"Listen to me Ingrid. In my own perspective, even if the child receives lavish love, he still needs a fatherly love only a man could give." Her father admonished.

"Also, there are some aspects in one's child that only a father has the capacity provide, like the sense of security and protection. Especially that he is a boy," her mother added.

Ingrid meditated everything her parents said to her. It moved her having her parents exactly the time she needs them.

"If you don't mind me asking, why is it so hard for you to tie the knot?" his father curiously asks her.

"I..." she was caught in surprise, no one dared to ask her that question, even Liane.

'Dad, is right? Why is it?' her mother interrupted her father's interrogation

"Hmm, let's leave that for a while, for now, it's better that we should be thankful that at last we found our precious daughter, John. We have plenty of time to talk about it later. Let's just go back to the party, it's not a good manner to leave the party and sulk here in pain... Leave your daughter be, she'll talk if she's ready. Right, dear?"

Her mother squeezed her hands.

...

"Clint, what a fine young man you have here and a very successful businessman, too. What could you ask for?" Harry Andrews commented. Clint's comrade and also one of his business partners. Clifford's father boost with pride upon hearing it.

Clint laughed. "I only have one wish," then he stared at his son, "...that he should give me grandchildren anytime soon."

Clifford grunted.

"It's very possible, Clifford could have any woman he wants," he seems to insinuate something.

"I do agree. But I think he has already found the lady, pity! He doesn't know it yet." Clint laughed hinting his son of what he meant.

Clifford narrowed his eyes in response.

'What is he bluffing about?' he smirked.

"Oh... do you mean the lady you escorted earlier outside the hall?"

"Clint, the Howards are back, I think they've already settled it. They are coming here now." Helen whispered to her husband's ear when she saw them coming their way.

John and Rose wear a joyful smile and Ingrid glowed even more after their talk. Helen s.h.i.+fted her eyes from them to Clifford and she huffed when she saw how his son looked at the Howard's daughter.

Helen feels giddy and she motioned to her husband to also look to their son. Then a mischievous idea came to his father.

"Isn't Ingrid lovely? How I wish I could have a daughter like her." His father suddenly commented. Mr. Andrews also agreed.

"Isn't she already engaged? That's why her family's here now. And if I'm not mistaken, her fiancé is that man who accompanied them here. Oh yeah I remember, the name's Lance McNaught..." Clifford's uncle nonchalantly remarked.

The Briggs was shocked with the news.

"Are you sure about it?" Clint curiously asked.

"Not sure but I heard it among the peers. You know how well-known the Howards are in their country."

"Here they are.." Helen interrupted their discussion. "...Rose, could you introduce us this good looking man you brought along?" Helen smiled sweetly.

"Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce him. This is Lance McNaught, son of our closest family friend and also a business partner back in Vierra. He's like a son to us." John answered tapping Lance's shoulder. "...Lance meet Mr. Clint and Helen Briggs and their son, Clifford."

The man smiled showing his perfect teeth and a cute dimple on his left cheek. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, I've heard a lot of good things about you from uncle John..."

"Oh really..."

"Lance, why not asked Ingrid to dance? It's been years since you and she met." Rose implored.

"Yes, aunt Rose." Lance obeyed her automatically. He then extended his hands to her.

"Would you give me the honor to dance with you, my lady?" Ingrid was speechless on the man's gentle bearing.

She looked around and saw everyone is waiting for her to answer. But when she looked at Clifford she s.h.i.+vered inside of how intense his gaze was upon her that consumes her within. Slowly Clifford walked towards her.

"I believe you owed me this dance, Miss Howard, after what you did to me last time..." his voice was firm that sends s.h.i.+vers in her spine. His gaze melts her cold heart making her so weak.

'Uh oh...'