"Sweetheart, you've already signed the marriage certificate. Why are you still calling me Grandma Blanche? It's time to just call me Grandma." The kind voice of Grandma Blanche came through the phone.

Jenna's fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

After a moment of hesitation, she softly said, "Grandma."

"That's more like it!" Grandma Blanche laughed heartily. "I have something to discuss with you."

"Go ahead."

"You and Ethan just got married, but your relationship is still new. I was thinking you two should live together first to build your bond. What do you think?"

"Live together?" Jenna's eyes widened.

She hadn't expected to face the issue of cohabitation just hours after signing the marriage certificate.

"You don't want to?" Grandma Blanche's tone suddenly turned dejected.

Jenna bit her lower lip. "We only met yesterday. This is too fast..."

She had never even been in a relationship before. The idea of sharing a roof with a stranger was hard to accept.

"Back in my day, your grandfather and I married first and fell in love later," Grandma Blanche coaxed. "Ethan may seem cold, but he's a good man at heart."

Jenna ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "Times have changed..."

She hadn't married Ethan for love.

The orchard still wasn't hers, and now she was trapped in this arrangement.

"Ethan works long hours and often skips meals," Grandma Blanche shifted tactics. "With you there to take care of him, I'd feel much better."

"But—"

"You're twenty-four now, and Ethan is such a catch. Why not give it a try?" Grandma Blanche pressed.

Jenna lowered her gaze. "I don't have the energy to think about this right now."

She had just been kicked out of her uncle's house and had nowhere to stay.

"Did something happen again?" Grandma Blanche's voice sharpened with concern. "Tell me, and I'll make it right!"

The genuine care in her tone made Jenna's eyes well up instantly.

Through tears, she recounted the day's events.

"Those despicable people!" Grandma Blanche fumed. "Give me their address. I'll teach them a lesson!"

"No, Grandma." Jenna wiped her tears. "I don't want any trouble."

A brief silence followed.

"So you and your brother have nowhere to go now?"

"Yeah." Jenna took a deep breath. "I plan to sell the fruit shop and find a job to support Milo."

"Silly girl!" Grandma Blanche sighed. "Let Ethan handle the household expenses while you focus on work and Milo's education. That way, you can save a lot."

Before Jenna could respond, the call ended.

She stared blankly at the darkened screen.

Grandma Blanche was right. Rent, living expenses, Milo's medical bills, legal fees—each was a massive financial burden.

If living together could solve their money problems...

But was Ethan really trustworthy?

She agonized over it all afternoon.

When Milo came home from school that evening, she shared her concerns.

"Sis, at least he's willing to cover the household expenses," Milo reasoned. "And I'll be here to protect you. Though you really should've told me before getting married."

"So you're okay with me moving in with him?"

"With him around, Uncle Victor won't dare bully you." His words struck a chord.

No one had ever stood up for her when her uncle's family mistreated her.

"Alright, I'll tell Grandma." Jenna finally made up her mind.

Grandma Blanche was overjoyed when she received the call, even eating two extra bowls of rice at dinner.

She shot a triumphant look at Ethan on the couch. "Jenna agreed to move in. You'd better treat her well."

Without looking up, Ethan replied coldly, "This was your decision. It has nothing to do with me."