William's face fell. He was also Hailey's family. Was he a dog?

No one knew about William's lowly origins. When he was a child, there was no food at home in winter. Unable to bear hunger, he would fight with the puppies for dog's milk, and those villagers called him the son of a dog.

The nickname was a disgrace and something William was dying to erase from his memory.

"I didn't say that. I just asked you to lick it clean like a dog!" Eliza noticed his livid face and hurriedly retorted.

"Shut up! Back to your room!"

William raised the roof.

Everyone was startled by his burst of anger. Eliza dropped her chopsticks and hobbled upstairs.

Though worried about her daughter, Amaya didn't dare to leave the table.

"Why are you still standing there? Eat!" William growled again.

With her head low, Hailey took the nearest seat and looked terrified.

"How is everything going with the banquet tomorrow?" He turned to Amaya and asked.

"Dad, don't worry, it's all set. The invitations have been sent out, and I've called each one for confirmation. Everyone will be here." Amaya immediately answered with a flattering smile.

"Mm, good, no need to be too grand. We've got a new family member and will introduce her to everyone tomorrow." William said in a deep voice before taking another glance at Hailey.

Oblivious to everything, Hailey just dove to her meal quietly.

Amaya tried to ease the tension, "Hailey, see? William loves you so much. Don't mention going back to the fishing village again. It's not a nice place. From now on, you live in Sea City and care for your grandpa."

Jack then Jack put a piece of fish into her bowl, "Yeah, Hailey, we are family. Since you're new here, you can tell me about your problems."

Hailey looked up and met his eyes.

Ever since she got into the dining room, Jack had been staring at her, not as a senior but as a man.

She dropped her eyes to disguise her disgust and responded blandly, "Thank you, grandpa and uncle."

"No problem, remember, we're family."

After dinner, Hailey lay on the unfamiliar bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Rat-tat...

The door was knocked gently three times.

She rose to answer the door and saw Jack outside.

In his early forties, Jack married early and had been used to a comfortable life. Lack of exercise brought him greasy skin and a potbelly.

"Hailey, I noticed that you didn't have much during dinner. I guess you're hungry and bring you something." With a plate of snacks on his palm, he squeezed into the room.

After putting the snacks down on the nightstand, he directly sat down on the bed, looked around, and smiled hypocritically, "Hailey, what else do you need? Tell me; I'll have them purchased tomorrow."

Hailey looked at the pile of 'garbage' and doubted inwardly. Was Jack blind?

"Uncle, everything is fine. William's birthday party will be held tomorrow, and I... I don't have any fine dresses. I hope I won't be a disgrace." She minced.

"That's right, tell me what you need. Don't worry, Eliza has a lot of clothes. I'll tell her to send over a set tomorrow."

Jack reached out to grab her hand, but she dodged tactfully.

In fact, she just tested the water.

Humph, Jack was an old goat, as expected.