Ice and Fire

Chapter 837 Lawrence's Substitute (Part One)

"I'm not in a hurry to marry you off. So why are you so impatient to get married?" Gabe teased his

daughter. She was bugging him off about this blind date that she was set up with a guy from one of the

richest family in the country. Though he liked the idea of his daughter marrying someone rich, he still

didn't want her daughter to feel that marriage was an obligation.

"Come on, Father! It's not just any other guy! It's THE Lawrence Chu! He is the hottest bachelor in the

city. He's smart, handsome, and he is so rich! I'm sure every girl in the city would die just to date him.

So of course, I wouldn't let this opportunity to pass," Mary retorted, referring to his blind date to

Lawrence Chu this evening. She always wanted to marry someone like Lawrence and this was the

chance she was unwilling to pass on. Gabe gave Mary a look and saw that she was determined. He

was planning to take this matter lightly, but seeing how his daughter looked forward to this blind date

and possible marriage, he decided to take it a little serious. He was already checking his memory for

Lawrence Chu. He knew the Chu Family but was trying hard to remember a Lawrence from this family.

"Well, fine. If your mind is made up, then so be it," he said. His daughter had always been self-willed

since she was a little girl. He and his wife spoiled her so much and had never intervened with her

decisions. Anyway, if it was Lawrence Chu that she had in mind, he thought it wouldn't be a bad choice.

No, Lawrence Chu was the best fish in the sea this city had seen as a matter of fact. He would be lucky

to have him as a son-in-law if Mary ended up marrying this man. 'Or would I really be that lucky?' he

thought.

"Really? Thank you, Dad. I love you!" Mary exclaimed cheerfully. She was expecting her father's

blessing but not without a little push. Mary may had been spoiled but she never once disregarded her

parents' take on things. She would always want their blessing for any of her decision, especially on

who she should marry. She took a bite on a sweet biscuit and put it down before giving her father on

the cheek. "You're the best Dad ever!" Mary said. Fearing that her mother might get jealous, she also

reached for her an gave her a kiss on the cheek as well, saying, "Of course, you're also the best Mom

ever!"

Ann giggled at her daughter's words, her heart melted in hearing it from her daughter. "My silly girl, I

wouldn't be jealous of your father. You always know that we have your back no matter what."

"Well, I will go upstairs and get dressed. Don't forget to call me at 7:00 pm. I need to go out early. I Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

can't let Lawrence wait for me," Mary urged sweetly before running upstairs merrily.

Ann was so happy to see her daughter like that. She had never seen her so blissful for a boy. 'That

Lawrence Chu must be really something, ' she thought. She then told her husband, "Our baby girl is

now a lady. Look how happy she is!"

Gabe was in deep thought. He didn't realize that the question was for him. He heard his wife cough and

he wondered. "Oh yeah, I agree. She's now a grown up and there's nothing we can do to keep her in

this house," Gabe sighed.

Ann felt that there was something troubling his husband. So she stepped up and tried to asked him

directly, "What's the matter, dear? You know that you can share anything to me. Aren't you glad that

Mary is happy? I'm sure that Lawrence Chu is a worthy guy for our Mary." Ann was trying to figure out

what her husband had in mind.

Gabe explained, "Of course, I'm glad for our daughter and I trust her completely. I just have something

else in mind right now." He was not lying to his wife. It was really not Mary that Gabe was worried

about. It was more about that Lawrence Chu.

Ann was not satisfied with his answer and she knew there was more than what Gabe said. Being

married to him for more than 25 years now, she knew him very well. She knew him more than he knew

himself. So she tried to catch him. "Oh yeah?" Ann asked with a baffled expression, teasing her

husband to telling her what it was. "What's bothering you if it's not our daughter's marriage?" she

continued.

Gabe didn't want to make his wife worry, but there was no point in keeping this concern to him. He let

out a sigh before blurting out his concerns. "Do you remember a John Ye?" he asked.

"John Ye? Of course I do. He was a big shot in the government years ago," Ann replied with a nod.

Gabe had been working for the government for many years now. They had known so many things that

had been happening in the government circle. The circle might be big but there were only a few

families in the government circle. One could say that all of them were somehow related. And John Ye

was a name popular in the government circle given the family he belonged to.

Gabe faced his wife with a serious face and looked her in the eyes. "He is Jackson Chu's nephew. He

got a job in the government because of Jackson Chu's help. Besides, at that time, Jackson's grandpa

was still alive and no one dared to defy the Chu family at that time even until now," Gabe narrated in a

serious tone, "John Ye has left that circle a long time, and Jackson Chu hasn't gotten his hands in the

government. But it doesn't mean that the Chu family has no say in the government anymore. Anyone

who dares to offend Jackson will end up in trouble."

Gabe's words made Ann realize the power of the Chu family. She didn't have any idea how powerful

the Chu family was until today. But she still didn't understand why her husband was worried about Mary

pursuing the Chu guy.

"What do you mean? Do you mean that Jackson Chu will investigate our family if Lawrence chooses to

marry our daughter?" Ann asked. She was confused. Why was Gabe- her husband afraid of Jackson

Chu?

Gabe looked around to see if his daughter was somewhere near. When he confirmed that Mary has

already resigned to her room, he moved near to his wife so she could hear him. He said in low voice, "If

Mary and Lawrence get on well, we will need to meet Jackson Chu and his wife in person. Jackson is a

principled man and he has been concentrating on exploiting overseas business in the past years. He is

strong and he can do whatever he wants in the city. Now he has even expanded his social circle in

abroad and got his hands into the international affairs. I can't imagine what he can do with such a

formidable power."