Chapter 2 Why Don't We Get Married

Ella hurried to the door.

A young man stood in the doorway. Sharp features, a defined jawline, and steady eyes gave him a commanding presence-despite the worn, ill-fitting clothes.

Ella's cheeks warmed, and she felt her pulse quicken.

Tiesto's gaze swept over her-bright eyes, rosy lips-and he stepped inside with quiet confidence.

Piper couldn't help but notice his striking looks. But seeing his tattered clothes-and remembering the old car-their allure evaporated instantly. Twenty years of luxury had left her incapable of imagining hardship at all.

Lora greeted him warmly. "Tiesto, we've found our daughters. This is our eldest, Piper, and our youngest, Ella. Thanks to the Hart family's care over the years, we've finally been reunited. We even share the same last name."

Tiesto nodded politely.

Nora appraised him from head to toe. "So... where do you work? Where do you live? What do your parents do?"

"I work for a diversified company, live in the suburbs, and my parents aren't working right now," Tiesto replied evenly.

A diversified company-Sterling's empire spanned finance, real estate, hotels, and luxury brands. More than enough to impress anyone.

Living in the suburbs-he mostly returned to his grandmother's suburban villa, her retirement home.

His parents being out of work made sense; ever since Tiesto had taken control of the company, they had indulged themselves, leaving the business entirely to him.

Nora's face betrayed her disdain.

"So... what are your plans? Buying a house in the city?" she asked, her tone disinterested.

"Not considered yet," he replied. He already had plenty of properties under his name.

Nora had a hundred questions swirling in her head but found herself too lazy to ask.

Tiesto knew he had made the right move today. Clearly, this engagement wouldn't happen unless the family decided it themselves. He was content to wait.

Nora forced a laugh. "Lora, tell me-who do you see Tiesto being engaged to? Piper or Ella?"

Lora hesitated. "We... haven't really thought about it. There's no rush. Let them interact first... let the girls decide."

Before finding her daughters, her only concern had been locating them. If Nora hadn't brought up the engagement so soon, Lora might never have considered it today.

Nora shook her head. "No. Let them 'interact'? There are three sons-how exactly are they supposed to interact?"

Her words snapped Lora to attention, and even the Hart siblings sensed the tension.

Just as Tiesto was about to speak, Nora continued:

"Since we're all here today, I might as well be blunt. These two daughters-I raised them myself. Twenty years of hard work went into them. When they first came to my home, Piper was three, Ella two. You can imagine how difficult it was."

The Hart family exchanged grateful looks.

"And now you want to take them both back and arrange engagements. Though I'm their adoptive mother, my love for them is no less than a biological mother's. So... I want to keep at least one."

Lora hesitated. "But..."

Piper stepped forward, her voice gentle. "I've had twenty years with my adoptive mother. You're my biological parents, yes, but I can't ignore the love and care I've received. I want to stay-and I'll visit often."

"Yes. Piper is still young. I don't want her to leave me, and I don't want her married this early. Please-let her stay by my side!" Nora said, reluctant to part with her favored daughter.

Ella realized the truth: Piper had already decided to stay. It made sense-luxury, comfort, security-it was natural for her to hesitate.

Her careful dress, flawless makeup, and deliberate preparation that day had nothing to do with impressing her birth parents-it had been a test to see if the engagement prospect measured up. A good family, a solid background, and luxury? Then Nora and Piper would fight for him. A modest boy? They'd let it go immediately. That was their usual method.

Lucas and Lora, after a brief discussion, understood Piper didn't want to leave and reluctantly agreed. "Very well. We'll do as you wish," they said.

Nora turned to Ella. "And you? Do you want to stay?"

She didn't like Ella much but had no problem keeping a competent worker around.

All eyes turned to Ella. Lora tensed. Could it be that neither daughter wanted to return home?

Tiesto watched her with quiet interest.

Ella spoke evenly. "I don't want to stay."

Nora snorted. "Think carefully. Once you leave today, you're no longer my daughter. Coming back here won't be easy."

"I've thought it through," Ella said, taking Lora's arm. "I want to go home with you."

"You said it yourself... don't regret it later." Nora rolled her eyes, secretly muttering curses at Ella for her 'ingratitude.'

"I said it myself. I won't regret it."

Nora sneered. "Fine. Let Ella meet the fiancé. She is back with you-I don't care about her marriage anymore."

Piper's smile was faint but sharp. "Ella, don't say I didn't warn you. When you're choosing a husband, you can't just go by looks, and you can't cling to promises made decades ago. A marriage without stability is like holding sand in your hands-it'll slip away the moment the wind blows."

Just thinking about it, Piper felt a pang of sympathy for Ella. Her father worked as a security guard, her mother as a cleaner, and they lived in a cramped apartment outside the villa. On top of that, they were raising three boys. Going back there meant a life of hardship for Ella.

It was all because Ella had been proud and stubborn, refusing to flatter Nora. Staying would have been far easier.

"Sis, you don't need to worry about me," Ella said calmly, a sense of freedom settling over her as she prepared to leave.

Nora had always treated her like a servant.

Piper, on the other hand, had long mastered the art of currying favor with Nora, taking credit for the good and blaming Ella for anything that went wrong.

Even if she hadn't been reunited with her birth parents, Ella had already decided to move out and rent her own place.

Piper smiled softly. "I'm just looking out for you. I don't want to see you work so hard, only to send your money straight to your birth family."

In her heart, Piper thought Ella was foolish-turning down comfort and security just to chase hardship.

Nora nodded. "Your sister's right. When a woman marries, she should aim higher."

Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Tiesto. "And a man can't just expect to marry someone because of some promise his grandfather made. You need to build your own life first..."

Ella ignored the veiled sarcasm-it wasn't aimed at her anyway.

She spoke clearly, her voice steady. "Mr. Tiesto Sterling, since the Sterling and Hart families already have an engagement, why don't we get married?"

The room went still.

Lora caught Ella's arm. "Ella... are you sure about this?"

It wasn't his lack of wealth that worried her. They had never met this man before-and she didn't want her daughter stepping into a marriage that might bring nothing but hardship.

Tiesto had come fully prepared to end the engagement.Cold looks. Thinly veiled disdain. Even open mockery-none of it would have bothered him. That was exactly what he expected.

What he hadn't expected was this.

When Ella calmly proposed, he froze.

A familiar voice burst through his earpiece, sharp and breathless."Tiesto-say yes! Say yes to her! That girl is good-hearted. If you let her go, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Only then did Tiesto remember-his grandmother had been watching the entire time.

"Hurry up! Don't hesitate! If you miss this chance, you'll regret it! Oh-my head... someone get the doctor-"

Tiesto clenched his jaw.

"...Grandma," he said under his breath.

The sudden remark drew confused looks from everyone in the room.

Ella was still watching him. Calm. Steady. As if she had already made peace with whatever answer he gave.

"Mr. Sterling?" she prompted softly.

After a brief pause, Tiesto nodded."...Alright."

On the other end of the line, his grandmother let out a long, satisfied sigh. The dramatic headache that had plagued her all morning seemed to vanish in an instant.