She locked eyes with Lettie.

Lettie pondered. Then Monica chimed in, “Without a dowry, Jessie might get side-eyed."

Lettie bristled.

She tried to keep her cool. "There'll be a dowry for my girl, no doubts about that. And-—"

Jessie intervened before she could finish, saying, "Mom!"

Jessie squeezed her mom's hand, sensing her anger. She'd heard Monica loud and clear. Breaking up with Axell was such a good riddance.

Marrying into such a family meant hardship.

She faced Axell's folks, smiling, "Sorry. I'm done with Axell. You can't talk dowry in front of my mom. And no one's looking down on me."

Axell's parents and Lettie were taken aback.

With a sneer, Monica retorted, "My son's top-notch. I doubt you'd let him slip away."

Jessie gave a slight smile. "True, he's got plenty of admirers.

Anyway, I ended things with him!"

She glanced at the table, only footing Lettie's coffee bill, ignoring Axell's folks.

Monica boiled with rage.

Ignoring Monica's fury, Jessie left with her mom. On the way to the car, Lettie grasped Jessie's hand, asking, “What's up? I thought you liked Axell. Why the breakup?"

Jessie spilled to Lettie about Monica's request for a grandson and Axell's fling with Debra.

Though Lettie wanted Jessie hitched soon, she felt for her facing Monica's absurd demands. "Axell's educated. I can't believe his folks would pull such nonsense! We haven't even met officially, and his mom's eyeing your dowry. Outrageous!"

Jessie stayed silent.

Lettie scolded. Then, she peered at her daughter. "You... You're not really into Axell, are you?"

Jessie was taken aback by the question, but then murmured, “I'm serious about us but we're not a good match."