Chapter 23: Dinner with the Andersons
“… who the hell are you to think you can do whatever you like? You disgraced the woman and her daughter and let it get to the internet? Are you even my son at all?..” grandfather Larry was saying and shivering in rage.
Lola collected the phone from him. Her father in-law was going to collapse any moment if he kept talking with Rodrigo. “Calm down father,” Lola said.
“Are you mad Rodrigo? How can you do that? You made a ridicule of Ella and her daughter because of the classless girl? Have you no conscience?…”Lola was saying when Rodrigo said “Mum, I am with my girlfriend, I need some space” he said and hung up.
He stood up from the sofa and went to take a bath. He. Camilla was not there with him. Because his mother called Camilla a classless girl, he decided to hurt her by saying he was with her and hung up.
Lola was surprised. When she heard the po.. po.. po.. sound, she brought the phone away from her ear and looked at it, it was indeed blank. Rodrigo hung up on her? He really did because of that shameless girl?
He was going to put important people out of his life and put them behind because of that smelly thing? Ahh, it’s time she stood up and not watched her son intoxicated with senseless love.
She needs to see Ella and Emma. They need to do something. They are the women who can split the senselessness going on between Rodrigo and that thing. She needs to see them soon and think of ways to put them asunder.
“You want to buy presents for my parents?” Eduardo asked. She was yet to meet his parents and already thought of buying them presents? That sounds welcoming and good to know.
“Yeah,” Jenny answered flippantly. She doesn’t have much on her but the little she’s got, she would get them a present. They might be impressed and welcome her thoughtfulness.
” Ok, when we arrive where it can be bought, I will let you know,” Eduardo assured her and let his eyes linger on her for a while before returning to his computer. They hadn’t gotten far when Eric slowed down and parked by the roadside.
Eduardo gave him his credit card and a short note. He left and in less than twenty minutes, he returned holding two flowers and two small boxes. He placed them in the copilot seat and slipped behind the steering wheel.
They drove for another ten minutes and arrived at the Mansion of the Anderson family. Jenny glanced at the man who now shut down his computer and turned to stare at her.
” You said you would let me know. But we have arrived at your parents’ place? Jenny demanded, looking offended indeed. Eduardo glanced at her and their eyes locked, Jenny had never been so close that she looked into his eyes like that.
His eyes were cute and charming. He has blue greenish eye balls unlike her with Grey eyes. His eyes were cool and tender. They appear to belong to someone that is harmless. She couldn’t look at those eyes more as she turned her face away, afraid that she was admiring those eyes.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you. Your presents are bought already” Eduardo said, setting the computer aside as the car was driven to the parking lot of the Mansion.
“I want to buy it with my money and not you buying it for me” Jenny was displeased. She was supposed to buy it and not the other way round. How does she feel now, if she presents something she didn’t buy with her money?
“You are my wife. What is wrong if I do it for you?” Eduardo asked, expecting her to reply to him but Jenny opened her mouth, raised her hand subconsciously to protest but ended up being unable to retort at what Eduardo said.
The latter smiled. She had no reply to give him. Looks like they would soon get to understand each other in no time. Eric finally deve into the parking lot and parked the car.
The bodyguard coming behind came out quickly and brought Eduardo’s wheelchair from the car trunk and held the door open for him to be helped into the wheelchair.
Jenny stepped out and walked over, assisted in holding Eduardo’s hand as he was shelped into his wheelchair. Sometimes she feels pity for him. How can a handsome dude like Eduardo become confined to a wheelchair?
The accident that has turned him into someone who needs other’s help before being able to do anything. She told the bodyguard to be ready, she would tell them when they should bring the present along while she wheel Eduardo.
But the latter refused. He said she shouldn’t do that but stay by his side as they get into the Mansion. If he needs her help, He would let her know. Jenny said okay as they proceeded into the house.
Jenny looked around. She can imagine when wealth is being displayed in action. The compound of the house was large and designed everywhere with good smelling flowers.
As she stepped in after Eduardo, she was mesmerised by the splendour and beauty of the sitting room. She couldn’t help but agree there and then that the Anderson family was the richest family in the country.
As the steward who stayed by the entrance saw Eduardo, he bowed and held the door for them to go in. Eduardo just waved at him as the door was shut behind them. As Jenny raised her head to look at the people seated, she was spellbound at the face staring back at her.
Camilla was feeling moody. She knew Rodrigo’s actions were going to backfire and I might be on her. No one can confront him and neither can his family do anything beyond talking nonsense to him. But she felt there is more to it than what just happened.
She tried to make Rodrigo see things from her own perspective, but he wouldn’t. He is stubborn and adamant and when he is determined to do something, he does it to the extreme.
The Rodrigo she knows wouldn’t say sorry nor compensate Ms Ella and her daughter. On the contrary, he would snub them and pretend not to know anything.
Sara glanced at her daughter, she seemed to be Far away in her thoughts. Camilla had told them what happened and they felt Rodrigo was going to cause trouble for Camilla in the future.
The news on the internet was everywhere and there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know what happened that day. But that it happened because of Camilla was what Sara and Jared were not comfortable with.
