CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: PROTECTING MY WIFE (NEW)

As soon as Adrian Jennings returned home, he was sent to the study by the elder Mrs. Jennings to talk with his father.

After finishing the talk, as he stepped out of the elevator, he heard the elder Mrs. Jennings aggressively ordering Talia to serve the food.

The man walked over, speaking in a casual tone, "Grandmother, has our family become so poor we can’t afford to pay the servants anymore? Since when did we need guests to serve food?"

Seeing Adrian come downstairs, the elder Mrs. Jennings couldn’t keep bullying Talia Rhodes and set down her teacup, with a perfectly measured smile, "I just wanted to see if Talia, that girl, is obedient."

Adrian wasn’t buying it, his tone slightly lowered, "My Talia doesn’t need to be obedient; she just needs to be happy."

The elder Mrs. Jennings’s face darkened.

"Adrian, are you blaming your grandmother?"

It seemed Selina Hughes was right; this Talia Rhodes had enchanted Adrian, as he was daring to speak back to his grandmother for her.

Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line, his handsome face cold and stern, the surrounding air seemingly filled with chill.

"How would I dare?" Adrian spoke coolly, "Grandmother, Talia is someone I’ve waited years for. Please don’t separate us; if Talia becomes unhappy and doesn’t marry me, I’ll become a monk."

Talia was slightly stunned upon hearing this. She hadn’t expected Adrian to defend her like this in front of the Jennings family and openly admit he’d waited for her for years, placing himself in a very humble position.

Talia felt a flutter in her heart, the grievances from being picked on by the elder Mrs. Jennings evaporated, replaced by sweetness as if she was soaking in honey.

These words had surely made the elder lady very angry.

"You... Nonsense! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Agitated, she began to feel her old heart problem act up.

Selina Hughes supported the elder lady, hurriedly trying to calm her down, "Grandmother, don’t be angry."

She kept her eyelashes lowered, trying to hide the jealousy in her eyes.

Adrian’s gaze was deep and dark, glancing toward Selina Hughes inquisitively, "Did you speak badly of Talia in front of grandmother?"

Selina Hughes stiffened, swallowed, a flicker of panic in her eyes, "I... I didn’t..."

Adrian squinted at her, his gaze as cold as a snap of frost in March, speaking deliberately, "You better not have."

Selina broke out in a cold sweat from fright.

"Alright, alright, it’s time to eat." Melinda Lynch came out, smiling to ease the atmosphere.

The dining room on the first floor alone covered over a hundred square meters, decorated in a classic, elegant style with class, the table and chairs made of gold-threaded nanmu, and the decorative green plants were costly crystal orchids and million-dollar peonies.

The elder Mrs. Jennings initially planned for Talia Rhodes to serve the food, so she had instructed the servants not to do it in advance.

Now, with Adrian’s sudden involvement, her plan was forced to a halt, leaving no choice but to order the servants to serve the food.

The elder Mr. Jennings was far away in Kenton and couldn’t come back, while around the rectangular dining table, the elder Mrs. Jennings sat at the head, with the couple Ian Jennings and Melinda Lynch occupying the positions immediately beside her.

Adrian and Talia sat together, with Selina Hughes seated opposite Talia.

Once the servants completed serving the food, they placed a bowl of soup in front of everyone.

Except in front of Talia.

Talia felt a surge of displeasure.

She didn’t believe the Jennings’ servants could make such a rookie mistake.

This only showed that the servant acted on the elder Mrs. Jennings’s instructions, intentionally doing this to wear down and knock some sense into her.

No matter how respectful she was to elders, Talia couldn’t endure the elder Mrs. Jennings’s repeated targeting.

She was just about to speak up and question the elder lady directly when the man beside her beat her to it, saying, "Grandmother, when did our family become so poor they can’t afford even a bowl of soup?"

The elder Mrs. Jennings’s face stiffened, glancing at Talia Rhodes, and feigned a smile, "Perhaps the servant forgot in their busyness, it can be remedied."

The nearby servant: "..."

Adrian suddenly laughed.

"Talia, if we’re not welcome here, let’s go." Adrian abruptly stood up, the chair making a jarring noise on the floor.

In her shock, Adrian had already taken Talia’s hand, speaking softly, "I’ll take you out to eat."

Talia felt deeply moved.

Adrian was standing up to the elder Mrs. Jennings for her.

On the one hand, she felt very touched; on the other, a bit worried.

She didn’t want Adrian to estrange himself from his family because of her.

Seeing Adrian about to leave, the elder Mrs. Jennings shouted sternly, "Adrian!"

"Grandmother, enjoy your meal, but we’re not staying." With Talia in hand, "I don’t want my Talia to suffer any grievances."

"Adrian..." Talia hesitated.

"Adrian, how can you speak to your grandmother like that?" Ian Jennings said in a low voice.

Adrian’s expression was grave, "I’m making this clear today; Talia is a treasure I hold dear, and I won’t let her suffer a bit. If this meal isn’t enjoyable, we won’t have it; if anyone in this house cannot accept her..."

Adrian paused, "If anyone in this house cannot accept her, then I might as well not come back."

With that, Adrian took Talia and turned to leave, ignoring the Jennings family’s calls behind them.

In the car.

Talia sat in the passenger seat, worried, "Adrian, you’re arguing with your family because of me, I’m afraid..."

"Don’t be afraid, Talia." Adrian gently squeezed Talia’s palm, "I’m here."

"Will your grandmother dislike me even more?"

"She deliberately made things difficult for you; I have to show my stance, or she’ll just get worse next time."

Talia lowered her eyes, her lashes quivering slightly, "It seems your family doesn’t like me."

"No." Adrian reassured her, "Don’t let your imagination run wild; my parents like you very much, and so does Grandpa. As for Grandma, she has a misunderstanding with you, which I will clear up with her."

Talia absently replied, "Hmm."

Adrian gently pinched Talia’s cheek, "What do you want to eat, Talia? I’ll take you out for something nice."

After the earlier incident, Talia wasn’t in high spirits, having little appetite.

"I’m fine with anything."

Adrian drove her to an exclusive high-end Chinese restaurant and ordered a table full of dishes she loved.

...

Here, after Adrian left, the atmosphere in the Jennings family dining room was a bit heavy.

Ian Jennings sighed, rubbing his temples in a helpless manner, "Mom, why are you picking on Talia, a young girl? What did she do to displease you?"

Melinda Lynch pursed her lips, staying silent on the side.

Back when she had just married into the Jennings family, the elder Mrs. Jennings used to make things difficult for her in this way too.

First, she tormented her daughter-in-law, and now she’s using these methods on her granddaughter-in-law. Such antics.

What’s wrong with keeping a harmonious relationship?

She just didn’t get it. The Rhodes family’s girl’s background and family were flawless, a perfect match for Adrian, with beautiful looks, proper manners, and good upbringing. Why wasn’t the elder lady satisfied, even criticizing the girl’s attire?

The elder Mrs. Jennings gave a cold laugh, "Did you see how Adrian just treated me? For so many years, when has he ever rebuked me? Today he actually did it for a woman; it’s surely Talia Rhodes instigating him."

Melinda Lynch thought sarcastically to herself, huh, clearly, you’re the one causing trouble, my son is doing a fine job protecting his wife!

Ian Jennings said, "Mom, don’t hold any prejudice against Talia; she is not that kind of person. She’s a good girl; please don’t make things difficult for her anymore."

"I made things difficult for her? You don’t know what she did to Selina just a few days ago!"