558 Chapter 557

Scott stared at the photo, and old Mr. Martin slowly began speaking, looking lost in recollection. “She’s my first love, but after she became pregnant, she suddenly left me without a trace.”

Old Mr. Martin sighed. “At that time, she used to send me a photo now and then. Through this photo, I learned she was in Clance, but when I wanted to go there that year, I was prevented by various matters. I could only send someone to find her. Unfortunately, they told me the place where she was staying was burnt to the ground by a big fire, and she was dead while my daughter was missing.”

Old Mr. Martin tensed his jaw. “Later, although I got married and had other children, first love is the hardest to forget. And this daughter of mine is missing. It has become my only concern in this life.”

Old Mr. Martin sighed. “Scott, you’re my most beloved grandson, so can you help me find her?”

Scott looked at the photo. “Grandpa, if your daughter is still alive, how old would she be today?”

Old Mr. Martin frowned. “She should be in her forties now. At that age, she must have gotten married…”

Scott asked, “And your first love, what’s her name?”

Old Mr. Martin sighed. “I don’t know.”

Scott was dumbfounded. “How can you not know?”

Old Mr. Martin said nostalgically, “Back then, we met at a masquerade ball. At that time, we both used pseudonyms. I spent a very romantic night with her in Country F. Afterward, for half a month, we were together all the time, traveling through the great rivers and mountains of Country F. I fell deeply in love. She was someone incredibly captivating with a very special aura. I wanted to marry her, but then she suddenly disappeared.”

Old Mr. Martin sighed. “She was like a sprite who mistakenly wandered into the human world and then evaporated from this earth. I looked everywhere for her, but there was no trace. Later, I followed my family’s arrangements and got married. But three years after she disappeared, I suddenly received a photo of her with our daughter.”

At this, the old man showed a hint of tenderness.

Scott looked on, unable to help but sigh.

He had grown up with old Mr. Martin, knowing that although his grandparents respected each other, they weren’t deeply in love.

It turns out it was because someone else was in his grandfather’s heart.

He silently sighed again.

Luckily, his grandmother had passed away. If she were still alive, she would surely be heartbroken.

However…

Scott still looked at old Mr. Martin. “Grandpa, what’s her surname? Do you know that, at least?”

Old Mr. Martin shook his head again.

Scott let out a sigh. “If we don’t even know her surname, then all we can do is carry the photo and search for her…”

He stared at the photo of the teenage girl.

Having grown up abroad, Scott found it easy to differentiate the faces of foreigners, but he was somewhat face-blind regarding Crera people.

Keira was exceptionally stunning and distinctive, and that was why he remembered her.

The girl in the photo and Mrs. Olsen he saw in Oceanion before had some slight similarities, but to him, all those people looked somewhat alike.

He looked toward old Mr. Martin. “Grandpa, I can help you find this person, but in return, can you promise me that if I find her, I won’t have to marry my cousin?”

Old Mr. Martin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That won’t do.”

Scott didn’t understand. “Why not? Back in the day, you accepted an arranged marriage and were unhappy in your marital life. You know, being with the person you love makes for a happier life, so…”

“Actually, my life has been quite happy.”

Scott was perplexed.

Old Mr. Martin chuckled. “Do you think your grandmother and I weren’t in love? But we understood each other.”

Scott was startled. “What?”

Old Mr. Martin chuckled. “We both had someone else in our hearts, so we made a perfect match. Do you think her unhappiness is because of me? No, it was because she was in love with someone else. But you know, our lives together have been very harmonious for many years. Don’t marry the woman you love the most…

“Marriage is the grave of love; marrying the person you love the most is torture. Love fades with the passage of time, and the person you passionately love will eventually become as bland as water.

“That’s an insult to love. My first love and I are both proud individuals. If we had married, life’s mundane matters wouldn’t necessarily have led to happiness.

“On the contrary, our families arranged my marriage with your grandmother. Compared to others, our marriage was more stable. We didn’t love each other, so we could tolerate each other’s flaws more readily and were even more open about our darkest sides… That’s why I’ve had a happy marital life over the years.”

After saying that, Old Mr. Martin turned to Scott, speaking earnestly. “Emotionally, Miss Vera is a very stable person. By marrying her, you’ll live well.”

Scott couldn’t help but retort, “But Miss Keera is also very stable emotionally.”

“But she gave up on you!” Old Mr. Martin replied, then laughed. “Besides, we and the South family are bound to collaborate and to form a marital alliance.”

He looked at Scott. ” Miss Olsen won’t marry you, but Vera will, and that’s her biggest advantage.”

Scott was puzzled. “Isn’t our family not reliant on external alliances? What’s so special about the South family?”

Old Mr. Martin’s gaze lowered, his face inscrutable. “The South family is a mysterious entity. For so many years, I’ve been trying to connect with them. Now that they’re willing to join forces with our family, it’s an opportunity for us. As a member of the Martin family, you must seize that opportunity. You must marry one of these two!”

Scott asked, “What does the South family have that compels us to form an alliance through marriage?”

“They possess something beyond your imagination,” said Old Mr. Martin, his tone mild. “Scott, stop resisting. Tomorrow is your engagement party with Vera. Do as you’re told. It’s the greatest contribution you can make to our family.”

Old Mr. Martin stood up. “You’ve enjoyed the favorable conditions provided by the Martin family since you were young, so you must take on the responsibilities you owe to the family. Good boy, go now. Vera is your cousin and will become your excellent wife. Don’t resist. Try to accept her.”

After saying this, Old Mr. Martin walked away.

Scott sighed and looked down at the photo in his hand.

Just then, his phone buzzed once. Picking it up, he saw a message from Keira. “Are you really getting engaged tomorrow?”

Scott replied, “It seems so. The arrangements are being prepared as we speak.”

Keira said, “Is there any way to stop it?”

Scott said, “It doesn’t seem like it. I don’t want to marry Vera, but it seems I have no choice. It’s my grandfather’s wish.”

Keira said, “Can’t you find another way? Doesn’t your grandfather have any unfulfilled wishes right now? Maybe I can help fulfill them, then try to persuade him afterward.”

Reading this, Scott was stunned.

His grandfather’s wish… He looked at the photo in his hand…

He glanced at it and sent a message to Keira. “My grandfather’s only wish is to find his lost daughter.”

Keira’s message came back quickly. “What daughter? Are there any clues? If I find his daughter, can the wedding be postponed?”

Scott said, “No.”

After he said that, he felt downhearted. Did Miss Olsen really not have any feelings for him at all?

As he was contemplating, he saw that Keira had sent another message. “I want to help him find his daughter. Do you have any clues?”

Scott said, “There’s a photo.”

Keira said, “Send it over.”Vị