Meeting The Parents
Serene’s POV
“Argh!” I exclaimed.
“Are you alright?” Alex asked and I nodded. “What was that about?” He asked again.
“Nothing,” I replied. I didn’t want him to know that grandma had been flooding my phone with either her calls or text messages. I was supposed to go there but Alex told me about visiting his parents right after we were both home that day when Lorenzo and his family barged into my office.
“You were throwing a tantrum and you’re saying nothing was going on?”
“I am not.” How come he called it that way? I was feeling annoyed and frustrated and he was calling it a tantrum? What am I, a kid?
“Okay, I thought you were acting that way because you were worried about seeing my parents,” he said.
“Why would I feel worried about that? Didn’t I already tell you that I am okay with it? I have nothing to feel worried about.” I told him and looked at my phone again.
“Are you waiting for a call?”
“No and please stop asking already. What I am feeling right now doesn’t have to do with me seeing your parents.”
“Then it has something to do with me, then.” he replied, thankfully, my eyes were already outside the car. “Is it?” he asked again. Why is he acting like that?
“No. I want to think, so please be quiet.” I said, and he didn’t talk anymore, but I could feel him looking at me from time to time until we reached his parent’s mansion.
Our car entered a huge gate and high metal fences through which I almost think that they were very afraid of getting robbed. The car ran on a wide driveway and I could see the wide lawn that had hedges and flower beds at every side and corner, I think. We were on the way to the patio and I think the garage was just ahead. The car stopped in front of a porch. When I looked at Alex, he was about to get out of the car, so I did too.
I looked around and noticed a little path which I thought would lead to a garden or another porch. I didn’t see the entire house design because it was so big that looking after the details would only tire me. We walked onto the steps and I could see a basement window on the side. The lights were closed, so I didn’t know what was in there or which part of the house was or if it was really a basement. We were going up so I just assumed that it was.
We are at the entrance door and Alex opens it for me and lets me go in first. As soon as I entered the house, the thought that it would be very beautiful was an understatement. If the house was a woman, it would be gorgeous.
I am not the type to admire wealth, but being here now, I feel lucky to have Alex as my husband. And even if I am not planning on getting a penny from him, if ever, I still feel elated with his family’s wealth. The house screams money and power as we walk together. The windows were from floor to ceiling and I wonder how their maids cleaned them up.
Everything looks and smells clean and is spotless. Is their house dirt-proof? Although there’s no way that it was, I still think that it was possible. The paintings that were hanging on their walls were all expensive. I know because they were all collection items and from well-known painters and even photographers.
There was some abstract metal art hanging on the ceiling. I’m sure that it was metal art. I know one when I see one, because even if I am like this, I love art. It was contrary to the antique furniture like the seats in the living room that we were about to sit on.
“Aren’t we going to sit?” I asked.
“Mom and dad were in the dining hall already.” he replied, so we continued walking until we got there and we found his parents along with other guests. I thought this was a meeting between him and his parents, so I wondered why there were other people at the dining table. I knew that they were not relatives because of the way the woman who was sitting beside the old woman who looked exactly like Alex was not from a cousin, niece or even a friend.
“You are here.” the woman said, smiling. Acknowledging Alex’s presence but ignored mine. She stood up and ran to Alex with arms wide open, ready to jump at him. Because I hate women like her, I step in front of Alex and look at the woman who suddenly stops. She may not have expected me to do that.
“I don’t like my husband to be touched by another woman,” I said, and I saw her face hardened.
“We are friends,” she replied.
“I don’t think so,” I told her, looking in her eyes. “My husband will never get friends from someone like you. I know the kind of look that you gave him the moment we entered.”
“The food is getting cold. Come on and let’s eat.” the old woman who looked like Alex said, with a serious face.
“I thought that you wanted to meet my wife. Why are the Mills here?” Alex asks with a stoic face, making her know that he didn’t like it as well.
“Their friends.”
“Yours, not mine. And I only want to introduce my wife to MY FAMILY.” he said, stressing the last two words.
“That’s enough, let’s eat already. As your mother said, the food is getting cold.”
“That’s what I want to know as well. Why would the food get cold when we were told that the dinner would be at 8? It was only 7:40 and should not start yet.” Alex said, with a grim face. “I guess we went to the wrong venue. We will take our leave now,” he said, and took my hand.
“Stop right there!” Alex’s mom warned him. I continue to walk and so does my husband. I was glad that we are on the same boat.
“Alex, hold it.” The man’s voice said in an authoritative voice. Although I didn’t want to, I still stopped because Alex did. “Let’s just have our dinner,” he added in a low and soothing voice. Now I can’t say no to that. I looked at Alex, who was now looking at me as well. I smiled at him and I think he got what I meant. We turned around and went back to the table and took our seats. He pulled a chair for me and he sat beside me away from the leech.
