CHAPTER 4 – Lee Family

“Hun? Is he your new boyfriend?” Henry’s eyebrow immediately raised when he heard ‘hun’ is it short for ‘honey’?

“Huh? Oh no no..Hun for Hunter. We just met. Shall we go now? Grandma and Pops might we waiting for us” Amanda just wanted to escape the awkward scenario.

“Well, it was a fun flight. Thanks again for Penny” Mark gave his sweetest smile while patting Jack’s head.

“Thanks for breakfast” she replied.

“Until next time, see you” Mark felt optimistic of their next meet-up.

As soon as they went inside the car, Henry started bugging her again about Mark.

Previously she didn’t mind it when he is becoming overbearing but now, she felt a bit irritated.

She just gave a simple reply and said she was tired from the flight. When she looked at the back-seat, Jack has already fallen asleep.

***

The drive back to the Lee residence went smoothly as Henry did not bother her anymore. As soon as she stepped-out of the car, she heard an excited scream from the living room.

“Amanda” Grandma Lee gave her a tight hug.

“Mom, how have you been?” Amanda gave a peck on her mother-in-law’s cheeks.

“Where’s my Jack? Come, come to Pops, my child” another excited voice came rushing to the car to the sleeping Jack.

“He’s still sleeping, why are you so loud?” Grandma Lee was scolding her husband.

Amanda couldn’t help but smile every time she would see such scenario. This is her in-laws’ house but she always feels their warmth towards her. It is something that she did not feel in her own family.

“Mom, it’s okay. Dad is just excited to see Jack” she tried to save face for her father-in-law.

“Come let’s eat first. Carry your grandson in the dining area” it’s really clear who is in charge of the Lee household.

“Mom, don’t bother. They had breakfast already with her ‘friend’” Henry could not help but smirk when he remembered how Mark was looking intently at his sister-in-law.

“Is it a guy?” Grandma Lee’s eyes widened in the news.

“Yes, Mom. We had breakfast and he’s a guy but there’s nothing to it” she was glaring at Henry for his loud mouth.

“Well, if there’s nothing to it, I will introduce you to my friend’s son. He also works in the Capitol and I think you can go on a date once you are back in the city.” Grandma Lee will not pass an opportunity to set her up on a date.

“I’m really not interested to date right now, mom” Amanda could not even remember how many times she refused to be set up in a date.

However, her mother-in-law will always find a way to persuade her. In the end she will still go but she makes it a point not to have a follow-up.

“It’s okay, you’re still young and you will never know if don’t try. If you don’t like him then you’re not obliged to go on a second date. What’s important is you meet other people.” She can feel her mother-in-law’s concern and she eventually agreed just like the few times before.

“Okay, mom. But I cannot promise anything, okay?” she said while wrapping her arms around her mother-in-law’s shoulders.

“That’s great, I will tell my friend now. You go ahead and eat before you rest” the old lady was beaming and immediately called her friend.

After their breakfast, she went to their room to take a nap while Jack is playing ball with Pops and Uncle Henry.

She was awakened by the buzzing sound of her phone on the side table. When she checked her phone, she noticed that she has a friend request from Mark in her social media.

Out of curiosity, she accepted the request and as soon as they got connected, she received his message.

Mark:                  “Hi, it’s Mark Hunter. Just checking if it’s really you”

Amanda:            “Yeah, it’s me”

Mark:                  “Oh great. Just checking. Easier to get in touch. See you back in the city. Bye”

Amanda:            “See yah. Bye”

At first, she felt excited when she saw the profile but when she saw how short his messages were, she thought something was wrong with her. Was she expecting for a longer chat?

It couldn’t be, he doesn’t seem interested in her after their plane landed.

But it was his disinterest that is quite intriguing for her. Usually when someone flirts at her, they will go all the way until she is forced to reject them bluntly.

This guy is different. Maybe she’s just overthinking. Anyway, she’s not certain they will meet again so she will cross the bridge when she gets there.

*** 

At Windmills Hotel in the Northern Province, Grandma Mills was playing with Penny while Mark and his father were having coffee.

Grandma Mills was arranging another date for her son with one of the socialites of Northern Province. She is now making her move for her son to get married soon. It’s not good for her son’s image to stay single for a long time having a one-year old child.

Previously her qualification is very high. The girl must have a good family background and must have a good education.

However, no matter how good the girl is, her son is simply not interested. His focus is on running his hotels and on how to expand their business.

Imagine the shock they had when they found out that Mark has a daughter. They couldn’t get the details how it happened but having a granddaughter is a news that they willingly welcome.

A daughter means an automatic wife for Mark. Or so they thought. They waited for Mark to announce a marriage but they never seen even the shadow of Penny’s mother.

Now more than ever, it would be more difficult to set-up Mark for marriage. Who would accept an illegitimate child?

“Mark, your father and I thought that if you cannot find a wife, we will propose an arrange marriage with the Golding family” Mark almost spit out his coffee upon hearing his mother’s words.

“The Golding family. They are a prominent family here in Northern Province and both families find it beneficial if we can merge by way of marriage” his mother continued as if proposing a business.

“I am familiar with the Golding family. If I remember correctly, they have two daughters. The first child is biological and the other child is adopted” Mark is trying to recall the details of the family.

He never met the first daughter but he has a very bad impression of the other lady. He met the younger lady in one of the banquets and he finds her repulsive. If that is how the Golding family raised their daughters, Mark can clearly say ‘No, thank you’ in a heartbeat.

“Which one would you accept as your daughter-in-law?” he’s not really interested with the arrangement but he wanted to know what his mother is thinking.

“The first young lady of course. She is the heiress of the Golding family” grandma Mills was expecting for Mark’s approval.

“No thanks. I don’t think I’m suitable for marriage. Who accepts arranged marriage at this age?” he finds the idea ridiculous.

It may work for others but not for him.

And he has someone in mind right now. Someone that caught his attention. It may take a while before he thinks about marriage again.

However, he cannot tell his parents yet. He doesn’t know what his crazy mother will do if she finds out about it. She can it make very difficult to other people if she wanted to.

“We cannot just say ‘No’ to the Goldings, Mark. We will lose face” Grandma Mills is still trying to persuade her son.

“Why can’t we? You said so yourself, you are friends with them. For sure you can explain to them that I’m not interested. Either you tell them or I will” he thought it’s as easy as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and his answer is ‘NO’.

His parents were speechless and couldn’t think of anything to convince him. They know his uncompromising character and if he says ‘no’ nothing can change his decision.

“I will leave Penny with you first and will come back once I completed my deal. Thanks Mom, Dad. I really don’t know if I could make it without your support.”

He knows how to make his parents feel good and it never fails.

“Go ahead and do your business. We will explain it to the Goldings” his father knows his heart very well.