"Nonsense. Of course, I know they won't bite me. I'm just worried they might say a thing or two." The lady's aura turned bitter. 'What should I do? I totally forget who they are although they have been introduced to me minutes ago,' her mind kept reeling.
"Don't worry! Everyone here is easy-going except for my aunt. She can be a little harsh." Kevin held her hand to comfort her. He had always thought that his aunt was as serious as his father. It was really weird how the woman ended up liking his naughty sister, Claire, so much.
Um! Everything will be okay for me as long as I don't do any mistakes, right?" Innocence and doubt were all over Leena's beautiful face. She pretended to be mature in front of Claire but she doubted it if she could do the same in front of so many elders. After all, she was just a little girl.
"Correct. Just follow me." Kevin grabbed the chance. He had set up something for her and what she said was the perfect cue.
"All right. Got it." Leena's answer was spontaneous. It took a little while before realization hit her and made her jaw drop. Did she just fall into Kevin's trap? Not following him meant getting herself busy as she tried to stay away from everyone. On the other hand, following him would mean letting him touch her. Shoot! It was indeed a trap!
Not many people came to celebrate Nathan's birthday. Most of the guests were people who had close relationships with their family, and two of them were Nathan's former comrades. They were not difficult people to get along with. It was just that Leena wasn't comfortable with the fact that they were all officials.
It was Nathan's interest with antiques that made Leena give him a painting work from her dad's collection. She couldn't think of anything better to give Nathan as a birthday gift.
"Dad, we wish you good health and a lot of happiness. Here is the present from Kevin and me." After dinner, Leena gave the present to Nathan with a sweet smile on her face.
"It's the painting of Wu Tao Tse! Hasn't it been lost for many years? Where did you get it?" Nathan was suddenly in bliss upon seeing the gift. He totally forgot his comments about her family for a while.
"Oh! This is from my dad's collection that he has collected for years. He knows you like it, so he gives it to you as a gift." That was a lie. That painting was not a gift from Leena's father. She heard from Kevin that Nathan liked paintings so she tried everything she knew to get it from her own dad.
"Is it? Your father likes paintings, too! It seems that your father is my soul mate." A smile finally cracked Nathan's lips. He inspected the painting for a while and it was evident on his face that he appreciated it lot. Everybody knew it was a priceless antique! Never had he expected that Leena's father would give it to him as a gift.
Yes! My dad's interested in collecting historical things while travelling." Relief flooded Leena upon seeing how her father-in-law liked her gift. All the efforts and words she had spent in wooing her dad were worth it. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if all her efforts on that gift just got to waste. Little did anyone know that she had spent hours and hours of long distance call with her dad for that gift.
"I would like to meet your father after you say this. After all, it's not easy to find a soul mate!" The joyful smile on Nathan's face lasted for a while. It was both the happiest and sincerest smile Leena had seen on him since they met. She never saw him smile like that even with Claire.
"Um! I'll definitely have the two of you meet once he is back." Speaking of this, Leena suddenly remembered that her family and Kevin's family had never met each other yet since they got married. Wasn't that just too improper?
"Good! Good! You should let your father know how much I appreciate his gift. I didn't expect him to give me something so valuable." Nathan said as he rolled that painting and then put it aside carefully. Both of his eyes were gleaming with excitement.
"Yes, I will," replied the young lady with a smile. Her father-in-law's reaction made her see another side of him. Nathan wasn't as harsh as she first thought. He also had his tender side on some occasions.
"Dad, have you checked it clearly? Perhaps it's fake!" Displeasure was in Claire's voice. She didn't want her father to look favorably upon Leena.
"What are you talking about, Claire? How could you be so rude?" That yell from Nathan came as a surprise. This was the very first time that he had snapped on her daughter in front of people. He had always loved and spoiled Claire too much. His yell was so loud that everybody turned their heads to their direction. Nonetheless, they all understood why Nathan went mad.
"Dad, I just gave you a reminder, in case you were deceived." Claire said as she glared at Leena. She blamed Leena for giving a painting to her father as a gift. How could that present made her dad scold her so publicly?
You little girl, how could you be so immature? Just think about it. How could your sister-in-law deceive your father with a fake painting?" It was Shannon who broke through the tension as she poked Claire's head. She couldn't believe the words that her child had said. She just vulgarly embarrassed Leena in front of many people. She couldn't tell how Claire's mind was working anymore!