The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered

「After dinner.」

Grandma Lowell quietly pulled a handbag out from under the coffee table and cleared her throat. "Ahem."

Everyone turned to look, and their eyes lit up when they saw her pull a thick stack of red envelopes from her bag.

’Oh~ here she comes, here she comes! She’s coming with the lucky money!’

For a large family like theirs, it was never about the amount of money inside; it was about the tradition.

It was a reminder that no matter how powerful you were out in the world, when you came home, there were still people who saw you as a child.

As the saying goes, as long as your parents are alive, you always have a place to call home.

Grandma Lowell looked with amusement at the pack of ’hungry wolves’ with their gleaming eyes. "Same old rules. Line up by age. The amount is the same for everyone, anyway."

She had always treated everyone equally, giving each child the same amount of lucky money.

Even in the first year after Adrian Lowell was born, the lucky money he received was the same amount as Charles Lowell, who was already a father of four.

Yvonne Lowell and her two companions were dazedly pulled to the back of the line. Seeing the formation, Grandma Lowell’s brow furrowed slightly.

Just as Zachary Jacobs and Nina Jennings were feeling a little awkward, thinking they should step aside, Grandma Lowell spoke up.

"Nina should stand behind Harrison, and Zion behind Nola."

Zachary Jacobs and Nina Jennings were stunned for a moment, then exchanged a glance and obediently moved to their designated spots.

Adrian Lowell wailed, a look of utter despair on his face. "Why am I at the very back again? Grandma, you don’t have to be such a stickler for the rules."

Grandma Lowell gave him a knowing smile. "If you don’t want to be last in line, then tell those older brothers of yours to hurry up, find someone, get married, and give you a little niece."

’Anyway, she was done nagging them. She’d tell them, but they wouldn’t listen. They’d listen, but they wouldn’t act. And if they weren’t going to act, what was the point of even talking? Maybe her great-grandchild through her granddaughter would arrive before a great-grandchild through her grandsons.’

’But just because she wasn’t nagging didn’t mean she couldn’t get others to do it for her, hehe. That way, she wouldn’t have to waste her breath or get angry.’

The three men standing behind one of the younger Lowell aunts suddenly shivered for no reason. They all whipped their heads around to glare at Adrian Lowell. ’You’d better watch your mouth, kid.’

"Tch, wait for them to get married? At this rate, I’ll probably be standing here for at least..." Suddenly sensing several death glares fixed on him, Adrian Lowell froze and forced a few awkward laughs.

"Heh, it’s fine. I think standing here is pretty great, actually. Heh heh. I’m the youngest and proud of it! This is great, just great..."

Grandma Lowell rolled her eyes at him and began handing out the red envelopes.

At the head of the line, Charles Lowell theatrically dusted off his sleeves and straightened the collar of his loungewear.

He took the red envelope with both hands. "Well now, thank you, Mom and Dad! Wishing you both a Happy New Year, long and healthy lives, peace and happiness, and may you stay forever eighteen!"

Grandma Lowell gave him a light, exasperated swat. "You can skip that last part. You’re nearly fifty years old, but you still act like a little kid."

The others took their red envelopes as well, offering their own New Year’s blessings.

After Grandma Lowell finished, it was Wendy Sutton and Mandy Crawford’s turn to hand out envelopes.

After a full round, everyone was holding several red envelopes.

When they were all done, Grandma Lowell started to remind them, "Don’t forget, take your red envelopes upstairs first and..."

"Put them under your pillow and don’t open them until tomorrow!" everyone interrupted in unison.

Grandma Lowell looked flustered and tried to save face. "Go on, shoo! I was talking to Nola and the other two newcomers. What does it have to do with you little rascals!"

By the time they came back downstairs after stashing their lucky money, the elders already had a mahjong table set up.

But! Why was a ’demure’ Leo Grant sitting there with them?!

Could someone please tell them what on earth was going on?!

Even Yvonne Lowell was caught off guard. ’That sly fox never told me he was coming over!’

Hearing their footsteps, Wendy Sutton didn’t even turn her head. "You’re down? Go on and have some fun outside. Take Leo with you."

