Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride

Chapter 1355 - 1349: One in Ten Thousand, Hometown Traditions (Sophie Is Accepted)

"Be good, Lara!" Nicholas Croft smiled as he moved a chair for Sophie Foster to sit down, then fished a card out of the pocket of his home lounge pants."This is from your aunt for buying a floral dress, Lara, keep it for yourself."

"Come on, thank your uncle and aunt!" Lydia Zimmerman encouraged her by the side, and Lara, perched on the dining table, took the card. "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt!"

"No need to thank us, it’s from your aunt."

Nicholas Croft also moved a chair and sat down, Sophie Foster lowered her head, feeling a bit uneasy inside.

Meeting her mother-in-law for the first time, she felt a bit resistant and nervous due to past unpleasantness, so much so that she even forgot the gift for the child...

After Julia Zabinski served the rice, she first gave it to her husband; Benjamin Croft raised his eyebrows and said, "Serve the eldest daughter-in-law first!"

Benjamin Croft’s tone was serious, and for once, Julia Zabinski didn’t retort but happily agreed, then handed it to Sophie Foster,

"Lara, you eat first."

Nicholas Croft gently nudged her, as if reminding something, Sophie Foster took the rice, biting her lip, "Thank you... Mom."

"Yes, yes!" Julia Zabinski responded happily twice, then looked at Benjamin Croft with delight, "Old man, quickly take out the meeting gift for the eldest daughter-in-law!"

"Why the rush?" Despite saying this, Benjamin Croft still picked up the red envelope-like paper bag in front of him and handed it to Sophie Foster.

"Lara, when you and Nicholas got married, neither I nor your mom were present. There’s a custom in our hometown that when a new daughter-in-law enters the house, she has to receive a red envelope,"

"No, no need." gazing at the bulging red envelope, Sophie Foster hesitated to accept it.

"Take it, it’s a custom here, ten thousand dollars—it means ’one in ten thousand’!"

Sophie Foster...

Instinctively turned to Nicholas Croft, looking troubled.

"Go ahead and take it, it’s a token from Dad and Mom."

Nicholas Croft spoke calmly, picking up a ladle to serve soup for Sophie Foster, not knowing how his father had convinced his mother, who seemed to have changed her mind overnight.

Sophie Foster took the envelope from Benjamin Croft’s hand, nodded in thanks, and looking at the heavy paper bag in her hand, felt like she was dreaming.

Breakfast was bountiful—stir-fried dishes, soups, and all sorts. Julia Zabinski was very warm towards Sophie Foster, constantly helping to fill her plate, as if the unpleasantness from last night never happened.

Sophie Foster wasn’t used to interacting with strangers, becoming like this after the car accident, so she returned to her room after breakfast. Julia Zabinski and the daughter-in-law were busy tidying up in the kitchen, while Benjamin Croft and his two sons sat on the sofa drinking tea.

Nicholas Croft also picked up a teacup and asked with a smile, "Dad, what method did you use? How did Mom change so quickly?"

Not only no longer disliking Sophie Foster but also improving her attitude towards her father; even when he sternly scolded her, she didn’t lose her temper.

"Hmph!" Benjamin Croft flicked at the tea leaves in his cup with a snort, "A woman—once you’ve disciplined her properly, she’ll do whatever you want!"

It took the two brothers...

a while to understand what their father meant.

Nicholas Croft shook his head with a laugh, "Dad, you’re really young at heart!"

"Hmph! Of course! Or how else do you think you two rascals came to be?" Benjamin Croft leisurely took a sip of tea, the pride on his face barely concealed as he spoke.

The two brothers exchanged a look, both with an expression of helplessness.

Their father and mother were like lifelong sparring partners, constantly bickering but never over anything serious, so they always patched things up afterward. But it was the first time the brothers learned that their father had "conquered" their mother using this method.