Both of them looked unnatural.

"Maria, why didn't you say anything before coming here by yourself?"

Cruz quickly stepped forward and took my luggage. There was a hint of cautious questioning in his tone.

"I want to give you a surprise."

Lane quickly came forward and held my hand.

"Surprise. This is such a big surprise."

Watching the three of them getting busy around me, I used to feel happy.

...

Today, I was a little uncomfortable.

Lane's words were meaningful.

James pushed me into the bedroom and asked me with concern, "How are you feeling? Are you tired?"

...

I shook my head.

"What's the deal with the car order in your Instagram post?

"Oh, don't mention it."

He was indignant as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"I just accidentally touched it. Who knew I couldn't return it?

Cruz looked aggrieved.

"The 5,000 dollars was the money I saved by scrimping and saving during my internship. I wanted to buy you a necklace with it."

"Now I can't return it. I'm sure you don't want the 5,000 dollars to go to waste, right?"

He looked at me cautiously, hoping that I would give him money like I had done before.

"Besides, a car can show a man's status. As my girlfriend, you wouldn't want me to take you to dinner in an electric car in the future, would you?"

"My money is with my parents. They've been strict with me lately."

Cruz didn't hold himself back for a moment.

"You don't have 200 thousand dollars with you either?"

I shook my head.

He pursed his lips, which was a sign that he was angry.

"What does Auntie mean by saying that my money will be yours sooner or later?"

Cruz, who had been furious, was shocked.

"What...what do you mean? Your money is yours. What does it have to do with me?"

I was about to ask him back.

Cruz said loudly to me, "Happy April Fools' Day!"

...

"Today is April Fools' Day. My mom loves to joke the most."

"Maria, you are working as an intern. You won't forget that today is April Fool's Day, right?"

I opened my cell phone and checked the date.

I chose to believe Cruz for the time being. After all, we had been in love for a long time.

He was a decent man.

After a while, relatives from his family arrived.

We discussed that we would go to pay respects to our ancestors later.

Cruz's relatives came. There were many people.

During the meal, Cruz's aunt asked about my dowry.

Cruz and I had discussed this.

He, who came from a farming background, didn't want to spend all his parents' savings on his marriage.

I could relate to him and agreed to get no dowry.

After all, my family was not short of money.

Cruz and Lane couldn't help but smile all the time upon hearing this.

But the conversation between the mother and son today always made me feel uncomfortable.

In my heart, I started to doubt them.

After thinking for a moment, I spoke up.

"When it comes to the issue of dowry, my parents have the final say."

The mother and son couldn't hold up anymore. They stopped smiling.

"Oh..."

Cruz's aunt spoke with a long tone, looking at them with sarcasm.

"So we need to discuss it. I thought your family could get a cheap daughter-in-law."

After dinner, Cruz couldn't wait to pull me aside.

"Didn't your family agree to no dowry? Why do we need to discuss it again? Did you change your mind?"

He held my shoulders tightly, and it hurt.

I casually spoke a few words to him, trying to break free from his grasp.

"Your family is supposed to be a scholarly family, but it's all a lie."

"You were so firm in your words before, but now you're going back on your word."

I explained that I had said it casually.

"Putting aside the issue of the dowry, with so many people at the dining table, we should consider my and my mother's face even if we need to discuss it. You can not say such things."

"Looking at the smug and sarcastic look on my aunt's face, I am so angry at the thought of it."

Before I could say anything, he went out in a huff.

I felt inexplicable and clicked open my cell phone to complain to Vivian, my best friend.

When she replied to my message, I quietly saw Jack James leaning on the door frame and looking at me.

I waved to him to come over.

"Sister, are you fighting with Cruz?"

His eyes were red as if he had been crying.

I felt sorry for him instantly.

During holidays and festivals, Cruz was the most welcoming one to me in his family.

He saved up money for a long time to buy me lollipops.

He shared his favorite toys with me.

Whenever I left, he always looked reluctant.

He was muttering that Cruz should hurry up and marry me.

I thought to myself, "What does it have to do with kids when it comes to my marriage?"

I touched his head.

"Of course not. I am getting along with your brother."

"Really? You're not lying to me?"

James stared at me with wide eyes.

I nodded.

"Will you marry my brother?"

I was stunned. I didn't expect him to ask that.

"Well, you still can't marry my brother."

James burst into tears suddenly.

I hurriedly comforted him.

I told him that I would marry Cruz. Then he stopped crying.

He turned around and started playing with his toys.

I jokingly asked him casually, "Why do you like me so much? Why do you want me to marry your brother?"

...

James fiddled with his toys.

Looking serious, she said, "My mom tells me that if you marry into our family, you will buy me a house, and a car, and find a wife for me."

...

"Your money is my brother's money. My brother's money is mine."

As soon as I heard him say so, the toy in my hands fell to the ground.

Judging from James's serious look, he didn't seem to be acting.

If it weren't for the adults mentioning these things frequently, a six-year-old child wouldn't earnestly say these words without being influenced.

...

A burst of chill ran down my spine.

I felt the urge to escape from here.