"Claire, what are you talking about? No wonder what? Don't be so rude." A resigned sigh came from Shannon. Why couldn't Claire be a bit polite? It was too late to teach her manners now even if she wanted to. They had already completely spoiled her and she would not even listen nor accept other's warning anymore.
"Well, I didn't mean anything! Don't ask me anything more, Mom. Please! Just keep on talking with my sister-in-law!" Claire dared not act too offensively in front of her mother, thus, she called Leena her sister-in-law instead of a single word of 'she'. She did not want to hear her mother keep informing her over and over again to be polite or that kind.
"Don't be so talkative and stop interrupting me when I'm talking to Leena." Another sigh came out of Shannon to express her frustration. What could she do to make her daughter be the same with Leena? It worried her that Claire might find it difficult to find a date and moreover, get married. She was too willful and no one would like to marry such a girl.
"It's alright, Mom. You can ask me anything you want to know. I'll tell you everything as long as I know." A sweet smile appeared on Leena's face and it made her eyes cutely chinky. What an adorable sweet girl!
"I see, Leena. Then I'll just ask straightly. You look quite young!" Shannon stopped being polite and asked Leena. She really wanted to know more about her and her family. She liked her.
"Yeah! I'm 22 years old. A bit young." That question embarrassed Leena a bit but nonetheless, she remained smiling. Although she was legally allowed to get married at this age, it was still too early since nowadays females did not get married at such a young age.
"Oh, I see. Then you are younger than Claire," Shannon said to Leena and then turned to Claire." Claire, you see? Leena is even younger than you but she is politer. You can stay with her to learn the manner." Shannon took the chance to give her daughter a lecture, not knowing that what she did just made Claire even more furious with Leena.
"Mom, why do you keep talking nicely of her? And why should I learn the manner from her? To learn her tacky manner?" Claire shouted irritatedly and then shut her mouth. Fine! Leena was undeniably beautiful. Her main concern was not how she looked but her family! No matter how beautiful she was, she would be nothing in her eyes should she come from a poor or ordinary family.
"Claire, what are you talking about? Be nice! Tacky manner? Leena is not tacky at all. But you? You always buy those strange clothes at will and I did not say a word to it," Shannon rebuked Claire in a low voice. She could not help but feel a headache at the thought of all the clothes inside her child's wardrobe. It could have made her feel better if she was using all those clothes. Unfortunately, no. Most of Claire's clothes were still with price tags on them and were left inside the wardrobe for long.
"Fine, fine, Mom! Keep talking with my sister-in-law, please! Why did you get me involved in your conversation?" Claire snuggled up to Shannon and asked for affection. A complex feeling emerged in Leena's heart. She never thought it was a big deal without her mother beside, but now she could not help but feel a bit sad. She never had the chance to enjoy having a mother. How did it feel to have a mother?
"Hey, you interrupted our conversation, okay?" Shannon said and knocked on Claire's head slightly. Why couldn't she be quiet for a while? She was obviously stealing the scene. How could she go on with her conversation with Leena now?
"Fine. Help yourself, please! I promise I won't speak a word out from now, okay?" Claire put her finger and thumb over her mouth and acted as if she was zipping her lips from left to right.
"Leena, don't take her words seriously. She always talks nonsense," Shannon said with an apologetic smile. Although this daughter-in-law was quite easygoing and sensitive, Claire should not be so bold to offend her over and over again. It was her duty as her mother to apologize on her behalf.
Mom, don't worry! It's okay. I wouldn't mind." In return, Leena let out another sweet smile. That was her trademark smile, not to mention, her secret weapon as well. She had seen many people melt on her feet just because of it.
"Do you have any other family members such as siblings apart from your father?" Shannon believed that there was a high probability that Leena was not an only child because she was such an easygoing girl. Those who were born as only child had this huge tendency of being more difficult and selfish compared to those who were not. Leena was far from those descriptions after all.
"Yes! I have an elder brother and a sister-in-law," Leena replied obediently. She did not try to hide something from her at all.
"Oh! "I see. Then what do they do?" Shannon regretted asking the question too instantly. Did she go too far on doing it? Leena just had been here for a short time. It was definitely not polite to just ask her that question too abruptly.
"Oh, they? They run businesses." Leena did not tell her that they were the presidents of their companies. She chose to make a very simple introduction because she was afraid that they might consider her as a show-off. She did not want to make a fuss about that. Being low-key and humble was still the best.
"What? Run businesses? Come on, stop it, please! Why don't you just admit it that they work for companies. Please get to the point and don't beat around the bush." Well, yes, Claire grasped a chance to tease Leena again. In her eyes, Leena was nothing but a vain woman.
"Ur! Well, yes, if that's what you think," admitted Leena. She reached out her hand to touch her nose. In one way or another, Duke and Belinda worked for companies indeed. It was just that the two were actually the bosses. Claire was technically right.
"Claire, you might as well go back to your room if you cannot stop being impolite." Now Shannon was really angry. Claire's sarcasm was too much and it kept making the conversation even more awkward than how it already was.
"Come on! I'm just telling the truth. Why do you refuse to hear the truth?" whispered Claire unhappily. Somehow she was quite uncomfortable with Leena.