“Don’t worry Camilla, let time pass first, then plead with Rodrigo not to take such drastic steps again. But now, be quiet and let this pass ok?” Sara advised.
Camilla turned to her and smiled. She said ok. She hopes the day she talks about it, Rodrigo will be in his best state of mind and listen to her. Though they get along too well, she knows his temperament too well. She’s not afraid of him but understands him.
Jenny least expected that Betty would be shameless and bring herself to the Anderson family for dinner. Why can’t some people think straight? She refused to be married to Eduardo because he was cripple but her eyes never left the wealth and prestige of being part of the family.
When Betty saw Eduardo, she stood up and shyly greeted ” Hello eldest master” and she smiled, appearing to be nice.
Jenny saw through the hypocrisy she was displaying. That provoked her. She knew very well that she should hide her displeasure against Betty. For what she and her parents had done to her and her parents. She would not let go, she would ensure that they get punished for their wickedness.
Eduardo didn’t even spare her a glance but treated her like air. He went past her and of course, Jenny needs to follow her husband. She just passed by exchanging pleasantries with her cousin.
Mrs Anderson heard that Eduardo and his wife had arrived and came downstairs. She saw Jenny and smiled broadly ” Jenny my dear” and came over to hug her.
Jenny smiled and was happy the way her mother inlaw welcomed her. Mrs Anderson planted a featherlight kiss on Jenny’s chin and ushered her to the dinning.
Luke had come with Betty. After talking with his brother earlier in the day, Betty had called him to come over to her place for dinner. He declined and said there was going to be a family dinner with his sister in-law and wouldn’t be able to make it.
That was when Betty asked if she could join in the dinner after all, Jenny was her sister as well. Luke said okay without informing his parents or brother about it. And when he finally brought her, the impression she received simply implies that she was not welcome.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Notwithstanding, she had accompanied him and definitely had become his guest. As everyone settled into their seats, Luke held Betty’s hand and came over as well. As soon as she sat down, Mrs Anderson asked ” Luke, did you tell your friend this dinner is strictly for our family?” She asked, looking straight at her son.
” I did mum,” Luke replied. He cannot lie to his mother. He had indeed told her about it but she pleaded that she allowed her to come along.
” And you insisted on coming along?” Mrs Anderson asked, this time turning to glance at Betty. She didn’t look offended but was not happy about it all the same.
Mr Anderson was now present. The family was complete except for the presence of the outsider named Betty.
” I’m sorry ma’am. I didn’t know Luke wouldn’t inform you” Betty said politely. Mrs Anderson waved it off as they set down and began to eat. Mr and Mrs Anderson sat opposite each other and Eduardo and Jenny did the same. But Betty sat at an edge and so did Luke.
Jenny cannot hide her irritation. Betty has no sense of piety. Does she think Luke would develop something for her? Not after she was engaged to his brother and disappointed them on the day off wedding without giving any reason or explanation why. And now, she was hovering around his brother. What for, what does she think she was doing?
Eduardo kept looking at Jenny as he took every bite of the food to his mouth. He can’t take his eyes away from her. She looked stunning and beautiful. The latter knew and hence deliberately was not interested in looking up and straight: Eduardo was staring at her.
Mr Anderson soon finished dinner and cleaned his mouth with a tissue. Jenny was happy, at least she has gotten someone who bailed her out. She can’t wait to leave the dining table and escape Eduardo’s piercing eyes.
She also dropped her Cutleries and took a napkin to clean her mouth. Eduardo smiled with a side of his lips. She was shy and gladly embraced the opportunity that his father had stopped eating and escaped from him.
“Oh Jenny dear, eat more. Your father is used to eating light..”Mrs Anderson urged her. Jenny smiled shyly. “Thank you mother, I am fine already” she lied. She wasn’t full but only shy.
She was visiting her in-laws and didn’t need to be the last to finish eating nor be the first to stop eating. She needs to balance it up and show courtesy.
Mr Anderson smiled. He likes the girl. She’s young and beautiful, well mannered also. Such is his idea of a perfect daughter in-law. He hoped that she and Eduardo would live happily ever after.
Soon everyone had stopped eating. Betty was not comfortable that Eduardo’s parents were showing so much love and affection to the orphaned daughter of the Davis family and not showing in her seat.
She was supposed to be the one receiving so much love and attention. This bitch has stolen from her what would have been hers. She was in fact eyeing Eduardo and wanted to take him away from her. No wonder she readily agreed to be married to him when her mother mentioned it.
If she had refused, she wouldn’t have gotten any option than to be Eduardo’s wife and be enjoying so much wealth and affluence. She eyed her secretly and sneered.
She must ensure that she does it say something to discredit her before her in-law and soon the opportunity arrives. The family remained at the dinning for discussion, because of Eduardo, they don’t easily move about especially when he said his assistant was on an assignment.
As they were going to move to the sitting room, they all stood up and Jenny went to help Eduardo.”Sis, aren’t you going to clear the table after everyone had eaten? Mum has corrected you several times back then and you are still repeating it here? This is not how proper ladies act..”