Upon hearing Jacob’s words, Charlie Wade deduced that he must have been aware of Matilda’s ns to marry Hank.


    Charlie then said, “Dad, I’m nearby. Juste over and meet us at the entrance.”


    Jacob, feeling a mix of emotions, responded, “Alright, I won’t drive. I’ll wait for you at the entrance, my dear son-inw. Hurry!”


    “Sure,” Charlie replied, but he intentionally took a few extra minutes after hanging up the phone.


    After all, Hank had just left, and Charlie was on his way to pick up Matilda from the University for the Elderly. If he arrived too soon, there was a chance all four of them might run into each other at the school gate, which could lead to an awkward situation.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Though Charlie didn’t mind the embarrassment, he was concerned that his father-inw might be even more upset.


    After a deliberate dy, Charlie finally set off for the University for the Elderly.


    Meanwhile, Matilda was waiting by the roadside in front of the University for the Elderly for Hank to arrive.


    Jacob, feeling dejected, was leaving the University for the Elderly when he spotted Matilda standing on the roadside from a distance. Instinctively, he came to a halt.


    At that moment, he felt a profoundck of self-confidence. Deep down, Jacob was aware that, in many ways, he couldn’tpete with Hank.


    Hank was a true intellectual, well-educated and knowledgeable. He had made significant achievements in finance and was now a respected professor in Aurous Hill, enjoying a high social status.


    In addition, Hank was taller, more fit, and more attractive than Jacob. He was also more articte, easily speaking English, Korean, and Spanish. Most importantly, Hank was talented in various pursuits—he could dance, y musical instruments, and his singing was above average. Inparison, Jacob felt utterly insignificant.


    Thus, Jacob clung to one thing that restored his confidence in front of Hank: Matilda loved him, not Hank.


    Sometimes, he even felt a sense of pride in that. So what if Hank excelled in many areas? The woman he cherished had loved him for over thirty years. Rtionships can be quite irrational.


    But now?


    The one advantage he had was slipping away, turned against him, further intensifying his feelings of inadequacy.


    So, when Jacob saw Matilda waiting for Hank, his immediate reaction was to quickly turn away and hide behind a thick French ne tree, attempting to shield his face.


    Before long, Hank arrived, driving his new domestic electric vehicle to the roadside.


    Jacob, concealed behind the tree, peeked out with one eye and muttered to himself, “Seriously, you have the audacity to show up in that shabby car. And look, you don’t even have tinted windows. Who does he think he is? If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to show my face in that thing!”<fn7b39> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? ?ovelFind</fn7b39>


    As he grumbled quietly, Matilda had already settled into the passenger seat of Hank’s car, a smile brightening her face.


    Then, a scene unfolded that shattered Jacob’sposure. Matilda and Hank leaned in closer, sharing a kiss over the car’s armrest.


    Typically, the two middle-aged lovers were quite reserved, often keeping their intimacy private. But today was different.


    They were about to embark on preparations for their wedding, marking a new milestone in their rtionship.


    Moreover, Matilda was deeply touched by Hank’s gestures.


    Since returning to China, Matilda had met many middle-aged and elderly individuals at the University for the Elderly. She observed that, in her experience, such couples rarely married, often setting individual conditions and negotiating like business partners. While they might bepanions, marriage and weddings were seldom chosen for the sake of themselves or their children.