07: A Virtuous Lady

Madam Anderson took both her son and future daughter-in-law's hands in her own and pulled them together to sit with her on different sofas. Elian alone, and Zaria with her.

As usual, her husband gladly followed her and sat on another sofa.

For Zaria, it was surely awkward. 

How could she not feel restless when Elian Anderson was sitting right in front of her?

From time to time, their eyes met and Elian would smile at her and she would avert her eyes with her scarlet hot cheeks. 

She still could not look at him in the eyes! Why did he get so handsome?

It was his fault! 

Madam Anderson since forever, wanted this. She resembled an excited child who had been given candy for her accomplishment and hard work after the exams. 

She wanted a great result.

She cleared her throat and sat straight. 

"Elian, do you know our Ria has become real mature and virtuous. Even at this young age, this lass knows how to cook, wash and sew clothes and other house chores such as dusting. Nowadays, girls don't even think of doing these, but this girl, sigh, she's brilliantly popular in her school. She is their Goddess."

'G-goddess?' Zaria choked on the invisible air.

"Anyone who in the end gets to have her will be lucky. Don't you think so, my son?" Madam Anderson was surely drawing the longbow.

And what about this sewing and washing?

She tried sewing once, but seeing her fingers getting pricked every time she touched the needle, she stopped.

She believed her blood could be rare, so she did not want to waste it when she had enough money to buy clothes for a lifetime.

Washing? She just knew by washing clothes, her beautiful hands would get wrinkled.

Elian would not even like to hold them anymore if she damaged them. Moreover, the Anderson couple did not even let her do any work which required effort.

So she did not know these at all except for cooking. A great scholar once said a long time ago: Love is the greatest thing in the world. Unless there is food. 

So, she chose cooking. Only food could never betray anyone because to her, betrayal meant death.

After Elian, food was her second love. She could not refrain from cooking different dishes. She could leave that evil, eyesore assignments, but not those delicious aromatic dishes. 

Dusting?

She was allergic to dust particles and Elian knew this well. 

Her aunt was talking about how virtuous she was?

Hehe.

How virtuous?

Virtuous to that extend where she slept half a day and would wake up in the afternoon, her hair– a bird's nest, her clothes wrinkled, her panda eyes, and she walked barefooted in her room most of the time.

She would even sleep late at night. That was not a sign of a virtuous lady at all. 

It was of a brat going through a rebellious streak.

He shot her a wink, making her further embarrassed. She winced, wanting to hide from him.

His parents did not know how she acted like a boss in her school. Elian also did not know, but he could sense that bossy nature when she pointed out things. Just like she used to when they were young.

So, he knew how virtuous this arrogant princess was.

Argh..! She wanted to groan.

Madam Anderson, if she wanted, she could have told him things easily, but no!

If she liked someone, she would sing the praises of that person to make him this phenomenal which he never even thought of himself before. 

God! This time, it was Zaria. 

'Oh, so embarrassing.' Zaria did not know how to shot back the words, so she timidly tugged her aunt Mia's sleeve and whispered, "Aunt, what are you doing? I'm not even this good. You're overpraising me." 

'Aunt, stop it, please!'

"Child, I'm doing this for your good and don't underestimate yourself. I will make him fall for you. Just wait for some time. Men love virtuous ladies. You will be my daughter-in-law for sure." Her aunt whispered back. 

Holy Lord, what she was doing! 

Her aunt was playing a matchmaker.

Zaria had an egg on her face. She was too embarrassed which she was never before in her eighteen-year-old life.

She quickly hid her face in her hands, not wanting to meet Elian's amused eyes.

Her aunt knew her love for her son? It meant her uncle knew that, too. Oh, how she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and conceal herself underneath it.

Although Elian did not hear his mother's words, one thing he had realized was that the relationship between his mother and childhood mate was really deep. He wanted to feel jealous; he was a bit, but still could not bring himself to feel it completely because it was adorable.

Master Anderson was smiling, seeing his family completed again. He had been like this ever since Elian had stepped into the house. His home was completed now.

Of course, he also wanted his one and only son to have a wife like Zaria Smith who was the apple of his eyes. She deserved the best, and deep down he knew the best option was his son.

Just like Madam Anderson, he, too, knew the deep and hidden thoughts Zaria had for Elian. 

That silly girl thought that she had hidden it very well, but it was not like her uncle and aunt were not an old hand in figuring out.

They were experienced. They also loved each other since who knew how long, so how could they not realize Ria's feelings for Elian? 

Everyone in the mansion knew her feelings.

"Mia, let's not tease the little girl again. We won't want to be avoided for days again now, would we?" Uncle John chuckled. 

Only Zaria Smith had the privilege of being teased by the Old Master Anderson.

At this, her entire face became redder than before if possible. She was a fool in the past. 

'Uncle John won't let me live this down!' Wuwuwu.

'Uncle, at least not in front of him! I will not lock myself anymore!'

In the past, she had this habit of locking herself in the room whenever someone overpraised her. It seemed burdensome to her. She would thus avoid everyone for days whenever this happened. She was such a childish person.

