China... Capital City...
Frost Family’s main conference hall...
Dozens of elders sat around with gloomy expressions. Intelligence reports continued arriving one after another from every major city.
Every single report contained the same headline.
"Tony Clark publicly declared Emma Stone as his wife."
The words alone were enough to make several Frost Family elders slam their cups onto the table.
What infuriated them wasn’t merely the rumors spreading across the continent, but the fact that not a single family had come to verify the truth. Everyone had already accepted it as fact.
Their Frost Family, one of the four great families, had unknowingly become the laughingstock of the younger generation.
Merchants whispered about it in marketplaces. Academy disciples laughed while exchanging gossip.
Even martial forums had begun placing bets on how many days remained before Lily Frost cancelled her engagement. Every new report that arrived only made the atmosphere inside the hall grow heavier.
Lily Frost herself stood beside the crystal window with both arms folded tightly across her chest. Her beautiful face remained expressionless, yet everyone present could feel the coldness radiating from her body.
Every time she remembered Tony standing before countless supreme experts while pointing his golden bow toward the Demonic Sea Tribe and declaring, "Who dares to bully my wife?", her fists involuntarily tightened.
The worst part wasn’t that he protected Emma. Lily herself understood that Emma had become the target of every major force after receiving the World Tree inheritance. What truly irritated her was that Tony never once explained himself afterwards. Not even a single word. Not a single letter. Not even an apology.
"That shameless fellow..." Lily muttered under her breath. "If he really wanted to save Emma, couldn’t he think of any other sentence? Did he really have to call her his wife before the entire continent?"
One elderly woman suddenly snorted loudly. "Patriarch, there is nothing left to discuss. Cancel the engagement immediately. Our Frost Family has never suffered such humiliation in hundreds of years. Let the Clark Family explain themselves to the continent."
Several elders immediately nodded in agreement while another elder slammed his palm against the table.
"Exactly! Today he called Emma his wife. Tomorrow he may bring another woman home. Is our Young Miss supposed to tolerate everything? If this marriage continues, every family will think the Frost Family has no backbone."
"Breaking the engagement may satisfy our anger, but strategically speaking it benefits no one. The Clark Family has risen tremendously after Tony’s performance inside the World Tree. If we sever relations now, countless hostile factions will celebrate. We must think beyond emotions."
The Frost Family Patriarch quietly stroked his beard while listening to everyone’s arguments.
After a long silence, he looked toward Lily. "What do you think?"
Lily slowly turned around and looked at everyone inside the hall. "I am angry," she admitted honestly. "Very angry. I wanted to punch him the moment he opened his mouth. But..." She paused for several seconds before continuing. "That idiot is strange. Too strange. Every time I think I understand him, he does something completely unexpected. I refuse to believe he publicly humiliated the Frost Family without any reason."
Several elders looked at each other with complicated expressions.
The Patriarch narrowed his eyes. "So... you still wish to continue this marriage?"
"That depends entirely on Tony’s explanation. If he cannot give me a satisfactory answer... then I’ll personally beat him until he explains." Lily immediately answered without hesitation.
The entire conference hall suddenly became strangely quiet before one elder coughed awkwardly. "Patriarch... perhaps we should think more strategically instead of emotionally."
The Patriarch slowly smiled. "Exactly what I was thinking."
He gently tapped the table with one finger before speaking calmly. "We shall not cancel the engagement."
Several elders immediately objected, but he raised his hand to stop them.
"However, the Clark Family must also understand that the Frost Family cannot simply swallow today’s humiliation. If they wish to maintain this marriage alliance, then they must display sufficient sincerity." The corners of his lips gradually lifted into a calculating smile. "Prepare an official envoy."
Every elder immediately became interested.
The Patriarch continued,
"First demand..." He raised one finger. "A formal apology from Tony Clark. Not through letters. Not through servants. Personally, before both families."
"Second." He raised another finger.
"Compensation for the Frost Family’s damaged reputation. Since the entire continent discussed our humiliation, the Clark Family shall publicly restore our dignity."
Several elders nodded approvingly.
"Third." Another finger rose.
"Additional bridal gifts. Since Tony enjoys creating trouble outside, then let him bleed a little inside. Increase every promised bridal gift by three times."
The elders burst into laughter.
"Excellent!"
"Good!"
"That brat deserves it!"
The Patriarch’s smile widened.
"Fourth..."
Even Lily became curious.
The old man slowly leaned back. "Tony Clark shall publicly promise absolute loyalty toward Lily Frost after marriage."
One elder immediately laughed loudly. "Good! Let’s make him sign a martial oath while we’re at it!"
Another elder joined in with a grin. "Exactly! One wife only! No second wife! No third wife! No fourth wife!"
An elderly aunt suddenly added with complete seriousness, "Also include that he cannot secretly visit pleasure houses."
The conference hall instantly erupted into laughter.
Another elder refused to lose. "Write that he cannot secretly admire beautiful women. Also no secretly buying gifts for other ladies. And no disappearing for several days without reporting to Lily."
Someone even shouted, "Make him cook once every month!"
The hall became increasingly ridiculous. Even Lily couldn’t help covering her face.
"Enough..." she sighed helplessly. "Are we negotiating a marriage or recruiting a household servant?"
The Patriarch laughed heartily before calming everyone down with a wave of his hand.
"Fine. We’ll leave the cooking out."
More laughter filled the hall.
Finally the Patriarch’s expression became serious once-again. "Prepare our envoy immediately."
He slowly looked toward the distant direction while caressing his long beard.
"If Tony Clark truly values this marriage... then let him prove it."
Lily silently looked outside through the snow-covered window while biting her lips.
"Tony Clark... You’d better prepare a very convincing explanation... or I’ll make sure you regret your choice. You shouldn’t have saved Emma."