Arthur placed the pair of jade ornaments in front of Ashley, his nerves obvious. "Do you think these would be a good gift for my first visit to your parents?" Across both of his lives, he had never done anything like this before. He had no experience and no one had ever guided him on this kind of thing. Ashley’s eyes went wide with surprise. "You're giving these to my parents?" Arthur nodded, a little uncertain. "Are they not good enough?" "No, no, that’s not it," Ashley said, shaking her head. "They’re just really valuable. This was the most expensive antique you got at the auction yesterday." Arthur exhaled in relief. Good, this should be enough. If not, I really wouldn’t have a clue what else to bring. Arthur looked at her earnestly. "Ashley, I’m going to marry you one day. Everything I have will be yours, so this is nothing out of the ordinary." The moment she heard his words, Ashley’s heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed. "Wait… are you proposing right now?" Arthur paused for a second, then a slow smile spread across his face. "Well, would you say yes?" Ashley’s face was completely red, but she still nodded without hesitation. "I would!" Arthur raised a brow. "Wow, you can’t wait, huh?" "You—!" Ashley's face turned even redder. "You're the worst!" Arthur couldn’t help but laugh. She was soft, warm, and absolutely adorable. The jade ornaments set had come in an exquisite gift box. The packaging had a refined elegance, carrying a traditional charm that made it the perfect match for the jade inside. It wasn’t just the most expensive antique Arthur had won at the auction. Over the next few years, it would also become the most valuable investment he had made. Ashley walked toward the Gibson Mansion with Arthur, her heart uneasy the entire way. She had already let her parents know she was bringing Arthur to meet them. They hadn’t objected, only telling her they would be home. When they arrived, Arthur was completely taken aback by the sight of the mansion. It sat on a massive piece of land, radiating an air of power and prestige. The design was refined and classic, with a subtle elegance that showed every detail had been meticulously planned. Ashley led Arthur through the front doors, across the spacious courtyard, and into the house. Before they even stepped inside the living room, they could hear voices. The moment Ashley and Arthur recognized them, they both froze. Zane and his father? "What the heck are they doing here?" Ashley muttered, clearly irritated. The people inside quickly turned toward them. "Ashley? You finally decided to show up?" Her father, Spencer, frowned, his expression stern. Hearing that, Ashley couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. Arthur walked into the living room with Ashley, his expression warm but composed. "Mr. Gibson, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Arthur Gray, Ashley’s boyfriend." He held out a gift box with both hands. "This is just a small gesture for my first visit. I hope you don’t mind accepting it, Mr. Gibson." Arthur’s calm and respectful attitude caught Spencer off guard. He had been ready to snap at him, but Arthur’s polite demeanor left him momentarily speechless. Even so, he didn’t reach for the gift. From across the room, Maris shot Arthur a venomous glare. Arthur Gray. So that’s his name. He clenched his fists, seething. Arthur and his friends had not only humiliated him, but because of him, he had lost 6 million dollars at the auction yesterday. There’s no way I’m letting this slide. That was why he had wasted no time this morning, rallying Zane and Stephen to join him in paying Spencer a visit. From what he knew, Arthur had just arrived in Seacity two days ago. Shortly after, he had attended the pre-auction banquet, where things escalated into a fight that landed him at the police station. Which meant one thing—he hadn’t had a chance to properly introduce himself to Ashley’s parents yet.And that’s exactly why I’m here. Maris had come to make sure Spencer turned against Arthur before he could make a good impression. If Arthur thought he could just waltz in and win over Ashley’s family, then Maris would make sure to tear them apart. If Ashley’s parents strongly opposed their relationship, Maris couldn’t wait to see Arthur’s confidence crumble. As expected, with their exaggerated accusations, Spencer had already developed a strong dislike for Arthur. Spencer turned to Ashley, his voice filled with anger. "Maris says that your people attacked him. And at the auction, you deliberately ran up the price, making him lose 6 million dollars for nothing? What is going on?" Zane saw his chance and immediately chimed in. "Spencer, we’ve been friends for years. You know how much Maris means to me. He was beaten up for no reason—this can’t just slide!" Maris, playing the victim, wasted no time making it worse. His voice shook dramatically, like he was seconds away from breaking down. "Mr. Gibson, my hand was shattered! The bones had to be reset with surgery, and now I have this giant scar! Please, you have to stand up for me!"