His mom was looking at me and I looked at her as well. I married Alex, but even if she was technically my mother now, there’s no way that I am going to let her do as she pleases. That will make me feel humiliated. If Alex didn’t do anything about it, I would leave their house by myself. After all, Enzo was just outside their gates, waiting.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Have this, honey.” Alex said as he put a steak on my plate. I wanted to glare at him for calling me that endearment again, but because I promised to do my wife duty, I smiled at him and said thank you before he got his own food, grinning.
“Are you not going to tell us your wife’s name?” his mom asked. He was still eating and didn’t say a word.
“Alex must have been too ashamed to introduce her to you, because of her manners.” Ms. Mills said and she received a glare from Alex. Because Alex said that they were the Mills, I assume that she was Ms. Mills and the man beside her was her father.
“Hija, I’m sorry for earlier. My wife is just surprised to actually see you. We didn’t believe Alex when he told us that he was already married.” His dad said, looking sincere.
“I understand, Sir. I apologized for my behavior earlier as well. I felt disrespected, that’s why,” I said, and he nodded his head, smiling.
“We are just like any parents who wanted to meet our son’s wife and know how she is. Looking at you and with the earlier commotion, I had a feeling that you were very independent.” Alex’s dad said, so I looked at Alex. He was just eating and didn’t mind whether his father did all the talking or not. I looked at his mother and found her looking at me as well, maybe waiting for my reply.
“My life is a bit complicated. That made me like that. I didn’t like people to belittle me or the place where I came from as well as the people I was with. I am far from being a pushover.” I replied and cut my steak into equal bite size.
“Thank you very much,” Alex said after he took a piece and ate it. I didn’t mind him and continued eating as well.
“Maybe because you came from the countryside, that’s why,” Ms. Mills said with a smirk.
“I hate stupid women as well who have very poor comprehension.” I said, looking at her, and Alex laughed.
“Do you understand now why I didn’t like her a bit?” he asked and my eyes widened.
“She’s the woman who you were talking about?” I asked and laughed. “Even if I am a man and she’s the last woman on earth, I am not going to get myself entangled with her either.” I added which made the bitch slammed her hand on the table, causing us to look at her.
“This table is made of solid wood plus the glass on top of it, your hand must be fucking hurt right now.” I said without thinking, and Alex’s mom’s eyes widened.
“Honey, your word,” Alex warned me,
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it. If she’s not stupid, she wouldn’t do it.” I replied.
“Enough of this!” Mr. Mills, who had been quiet the whole time, said, angrily, as he got up. Ms. Mills was now holding her hand. I’m sure that it was pretty bad because of the way she slammed her hand. “You are so arrogant to say such a word to my daughter. Make sure you have someone to watch your back—-” Mr. Mills said, and I didn’t like to be threatened, so I threw a dinner knife at him. Of course, I made myself miss and the knife flew and ended up hitting the frame of the painting that was hanging not too far behind him.
“Ahhhh…” Alex’s mom screamed and so was Ms. Mills while Mr. Mills was stunned and couldn’t move.
“Honey,” my husband said, so I looked at him, “You’re scaring him.” He added and took another piece of my steak and ate it.
“I am very sorry. I didn’t want to be threatened either. And I don’t need anyone to watch for my back because I can do it myself.
“Y– yo— you— see what kind of woman your son chose to marry?” Mr. Mills asked, stuttering.
“It would be better if you leave, now,” Alex said as he put down his fork and dinner knife before he looked at them. “I already warned you and you chose to threaten my wife instead.”
“You are so arrogant, do you think you’re all that? I don’t need you for a son-in-law,” he said,
“Dad!” Ms. Mills exclaimed, but her dad took her hand and pulled her out of the dining hall.
“I’m very sorry if I scare you, Mrs. McGregor,” I said, and bowed my head. She was still holding her chest trying to calm her nerves. She must be really shocked at what she had just witnessed.
“Just don’t do that in front of the dining table again,” she replied, so I smiled at her.
“We didn’t know that they would be coming and we didn’t want to look bad for throwing them out, so we invited them for dinner as they were already here.” Alex’s dad tried to explain. “And Alex, you know who Mr. Mills was dealing with, in the past months, right?” Alex’s dad added and he nodded. “Are you not worried about your wife?” he asked again, and then I saw worry on Alex’s mom’s face.
“I can take care of my wife. Even if I can’t, I’m sure that she could do that herself.” he replied, and I looked at him, only to find him looking at me as well. He was smiling and was full of confidence about what he had just said.
“If that’s the case, we should continue eating.” Alex’s mom said and we did. It was only the time that Alex formally introduced me to them. The dinner ended up fine and I found Mom, (Alex’s mom. She wanted me to call her that and so did his dad.) to be kind. She was just naturally strict looking and talked that way on the first meeting. She too didn’t want to be stepped-on as she was a poor girl who happened to marry Alex’s dad.