She wished she could go to the past and strangle her past self!

When she had nothing to do in her room, she used to chant 'be more humble', 'be more humble' to herself like a mantra because she could detect some changes in herself.

Her choices were getting developed. She could not believe that she bought expensive clothes because they looked nice to her, even though they were not her size.

She remembered some people would watch her with disdain when she was living at an orphanage. They were unreasonable, stubborn, and arrogant.

She was doing the same. No, she would not become like that.

Being brought up in a rich family, it was regular for one to feel above everyone.

She did not want to become a conceited person which she watched in those dramas.

After coming here and seeing those dramas, they changed her opinion on life.

She still watched them when she had no homework to do.

Sometimes, the graceful looking Mia Anderson was also found scowling at the green tea b*tches or either at those white lotus women. She could not handle fake people.

Zaria knew the ending of those dramas clearly which was, that the conceited, evil person was destined to be abandoned in the end by his loved ones.

The person who used to be good was interpreted as a villain of his own story due to his actions and the only ending he got was;

Loneliness.

Isolation.

Solitude.

And hatred from the people he cherished.

His life was pitiful. He drowned in his miseries, sorrows and eventually killed his left-behind soul, then his heart, and then his self in the end.

Zaria had no one except for the Anderson family. She did not want to be abandoned. She would never become a villain of her own story.

The thing she was afraid of the most was to be left alone. She had already lost her parents young in an accident and all she had now was her aunt and uncle who loved her to the moon and back, and then there was Elian, her crush, who she did not want to let go of.

As to why she would avoid contact-

Because she became highly flustered by the things which were provided to her by her uncle and aunt. She thought she was only a charity case for the Andersons and that she did not deserve what she was given.

She had these covers of insecurities around her. Surrounding her like thorns surrounding a rose.

She had the cloud of doubt plaguing her mind, she had mental barriers restricting her, but with the deep love, affection, and care; all the restraints, the clutches that held her tightly- not letting her go, broke.

The very ones, the Anderson family succeeded to break and made her the cheeky and confident person she was now, but all in front of her beloved, her insecure persona was getting back. 

'Why did I not know about this development of Miss. do-not-approach-my-babies-who-are-actually-my-plants before? Since when did she become so shy? Can people change so easily?'

In his mind, he could only remember an unruly girl who did not hesitate to speak her views in front of elders even if others gave her looks.

He was wrong. Her attitude did change with her age. She resembled a true girl.

Elian admitted it was refreshing to see something interesting, more like someone with this change. From their childhood, she had acted like a wild cat with her paws protecting herself fiercely.

As he was still lost in his thoughts with a light smile, his eyes contacted his mother suddenly. 

Elian from the beginning was a closely guarded person. He never trusted anyone blindly whether male or female given his teachings by his two amazing parents.

When he was abroad, a lot of people tried to approach him, tried to befriend him, so he had to stay composed and on guard with the people around. All because of the influence of his affluent family background, but his family was family. 

Zaria was considered his family, too. So, what if she was from another family?

She never changed, although she acted weird around him that must have been because of the gap they had in their communication.

She was still his little partner he considered in his heart.

One thing he did not understand was...

'What is wrong with mom?'

'Why is she looking at me like this?'

His mother was similar to him in some aspects. She would stay on her guard with outsiders and would not trust anyone except for family.

He felt a chill running down his spine.

He was getting goosebumps. He could have sworn that he saw her looking like a fox with stars in her eyes.

He was afraid.

Afraid of her surprises, since from the start she was a highly unpredictable person. One that could give the biggest shocks of life to anyone in a matter of some seconds.

His family was full of wonders. 

Madam Anderson was about to say something when her doting husband interrupted her, "Ahem."

He had observed the two children and was sure that they still needed some time for some bonding.

If they were to throw the news of the wedding announcement in front of them, it was a high possibility that they would instantly refuse. 

Zaria was still young. Even though he knew Zaria's feelings, she could have a change of heart when she grew up. 

As for Elian, he wanted him to establish himself first. Elian still needed experience.

Now was not the time. His wife glanced at him, upset. 

She wanted to start the conversation like an elder she was.

"This brat must be tired from the journey. Let him have some rest. We will resume this conversation later on the meal table." Elian was grateful. He was exhausted from the journey of thousand kilometres he had travelled, and his eyes were aching for a rest. 

He nodded, excusing himself and left for his room. 

Arriving at his secret base, he was slightly startled.

He thought his mom would have had changed his room setting by now in his absence since she never liked it because it was really simple, but everything was still what it was used to be-- the same. Even the books on his table were in the same position he left behind when he was leaving. His pens, some writing papers.

His mom kept his room the way it was and the way he had always liked it! There was not a sign of any particular movement. He grinned. He was happy that he had returned.

It was true.

There was no place like home.

So, without much further ado, he threw himself on his bed. He forgot his luggage, forgot the expensive suit he was wearing. He needed a good sleep.

And really in some minutes, he closed his eyes and dozed off.