Their leisure came to an end. And it's time to face another scenario of life. 

“What takes her long to change?” A worried tone at Llyr's voice.

“I guess she’s nervous or perhaps she changes her mind like you hear that she never loved that person although she saw it already.” Xanth added in a weary tone.

She glanced at herself in the mirror. Franzlie looks like a fairy in her off-shoulder chiffon cream gown. She picks up lipstick and dabs a little on her pouty lips. Brushes some blush onto her cheeks to complete her looks.

She sighed, staring at herself in the mirror and she got up and walked into the door. Achlys is the one that waits for her at the door. 

“You look stunningly gorgeous in your dress.” 

Achlys is lost for words after seeing her sister. He lends his hand to Franzlie yet, Franzlie is sweating and feels nervous. The feeling that she can’t even explain to herself. A paranoia new to her however she pulls herself together and faces her sibling with a smile. 

She opts to take his hand as they ascend the stairs with all eyes on both McGregor siblings; her fiancée is standing in the midst of her father and a lady in her mid-fifties at the left side. 

“There she is Graciella, my beautiful daughter and soon your daughter as well.” 

Arthur is full of pride and proud of her daughter. His eyes are teary yet he holds back his emotions. 

“Achlys, my eldest,  the man that ushers my lovely daughter. They flew back when I told them that Franzlie was going to be engaged with your son. And he will be the head of our family from now on.” 

His adoration for his children is bound with no end. However, the lady beside him raised and drew a grin on her face. Soon Franzlie lands on the last step of the stairs platform. Her siblings swarm to her and send their best wishes and congratulations. 

“You look fantastically pretty my dear sister.” Llyr winks at her and secretly glides a card on her palm. 

“Oh! How generous my brother is.” Franzlie makes fun of her brother and makes them laugh.

“Indeed you're a beauty hence Papa, your in-law and your fiance are waiting for you. Papa permits us a bit of your time.”

Xanth pulled out his phone and took a photo of them. They are overjoyed for their sister.

“Hey, baby girl, our gifts will be delivered to your new villa.” Rhory sticks out his tongue teasing her. 

“Papa,” Franzlie could only utter a word, filled with mixed emotions.

“Graciella, please meet my lovely daughter, Franzlie,”

 Arthur said, walking her to his mother-in-law and fiancé. 

“I hope you will treat her as your own daughter.”

Graciella painted a weak smile at Arthur and muttered, “Of course I will, I have no daughter of my own. My son will not mistreat your daughter. She will be a part of our family. You know how I long for a daughter at home.”

Her in-law glanced at her with a devilish smirk on her face. Franzlie takes a cold glimpse back to her mother in-law.

“Arthur looks like your daughter is so sweet as you are stating earlier. I guess she has a lot of friends.” 

Graciella looks back at her father, who is still commenting about her. She feigns a smile, exaggerating the words she has spoken. Drystan looks at her and hands her the bouquet of flowers and two keys.

“Franzlie, these are my presents for you on the occasion of our engagement. I know that this is not much, and I am aware that you have grown up accustomed to the lavish lifestyle of your father, which I can hope to provide for you in the near future. However, I do not have much to offer you beyond my companionship, friendship, and love.”

Drystan spoke with much love and sincerity to her. Franzlie took the flowers and the keys that he had given her. Llyr walked over to Franzlie and lent her a box and folders.

"I acknowledge your gift, and I hope that you will accept mine as well. This box is for Auntie Graciella, and it contains my small collection of precious stones. It is not a grand gift, but I hope that she will enjoy it. I have already signed the documents regarding our collaboration, and the last folder contains my documents of house registry and other vital requirements."

She responded to Drystan’s gift with a cool demeanor. Her father and Drystan’s mother were both shocked by what was exchanged between them. Graciella, on the other hand, smiled viciously, which did not escape Franzlie’s sharp gaze.

Drystan was stupefied; he did not know where to begin. However, he took the box and the folders that had been put into his hands. His mother stepped forward and laid her hands lightly to Franzlie.

“Oh! my child, you need not trouble yourself about your mother-in-law, for I am not in need of such sumptuous things. But if you insist on giving me this precious collection of yours, I shall gladly accept it, for it is indeed stunningly gorgeous.” 

Franzlie's mother-in-law is pleased with her. She knows that few people can resist precious stones. Although such things can be converted into a sum of money that would allow her to live comfortably for years or even start a new business, they are not her priority. Rather, they are a tool for her to gauge the character of those she is dealing with. And she knows that the bait has already been taken.

Franzlie bowed her head once more in a gesture of respect to her mother-in-law. Her crinkled eyes gazed at the woman.

“I can take you to the place where I purchased these precious stones, which are all local. When I am off working in the suburbs and the rural areas, I make sure to drop by one of the old shouq that buys and sells precious items. This could be an educational leisure for Auntie, so perhaps Drystan would not mind if I were to spend time with our mother-in-law in the suburbs.”

She stated her words without hesitation, with a serene tone in her voice. She grasped her mother-in-law's hands. She had seen the greed in her mother-in-law's eyes. Arthur felt relieved, knowing that his daughter could handle his old friend. He only hoped that his son-in-law would not be disappointed in his precious mother.