Chapter 402: Chapter 402
Luna’s mother started whinging to Luna’s dad. "Ive been married to you for so many years and have given you such an outstanding daughter, but never have I been gifted such a beautiful flower bed. I knew your love for me would fritter away."
Her father refuted, "Didn’t I give you a room full of lipsticks? If that’s not love, what is it?"
"Something that can be bought with money can never be as sincere as something made personally."
The two of them argued until they tasted Jaden’s cooking. They were thoroughly impressed by the food he prepared.
Both of them shared a consensus that a man who was willing to spend so much time and effort learning to cook and trying to make his family eat and drink well was definitely a good family man. They felt that their daughter had found the right person, and that she was a lucky one.
After learning that the ancestors of the Carter family fought for the country, Luna’s parents became more respectful of him and went to the family cemetery to offer their respect to his ancestors. Initially, they were only planning to see what Oxhorn Village was like. In the end, they stayed in Oxhorn Village for three days before leaving reluctantly. They were extremely satisfied with their new son-in-law. After Luna’s parents got home, they received a call from Jaden. They spoke to Luna over the phone, telling her that it wasn’t easy to find a good man like Jaden.
They also told her not to neglect him because of her work or for the sake of her image. They then reminded her to not deliberately give Jaden a hard time as she should make him happy since he made her happy.
Just like that, Luna and Jaden got the green light for their marriage from Luna’s parents. Everyone congratulated them. The arrival this marriage dimmed the sadness from before, and the atmosphere at home finally became a little more relaxed.
That night, Arthur, Alaric, and Maria also stayed in the hotel. Everyone sang, played cards, watched Lockwood’s Detective Diary together, and it felt like home.
The following morning, everyone gathered to accompany Jaden and Luna to city hall, where they completed their marriage registration. Afterward, they decided to celebrate with a cozy meal together. By afternoon, Jaden and Luna shared the exciting news on social media, posting their marriage certificates and a brief announcement. They said they would soon host a simple wedding at Carter’s Farmland Zayn and Lockwood also reposted the announcement post and shared their congratulations, amplifying the buzz. Soon, the announcement was everywhere, and well-wishers flooded the couple with warm messages. This news conveniently shifted some attention away from Zayn’s recent involvement in a counter-terrorism operation. As a result, the crowd of onlookers outside the Carters’ villa began to thin out.
However, as the family returned home that evening, a few persistent reporters managed to catch up with them. Zayn was forced to answer a handful of questions before the journalists finally left, satisfied with his responses. This encounter reminded the Carter family that fame came with a price. Moving forward, they realized they would need to be more mindful of their public image, behavior, and safety.
Two days later, most online content about the counter-terrorism operation was taken down apart from official press releases. Any related discussions or comments were deleted, and further discussion on the topic became strictly prohibited.
The public generally understood the decision. Given the ongoing threat of terrorism, both domestically and abroad, excessive discussion of sensitive matters could endanger the safety of those involved.
Around this time, Wesley and his wife returned home with Josie.
During their time abroad, language barriers and other challenges prompted them to leave their phones with Rufus for safekeeping. Rufus had quietly blocked their access to social media and groups to shield them from any news about Zayn’s ordeal. Only after things had settled down did Rufus inform them of Zayn’s recent close call with terrorists. The news shocked them deeply, and they rushed home in panic.
When the family finally reunited, emotions ran high-relief, joy, and a tinge of lingering sorrow.
Once everyone had calmed down, Claire exclaimed, "To welcome Zayn back safely, I’ll cook a great dinner tonight. Bring your girlfriends too," she said with a warm smile. "Maria, doesn’t your best friend live nearby? Invite her over, too. And make sure Harry, Rufus, and Daniel join us as well. The more, the merrier," she added.
"Thanks, Mom," Maria cheerfully replied before she went off to call Tina Tate.
Jaden also called Luna, asking her to bring Horace and Lindsey to the gathering.
Meanwhile, Brandon had been unusually quiet. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up, frowning slightly broke up with Lindsay. She’s planning to move back to
Aelona, so she won’t move back to our house anymore."
The family was taken aback and immediately asked what had happened.
Brandon didn’t elaborate and said, "Lindsay decided to immigrate to Aeloria. I can’t go with her, so we agreed to part ways amicably," he explained with a weak smile.
"This happened a few days ago. I’m already over it, so there’s no need to comfort me," Brandon added.
The family exchanged glances, but they held back their comments. Some patted his shoulder, while others reassured him, "As long as you’re sure, we’ll support your decision, whatever it may be." "Thanks," Brandon replied, managing a smile. Stretching his arms, he added in a lighter tone, "I might not be the best cook, but I can help with the prep work. Let’s get started."
Although he was smiling, there was a subtle sadness in his eyes.
Brandon has been dealing with Lindsay’s resignation in the past few days. She has been direct and efficient, completing the handover without dragging things out. They haven’t had a final conversation or even a last dinner together.
However, two of the four senior technical experts Lindsay had brought with her also decided to leave. Their departure meant
Brandon had to repurchase the shares he had initially given them, but now at a premium.
He calculated that he would need 40 million dollars -20 million dollars for Lindsay and 10 million dollars each for the other two experts.
It was a fair sum, considering Lindsay’s two years of work and contribution to the company. But coming up with $40 million in cash was a daunting task.
While the company was profitable, its initial investments were substantial, and he reinvested most of the earnings into research and development.
Brandon’s income and dividends had largely gone toward covering the salaries of professionals and senior management. In short, he had very little personal income to rely on.
Now, he was unsure how to raise the 40 million dollars needed to buy back the shares from Lindsay and the two other experts.