Chapter 4 Threaten me again, give it a try

The news of the Brooks family's intended alliance with the Powell family created a sensation throughout Sitges City. Amid countless envious and jealous discussions, the engagement banquet of the Powell family and the Brooks family began.

Following the Brooks family's traditions, the engagement banquet was kept simple to avoid unnecessary trouble. The two families gathered for a meal, and that would suffice as the engagement. The hotel chosen was the Crystal Hotel, Sitges City's largest seven-star hotel.

"When you meet Mr. Brooks, be proactive and try to win his favor. Do you hear me?" Zoe kept reminding Harper during the journey to the hotel.

Harper leaned back in her chair, her eyes half-closed lazily and nonchalantly, without responding to her words.

"I'm talking to you, pay attention!" Zoe couldn't stand Harper's attitude and got increasingly frustrated every time she spoke to her. "If you still act like this in front of Mr. Brooks and ruin the wedding, not only will your grandmother not receive treatment, but you'll also have to go back to the countryside. You better take my words seriously. I'm not joking with you." Zoe always felt that her daughter could drive her crazy.

Harper turned her head, gazing at Zoe with a cold expression, impatience evident in her brows and eyes. She took out a pair of black headphones from her backpack, her voice icy. "Why don't you go and marry Mr. Brooks then?"

"What kind of attitude is that..."

Zoe was about to retort, but Harper growled, "Shut the fuck up if you're not going to!"

Harper put on her headphones, turned the music in her phone to maximum volume, and ignored Zoe. Zoe felt a sharp pain in her chest, feeling frustrated and infuriated.

Harper caught a glimpse of Zoe's sour and spiteful mouth moving, her expression angry, and coldly averted her gaze. Piper sat in the driver's seat, glanced at Harper through the mirror, curved her lips, and remained silent.

For the engagement banquet with the Brooks family, the Powell family naturally had to match up to their prominence.

When Harper and her group arrived, Madam Powell and her eldest son's family were already there sited upright, and meticulously dressed. Despite the rumors that Mr. Brooks had been disfigured, the Powell family dare not be negligent.

The Brooks family had the power to make the Powell family disappear with a flick of their fingers. The fact that the Powell family had secretly replaced someone could potentially anger Mr. Brooks. If there were any breaches in contract, it would truly be the end of the Powell family.

As soon as Harper walked in, Madam Powell stood up upon seeing her attire. The anger on her face was evident. "Who allowed you to come dressed like this?" Harper was still wearing her cheap black hoodie and a black cap. Madam Powell turned to Zoe and scolded her harshly, "Are you crazy? Don't you know what kind of occasion this is? Letting her come dressed like this, are you trying to ruin the Powell family?"

Zoe was already afraid of Madam Powell. Being yelled at like this, she involuntarily trembled. "Madam Powell, I bought her a dress, but she refused to change. You also know that she wasn't raised by me, she doesn't listen to what I say."

Zoe cursed Harper in her heart several times. No matter how much she threatened or enticed her, Harper simply refused to change her clothes. Elijah also didn't want to make things difficult for Harper, so he didn't force her to change.

"Take her to change immediately." Madam Powell exuded a majestic aura. She glanced at the time, "There's no time. The Brooks family will be here soon. I have an idea; Lucy, go to the restroom with Harper to change since you’re about the same height."

"Grandma, I don't want to!" Lucy stomped her foot, on the verge of tears. It was more uncomfortable for her to let a country bumpkin wear her clothes than to kill her.

"You don't want to?" Madam Powell cast a sharp gaze, "Do you want to offend the Brooks family? Can you handle the consequences?"

"I..." Lucy bit her lip, feeling both angry and aggrieved. She could only glare at Harper.

Madam Powell looked at her indifferently and coldly said, "If you can handle the consequences, you don't have to change."

Lucy was a bit spoiled, but she wasn't dumb, and she knew they couldn't afford to offend the Brooks family.

If she offended the Brooks family just because she didn't want to change her clothes, then she would become the scapegoat for the Powell family.

After much inner struggle, she looked at Harper with fierce eyes and said, "Aren't you coming with me to change?"

As they walked towards the restroom, Harper stood coldly at the door, hands in her pockets, watching the Powell family put on a show. Now tired of the spectacle, she walked directly to the table and lazily leaned back in her chair before casually speaking, "I'm not going."

Her words ignited Zoe's anger immediately. "Harper, what did you say!"

Zoe was already upset with the old lady, and now Harper's lack of tactfulness shattered her pretentious lady image. She warned Harper, "I brought you here to arrange the best hospital for your grandmother, not to cause trouble for me. I warn you, go change your clothes immediately, or I will stop your grandmother's treatment."

Harper turned abruptly, her eyes bloodshot and containing a terrifying glint. She slowly rose, concealing a coldness beneath her stoic expression. "Stop using my grandmother to threaten me!"

Zoe stumbled under her piercing gaze, nearly falling to the ground.

How could someone have such a frightening look in their eyes?

"What happened?" Elijah hadn't come to the hotel with Harper and the others. He had some matters to attend to and left early. When he came back, he sensed something was amiss in the private room and inquired about it.

Lucy had never liked Harper, so she quickly told Elijah what had happened.

"Enough, Mom! I told Harper not to wear formal attire." Elijah walked up to Harper, patting her shoulder, while addressing Madam Powell, “She hasn’t lived in our household and doesn’t understand high society’s etiquette. It’s impossible for her to learn everything at once. I’ll gradually teach her.”

Madam Powell’s face turned cold; her tone icy. “What are you saying? Today is the engagement banquet between her and Mr. Brooks. If she dresses like this, where should the face of the Powell family go?”

“The Brooks family won’t minds these small details,” Elijah said, glancing at the time. “The Brooks family members will be here soon. Let’s sit quickly. It’s embarrassing to be standing while guests from another family arrive.”

“Yes, Grandma. Harper just arrived in Sitges City, and there are still things she doesn’t understands. Don’t pressure her too much. After all, she’s also doing this for me”…" Piper, who hadn’t said a word since they arrived, stepped forward and linked her arm with Madam Powell.

She smiled gently and said, "I will help Harper adapt to the life in our family. Please don't be angry."

Piper's words softened Madam Powell's expression. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to dwell on the matter anymore. "Fine, let's all sit down."

Once the Powell family members were seated, Harper raised her gaze and glanced at Piper.

It was a meaningful look.