Chapter 3: The Car Was a Gift from Me

“I heard Miss Elena is twenty years old and still hasn’t attended college?” Longfellow suddenly asked. “Yes,” Elena replied. “Do you have confidence in your future studies? If you’re unsure, Miss Elena, we could...” Longfellow began, but he noticed that Elena didn’t seem particularly interested in the conversation. He stopped mid-sentence. Glancing back at Elena, he saw that she was sitting quietly, her face expressionless, as if the topic didn’t interest her at all. Longfellow couldn’t help but click his tongue in his mind. He couldn’t help but think that her temperament was surprisingly similar to Roy's. Where on earth did Grandpa Hill find someone like this? But seeing that Elena wasn’t interested, Longfellow decided not to continue the conversation. “This car belongs to Grandpa Hill, doesn’t it?” Elena suddenly asked. “Yes, Miss Elena, how did you know?” Longfellow responded, curious. Elena smiled slightly. “This car was a gift from me to Grandpa Hill.” Roy, who had been engrossed in his notebook, suddenly turned to look at Elena. The girl sat quietly in the car, her golden hair gently curled, her fair skin contrasting with her red lips, and her slightly green eyes fixed on Longfellow. She appeared to be smiling, but there was no warmth in her eyes. And she had just said... "Pfft!" Longfellow couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Elena, you’re quite the jokester.” “You don’t believe me?” Elena wasn’t offended; she simply raised an eyebrow. Longfellow was about to say he didn’t believe her. After all, he had never heard of anyone gifting a car to Grandpa Hill. Not to mention, only a handful of people would have the status to do so. But when he looked at the girl’s calm and serious expression, the words of disbelief stuck in his throat. Her face was too earnest. “Miss Elena, do you know what kind of car this is?” Longfellow asked again, intending to hint that exaggerating the truth wasn’t the best approach. “This car was released three years ago. It’s a limited edition, only ten in the world,” Elena replied slowly, recalling what the old man had told her when she gifted it. Longfellow’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected Elena to know so much about the car. But if she knew this much, why was she making such an unbelievable claim? Grandpa Hill was a shrewd man; how could he have been tricked by this woman? And to think he wanted her to be Roy’s wife—how could that be possible? Although these thoughts ran through Longfellow’s mind, he refrained from voicing them. Soon, they arrived at the Hill Estate. “We’re here,” Roy finally spoke after a long silence. “I know,” Elena replied and got out of the car without wasting any time. “Roy, don’t say I didn’t warn you—this girl isn’t right! Grandpa Hill is really out of his depth this time,” Longfellow whispered to Roy as he watched Elena walk away. Roy watched Elena’s departing figure and replied, “It has nothing to do with me.” Longfellow wanted to caution him further, but seeing that Roy genuinely had no interest in Elena, he let it go. Haywood Hill had been waiting for Elena’s arrival. When he finally saw her, a broad smile spread across the old man’s face. “Elena, you finally came! How long has it been since you last visited this old man? This is your first time at the estate, isn’t it? How do you like it?” Haywood Hill beamed as he led Elena inside. Following him into the house, Elena couldn’t help but be impressed by the luxurious decor. The opulence of the place was beyond description. Every detail, from the walls to the floors to the ornaments, was meticulously chosen. The old man certainly had a taste for the extravagant. “It’s quite nice,” Elena nodded. Despite the lavishness, the estate’s decor was tasteful, far from the gaudy displays of wealth seen in nouveau riche homes. Pleased that Elena liked the estate, Haywood’s smile grew even wider. “I’m glad you like it, girl. You can live here when you marry Roy and have children. How about seven or eight kids...?” “Grandpa Hill, Roy isn’t a pig! Even pigs can’t have that many!” Longfellow burst out laughing before the old man could finish his sentence. Haywood, overjoyed to see Elena, didn’t bother to scold Longfellow for his outburst. He took Elena’s hand and placed it in Roy’s. But as soon as their hands touched, they both pulled away as if repelled by a magnetic force. “Grandpa, I’ve brought her here as you asked, but I’m not interested in getting married. Don’t waste your time,” Roy said, his face serious. Haywood’s expression darkened. “What do you mean, waste time? You’re not getting any younger! Don’t tell me you’re... incapable?” As he spoke, Haywood glanced sharply at Longfellow, as if something had just occurred to him. “Or are you really what they say you are—into men, like this guy?” Longfellow had just taken a sip of water and nearly choked on it. He quickly stood up, his face full of innocence. “Grandpa Hill, you’re wrong! All those rumors are lies!” “Lies? Then stay away from Roy!” Haywood shot back. Longfellow: ... Roy, frustrated by his grandfather’s stubbornness, tried to remain calm. “I don’t like her!” “What does liking have to do with it?” Haywood dismissed the notion. “Elena is an exceptional girl. You’ll like her once you’re married.” Roy glanced at Elena, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, his mood darkening. “Grandpa, you always say I’m arrogant and proud, but at least I have reason to be. I graduated from Princeton!” “What are you trying to say?” Roy glanced at Elena again. He didn’t want to be too blunt, out of respect for his grandfather, who clearly liked Elena. But after all the back and forth, he couldn’t hold back any longer. “She’s not good enough for me.” Haywood was shocked by Roy’s blunt statement and stared at him in disbelief. “Do you know what you’re saying? She’s not good enough for you? She’s good enough for ten of you! Do you even know who she is? She’s...”