Caleb Lowell shot a cold glance at Blanche Grant. "It’s New Year’s Eve. Why aren’t you at home for the vigil? What are you doing here?"

Leo Grant gave him a faint, gentle smile. "Aunt Sutton felt the Grant residence was too quiet tonight, so she kindly allowed me to come liven things up. Don’t worry, Caleb. My grandfather approved. Our family won’t be paying a formal visit until tomorrow morning. I also brought lots of fireworks. We can set them off together later."

’I... also... brought... lots... of... fire... works...’

’We... can... set... them... off... to... ge... ther... la... ter...’

Caleb Lowell: ’Son of a bitch.’

’So shameless! Utterly shameless! Sucking up and acting all familiar!’

Adrian Lowell muttered under his breath, "He says that like we couldn’t buy our own fireworks."

Grandma Lowell shot them a glare over her shoulder. "What are you all standing around for? Isn’t Leo welcome here? Now hurry up and go play outside. Don’t stand here messing with my card luck."

Wendy Sutton and Mandy Crawford exchanged a look, smiling gloatingly.

’If the matriarch hadn’t given the word, Wendy Sutton would never have dared to invite him to the family home.’

’Couldn’t they see that even though the three men over there were fuming, they didn’t dare say a word?’

At her words, the group collectively pursed their lips, grabbed the fireworks, and headed outside.

Leo Grant, walking at the very back, took the opportunity to take Yvonne Lowell’s hand in his.

Yvonne Lowell teased him in a low voice, "Not bad, President Grant. Even the head of our family is openly showing her favoritism for you."

"It’s all thanks to my wonderful girlfriend that I’m fortunate enough for the elders to extend their affection to me," Leo Grant said, giving the small hand in his a gentle squeeze.

"Oh, dear." Yvonne Lowell cleared her throat, feigning distress.

"Riding my coattails isn’t so easy, you know. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. I’m sure President Grant understands that principle, right?"

Leo Grant knew instantly what she was thinking. Fortunately for him, he had come prepared.

He pulled a long, velvet gift box from the inner pocket of his trench coat and placed it in Yvonne Lowell’s hand. "Of course I understand that. Might I trouble Eldest Miss Lowell to make a small exception and allow Mr. Grant to continue riding your coattails?"

Yvonne Lowell froze for a second. ’She was just teasing him, but this sly fox actually came prepared?!’

She glanced at the box in her palm, then looked up at Leo Grant. "What’s this?"

"A little bribe to keep riding your coattails. Why don’t you open it?" Leo Grant gestured toward the box with his chin.

Yvonne Lowell opened the box and found a Purple Jade Buddha Pendant of exceptional quality nestled inside, attached to a platinum chain.

’Tsk, what a coincidence this is.’

Leo Grant’s deep voice sounded by her ear. "Everyone calls me Buddha’s son, but no one knows that before I met you, I respected Buddhism, but I wasn’t a believer."

"Now, if the Buddha truly is divine, may he bless you and grant all your wishes, keeping you safe and at peace, year after year."

Yvonne Lowell’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She looked up at him with a radiant smile. "Help me put it on."

"Alright." Leo Grant smiled, lifting the pendant and fastening it around her slender neck.

The purple of the jade made her skin look as white as snow.

Leo Grant’s gaze darkened for a moment. He forced himself to look away and pulled a red envelope from his pocket.

"And this," he said. "It’s your lucky money. I hope my Yvonne will always be safe and sound."

Leo Grant added silently in his heart, ’I’ll wish for your safety, but I’ll be the one to give you happiness.’

She felt its thickness. ’Is this a bank card?’

"President Grant is certainly generous. You can ride these coattails anytime you want," Yvonne Lowell said with a raised eyebrow.

Leo Grant stroked her hair. "Then I must thank you, Eldest Miss Lowell."

Yvonne Lowell tucked the red envelope and gift box into her pocket. "Wait here for a second. I’m just going upstairs, I’ll be right back down."

Without waiting for his reply, she turned and ran upstairs.