Sensing that his mother didn’t want others to know his middle name, Paul smiled politely and said, “Everyone, please enjoy your gathering. Excuse me.”

Jacob hurriedly said, “Hey, Paul, what’s the hurry? How about joining us for lunch?”

He intentionally talked to Paul as a hint for the rest to realize that he and Paul knew each other so they could assume that he had already met Matilda before the reunion.

It was also to suggest to them that both of them shared an extraordinary connection and to chase away Matilda’s suitors.

Indeed, when the others heard their conversation, they found it rather odd and peculiar. They wondered how and when Jacob and Paul had become so close.

Paul smiled and said, “Thanks, but no thanks, I have a meeting in the afternoon.”

Then, he said to Jacob in a moderate voice, “I have an appointment with Charlie. He’s coming to my new office to check out the Feng Shui there, so I have to be there to entertain him.”

Jacob nodded with a smile. “My son-in-law has