Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 63

The meeting spot was set at the "Ambrosia Eatery", a place decked out in old world charm and tranquility, with secluded private rooms. From the rooms, you could take in the stunning view along the corridor, and you could even catch whiffs of the faint floral scent.

All the Meyers were present except Ashley Meyer. Phillip was in a deep blue suit, looking like he'd knocked a few years off his age and seemed full of vim and vigor.

Trenton Meyer was still in his military uniform, Jacob Meyer was in a suit, and Erica Meyer and Lauren Nelson were also dressed smartly, exuding an air of refinement and elegance.

By the time Ethan turned up with Rita and Zander, the Meyer clan was already there. Clearly, they were giving this meet-up between the two families the seriousness it deserved. Rita and Zander were a bit taken aback when they saw them dressed so elegantly.

Ethan did a quick introduction, and everyone took their seats.

"Sorry to drag you folks all the way to A City," Phillip, the patriarch of the family, began. "We the Meyers have snagged such a great daughter-in-law, it should've been us paying you a visit in B City, but we didn't want to drop in on you unannounced. I hope you can understand." Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Nah, don't sweat it," Rita replied with a smile. "Even though Izzy is our niece, she's like a daughter to us. Seeing kids tie the knot is a joyous occasion. As parents, all we want is their happiness, all the other stuff is just a formality. It doesn't matter who visits who, it's all about family get-togethers."

Rita herself hailed from a prominent family. Even though she'd married Zander and was leading a simple life, she still carried herself with grace.

Phillip chuckled in agreement. "Rita's got it spot on. That's what marriage and life are all about, we don't fuss over superficial protocols."

"To be honest, I was a bit nervous coming to A City, given the disparity between our family backgrounds. Izzy's a straight shooter, and I was worried about her adjusting to married life. It wasn't until I saw how happy she is now that I finally put my mind at ease," Rita admitted.

"Rita, we don't fuss over 'marrying within the same social class'. I've told Izzy this too. I’m going to sound a bit cocky here, but we don't need to cement our status with a business marriage. I come from a military background, I don't like fair-weather folks, I prefer down-to-earth kids like Izzy."

"Rest assured, Izzy is not just a daughter-in-law to us. Trenton and I always wanted a daughter but never had one. We'll treat her like our own, and Ethan will be a good husband," Erica assured.

"I've got no doubts about that. Ethan's cooking skills are something else. It's rare to find boys who can cook these days, especially with Ethan being such a busy bee."

Erica gave Ethan a sideways glance. She knew he could cook, but she'd never tasted his food. She used to be content if he visited home a few times a year.

"Maybe it's a family trait, my husband, my father-in-law, and my brother-in-law can all cook. Izzy's impressive too, she's a certified accountant and has been practicing for years. That's not an easy certificate to get."

"Absolutely, becoming an accountant means going through tons of textbooks, each a few hundred pages long. I've been a teacher all my life, and those books give me a headache. But Izzy aced the exam in a year. When she enrolled, the school even rewarded her and asked her to share her experience with others."

Izzy blushed and muttered, "Auntie..." There was no need to mention such trivial matters. From what she knew, Ethan was also a top student, and her aunt praising her like this would make her feel awkward in front of him.

Just then, a large hand was placed on her shoulder. Izzy blushed and fell silent.

The dishes started to arrive, and everyone chatted while eating. It was like a cozy family gathering, with no awkwardness.

Erica and Rita chatted away, one praising Izzy, the other praising Ethan.

Izzy felt embarrassed while listening to them. She never knew she had so many good traits.

Zander was also having a conversation with the two Meyer brothers, occasionally clinking glasses. Although Zander was a teacher, he was also quite worldly. Trenton and Jacob, despite their high positions, were not arrogant, and they chatted without any barriers.

The atmosphere was surprisingly good. Izzy and Ethan locked eyes and couldn't help but smile, feeling like outsiders who were unable to join in. Izzy excused herself to use the restroom, but on her way past the service counter, she overheard a haughty female voice, "What on earth is going on here? I clearly made a reservation. Why do we still have to wait for a table? It's my mom's birthday today, and you're making us wait to celebrate. How will you compensate us for this?"

A waiter was trying to pacify her, "I'm sorry, Ms. Galeana. I told you yesterday that business is booming at Ambrosia Eatery. Even with a reservation, we have to accommodate customers on a first-come, first-served basis. Your dining time is scheduled for tomorrow evening.”

“My mom’s birthday is today! You lot gotta find us a private room somehow, my parents are on their way." Emma Galeana was relentless.

"I'm really sorry, Ms. Galeana, we just can't squeeze you in today. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Izzy didn't want to deal with Emma at all. She gave her a quick glance, then made a beeline for the restroom. But some people just wouldn't let her off the hook. "Haha, Izzy, I heard from Aiden that

you're hitched now, and to a regular Joe at that! When did your taste become so... ordinary?"

Izzy kept walking, ignoring the chattering behind her. Seeing Izzy indifferent, Emma rushed up to block her path, glaring at Izzy with venom. "Izzy, I don't get how you're still acting all high and mighty. You think you're still the little princess of the Galeana family? The only Galeana princess people in A City know about now is me. You're just a cast-off daughter who got disowned by your own dad in the papers. A few years ago, you had to slink off to another city with your tail between your legs."