---- Tahlia's head jerked up in disbelief, and she instinctively hid her right hand behind her back. "Also, you staged the whole so-called imprisonment, didn't you?" Charles continued, his tone very calm. "After all, you spent 103 thousand dollars at the mall yesterday, all on luxury goods." Howard's face went pale. "How do you even know that?" Charles' gaze was cold as he responded, "I'm Ariel's fiance. I naturally won't allow anyone to bully her." This only shocked the guests even more. Was this really the legendary Treyist who had renounced all worldly things? Had they really heard him correctly? Michael, feeling indignant at being exposed, sneered. "Aren't you a Treyist, Charles? Shouldn't you be free from all desires and worldly cravings? And yet, here you are, clearly after the Kingstons' fortune." Charles turned to me, his gaze turning tender. There was an affection in his eyes that I had never seen ---- before. "T'm willing to return to secular life for Ariel." Those words echoed through the hall like a loud crack of thunder. The hall fell completely silent, and even the sounds of breathing could be heard clearly. Grandpa nodded, feeling reassured. He turned to the guests and announced, "Today's banquet was always meant to announce my granddaughter's engagement to Mr. Gordon." Michael looked deathly pale, and Tahlia was so shocked that she had forgotten to keep up her sorrowful act. Howard and Jeremy also exchanged uneasy, panicked glances. Charles' gaze settled steadily on me, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered to him-only I did. "Ms. Kingston," he said, his voice no longer having the sharp edge from earlier, sounding warm instead. ---- "T want to find someone who loves me truly and wants to grow old together with me. Are you willing to be that person?" I looked into his puppy-dog eyes that were filled with asense of deep affection that I didn't quite understand. This was clearly our first meeting, and yet there was a strange sense of familiarity. I suddenly found my heart racing. Michael couldn't stand it anymore. "Ariel! Have you lost your mind?" he roared. "You choose a devoted Treyist who's never touched a woman just to spite me? What kind of future can your marriage even have?"