The Wrong Woman

Carol's voice was fraught with anger. "If he truly is General Morrison's son, then you're certainly marrying into a different world! How could this possibly end well? Have his parents been informed? What do they think?"

"We didn't inform them earlier. They just found out," Imogen replied calmly.

Carol's fury intensified upon hearing this. She slapped Imogen's arm in frustration, shouting, "You foolish child! How could you disrespect the Morrison family like this!"

Imogen winced, holding her arm in pain.

Jasper became concerned and swiftly embraced Imogen, shielding her protectively. He addressed Carol with a serious tone, "Mom, let's discuss this calmly. There's no need for physical aggression."

Startled by Jasper's firmness, Carol quickly stepped back, her voice now timid. "I'm sorry! I... I'll speak calmly, I promise. Please... please don't be upset."

Jasper couldn't help but detect the anxiety and caution in Carol's tone.

Despite being Jasper's parents-in-law, Gregory and Carol now appeared unusually subdued and cautious in their mannerisms.

Their demeanor had shifted to one of increased deference and politeness.

Jasper found this change unsettling.

"Mom, Dad, you don't need to be afraid of me. I'm just a regular person. I'm your son-in-law, remember?"

Gregory swallowed nervously and hastily added, "No, no, you're far from ordinary."

Upon hearing this, Jasper sighed softly in resignation.

After observing quietly for a moment, Pippa asked curiously, "What's the deal with Jasper?"

Gregory leaned in and quietly confided to Pippa, "Mom, Imogen didn’t disclose everything to us. She married her middle school classmate and portrayed him as an ordinary guy."

"It turns out his father is a general from Norvania, and his mother is a researcher. They’re quite affluent."

Pippa’s face lit up with delight. "Isn’t that wonderful? Oh my. Imogen is lucky to marry into such a good family. I’m sure many people would envy her."

With Pippa’s support, Jasper felt somewhat reassured.

Meanwhile, Gregory and Carol wore visibly troubled expressions, their smiles strained. They seemed intent on appeasing Jasper, avoiding any hint of disagreement.

Observing their deferential manner, Imogen couldn’t help but feel somewhat uneasy.

Gregory and Carol had lived their entire lives in the lower ranks of society, where they were accustomed to exploitation and adept at reading people's reactions. Among peers of similar status, they found a sense of equality. en.swnovels.net

When encountering those slightly above them, they were able to accept them without much fuss.

The realization of the vast difference between Jasper’s family and their own came as a profound shock—a gap as wide as heaven and earth.

They were momentarily at a loss, unsure of where they now stood in this new reality.

Gregory cautiously asked, "Jasper, were you the boy from middle school who used to write love letters to Imogen?"

Jasper admitted earnestly, "Yes, Dad, that was me."

Gregory managed a tight smile, feeling somewhat awkward. "Ah, yes, we did meet once before."

"Yes, we did."

Gregory pressed on, "Anyway, both of you acted too hastily this time. Marriage is a significant matter. Why didn’t you seek your parents’ approval before tying the knot?" 

"Well, my family is quite progressive. They believe marriage is a personal decision, so they don’t tend to interfere much," Jasper explained.

Carol sighed heavily, her voice trembling with concern, "It’s not that simple. Considering our family’s situation, how could Imogen possibly measure up to you? If your parents were to find out, I worry they might make things difficult for her." 

Jasper hurriedly reassured her, "That won’t happen. My parents truly adore Imogen, I promise."

Viewing the situation from her perspective, Carol found it hard to completely trust Jasper’s words.

She managed a faint smile and softly commented, "They may act kindly in front of you, but who knows how much resentment they hold behind closed doors."