Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei
Chapter 3940

Married At First Sight Chapter 3940 Chapter 3940

In Wiltspoon, the temperature had plummeted to ten degrees, and the biting cold was enough to make anyone shiver. Even the warmth of heavy coats did little to shield against the chill.

Mr. Du led Mrs. Du back toward the house, his expression stern yet contemplative.

Mrs. Du glanced over her shoulder and whispered, "What if he actually takes off his coat and stands there for two hours? What if he freezes to death?"

Though they were angry at Evan and wanted him to feel the weight of their daughter's pain, they weren't looking to push things to the point of tragedy. Turning Evan into an icicle would risk a dangerous feud with the York family, something they couldn't afford. It was one thing to cut ties, but becoming enemies with the Yorks was a whole different matter.

Mr. Du remained composed, waving off her concern. "If he really does it, Abby will come out to call him in after half an hour. Trust me. And if he doesn't follow through, well, then nothing will come of it."

"If he does it, he might catch a cold at most," he added with a shrug. "And if he doesn't, then no harm done."

Mrs. Du frowned. "I still don't think he came here for love this time. Who knows what he's really after?"

Mr. Du sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as his frustration showed. "I don't want our daughter getting involved with that man again. She finally moved on from him, and if they meet, who's to say her feelings won't come rushing back? She's been through enough."

Their daughter rarely fell for anyone. Her standards were high-some might even say impossibly so-but that was how they'd raised her. She deserved the best.

But when Abby finally did fall for someone, it had been Evan. And he'd crushed her heart.

He'd come to her, charming and persistent, making her believe in something real-only to walk away in the end. He claimed he had only pursued her because his grandmother, Old Mrs. York, had arranged it. He admitted he had considered a future with Abby but ultimately stepped away, saying he couldn't force feelings that weren't there.

To Mr. Du, Evan's words felt like a slap in the face, not just to his daughter but to their whole family. His naive, inexperienced daughter had been swept away by a young, handsome, successful, and thoughtful man-only to have her trust shattered.

Even now, Mr. Du couldn't help but begrudgingly admit that if he were a young woman, even he might have been swayed by someone like Evan. "Let's talk to Abby later," Mr. Du said after a pause. "If she wants to see him, let her decide. If not, we'll have someone send him packing. I just hate that the guy I thought would be my favorite son-in-law turned out like this."

Mrs. Du chuckled dryly, though her disappointment lingered.

"There are still plenty of good men out there," Mr. Du continued with a determined tone.

"Maybe she'll find someone even better than Evan. Her fellow apprentices are excellent. I wouldn't mind seeing her end up with one of them."

Mrs. Du shook her head. "She told me there's no chance of that. She only sees them as brothers and nothing more. She keeps saying we shouldn't worry about her love life and that fate will come when it's meant to. But how can we not worry? She's our only daughter."

As they walked further, the couple instinctively turned back to look at the gate.

There Evan stood, still holding the bags of gifts he'd brought. They watched as he carefully set them down, then hesitated for a moment before removing his coat.

“He's really doing it," Mrs. Du murmured, a flicker of surprise and satisfaction crossing her face.

Mr. Du nodded, his expression softening ever so slightly. "I see it. Give it half an hour, and then have Abby come out."

The cold was merciless, but if Evan was willing to endure it, it showed a level of sincerity they hadn't expected.

"We're not trying to torture the boy," Mr. Du said gruffly. "We didn't yell, beat him, or even let the dogs loose. Making him stand outside without his coat for a bit? That's nothing. He can handle it.”

With that, the couple returned to the warmth of the house.

A short while later, Mrs. Du made her way upstairs and stopped at her daughter's door. Raising her hand, she knocked gently. "Abby, are you up?" she called out.

Inside, Abby stirred. She had been awake for a while but was still curled up in bed, savoring the rare chance to sleep in. She had planned to stay under the covers until lunchtime, but her mother's voice made that impossible.

Reluctantly, Abby threw off the blankets, slipped on her slippers, and shuffled to the door. As she opened it, she yawned and answered, "I'm up, Mom. What is it?"