap them out for a new batch. Isn’t that better than having to look at Brother Grant’s face all the time?"

Charles Lowell’s face turned livid. He snatched the slipper off his foot and hurled it at him.

"You brat! Is that what I taught you?! One of the three most important Lowell family rules is to not engage in promiscuity! Have you completely forgotten?!"

Harrison yelped as the slipper hit him. He sheepishly picked it up and placed it back by his father’s feet. "Dad, I remember. I was just kidding, trying to lighten the mood."

"Is that how you lighten the mood?! First thing tomorrow, you’re going back to the ancestral home! You’ll kneel in the hall and copy the family rules one hundred times. No food until you’re finished!"

Harrison started to plead for mercy, but one glare from his father made him shut his mouth.

Caleb Lowell and Yancy Lowell remained silent.

One of them, Caleb, was unhappy about the situation but had taken his older brother’s previous words to heart. Besides, he had no desire to get a slipper thrown at him.

’The other, Yancy, felt a pang of disappointment. It hadn’t even been a month since he’d last warned Leo Grant, and yet, the pig had already managed to snatch the cabbage.’

’But they were already together. Could he really force them to break up? Besides, he could see that Yvonne was genuinely happy. What more was there to say?’

Charles Lowell turned back to Yvonne Lowell. "Nola, don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense. Dad isn’t telling you to be fickle and abandon your partner. It’s just... there’s no rush to date. Dad was hoping to have you with us for a few more years."

The corner of Yvonne’s mouth twitched. "Dad, we only just got together. No need to think so far ahead. Besides, if you don’t give your blessing, it’s not like I’m going to run off and elope with him, am I?"

Charles Lowell huffed softly. ’Of course my sweet daughter wouldn’t do that. But there was no telling what a certain pig might do. What if he really did convince his Nola to elope one day? Who would he even cry to then?’

Yvonne Lowell sat between her parents, linking her arms with both of them. "Actually, I was the one who approached him first."

’Charles Lowell’s expression darkened even further. It was one thing for the pig to get the cabbage, but for his own cabbage to wave its leaves and invite the pig over...!’

"It’s because I know I can afford to make mistakes. I have all of you supporting me, after all. Worst-case scenario, if I really get hurt one day, you wouldn’t just stand by and not help me, would you?"

"Of course not! If he dares to hurt you, I’ll skin him alive!" Charles Lowell slapped his thigh.

"Exactly. And besides, look around all of Kingsland. Other than my brothers, is there any other man who’s my equal in every respect?"

"Hmph. What about all the other talented young men in the world? Is that Leo Grant the best man on earth or something?" Charles said indignantly.

Yvonne Lowell looked at him teasingly. "Would you really be willing to let me marry so far from home?"

’Charles Lowell fell silent. Forget marrying far away; he didn’t even want her to get married at all.’

"Besides, we only just got together. Nothing’s set in stone. And even if we did get married one day, he lives so close I could come home for dinner every night. We’d be seeing each other all the time. How convenient is that? What’s there to worry about?"

"Alright, that’s enough," Wendy Sutton stepped in to play peacemaker. "The kids are just dating, and here you all are, staying up in the middle of the night to drone on and on. You’re all getting worked up over nothing. Now, everyone, go to bed!"

With that, she dragged Charles Lowell back to their room.

’Charles Lowell’s eyes flew open in the middle of the night as it finally hit him. Weren’t they supposed to be warning their daughter to stay away from the pig? How had he gotten so turned around that they were suddenly talking about marriage?’

’A moment ago, had he actually thought Leo Grant was a pretty good guy?! A fine son-in-law?! Had he gone mad?!’

...

The next day at noon, Yvonne Lowell went to Prosperity Pavilion to pick up a pre-ordered meal, then drove to the Grant Corporation.

She had just finished parking when a certain someone, who had been standing in the first-floor lobby like a husband anxiously awaiting his wife’s return, strode quickly toward her.