Several weeks later
Emil was signing some documents in his office when Daniel entered. He stood by the door and gazed lazily at his working brother.
"Mum wants us to go over to the old mansion at 7 this evening." Daniel said unhurriedly
"Tell her am not going" Emil rejected while signing a document
"Either you two come over here or we go over to your place. Am sure you don't want to disturb Phillis with our presence right?!"
Daniel repeated their mother's words word by word sounding a bit annoyed.
Emil for the first looked at his brother. Daniel chuckled knowingly, " I had rejected her invite, but ..."
"Why wait that long, we are going right after I finish with these documents"
Daniel looked at his wrist watch, 'there's still one hour thirty minutes left, alright?' he shook his head while tossing his phone in between his two palms.
...
An hour later, a red Ferrari drove through the expensive metal gates of the old Anderson mansion.
Daniel stepped out from the driver's seat, likewise Emil from the passenger's seat.
Daniel locked the car, and together, they walked to the house. Emil had his two hands in his pants pockets, while Daniel had one hand in his, and his other hand twirled the car key as they walked.
"Leah, don't worry. Am a mother myself and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to my children. Louisa is also like my daughter, so let's settle this amicably, okay?"
The brothers steps halted at the foot of the door when they heard their mother speak. It was clear who she was speaking to. And also very clear who her guests were.
"Not again !" Daniel silently mumbled. He turned to his brother with his mouth slightly opened, ready to speak when Emil suddenly spoke
" Let's just enter and get this done and over with. We don't want any drama at home right?"
"You're right" Daniel nodded in agreement and together, they entered the living room.
"They will be here ---- see, they're already here" Kathryn happily announced as she pointed a finger at their direction.
She stood up from her seat, took graceful steps to meet her sons midway.
As much as the brothers dislike their mother's act of selfishness, they've never, not even once did they disrespect her. And definitely not in the presence of others.
So when Kathryn embraced them, they embraced her in return. Although it was unwillingly, they still showed respect.
"Where are dad and grandfather?"
"Your grandfather is not feeling well, so he's resting in his room. And as for your father, ... he went out with his friends to play golf. He should probably be on his way coming."
"Grandfather is not feeling well? What's wrong with him?"
"Its nothing new to worry about. The doctor has come to check on him. Its just his blood pressure rising."
"I will go and check on him" Emil said as he left in large strides. He didn't even spare the mother and daughter who sat on the sofa a glance.
"Brother, let's go together. I also want to check how the old man is faring." Daniel spoke as he quickened his steps to catch up with Emil.
And just like Emil, he too didn't spare a glance to the mother and daughter. It was as if they were invincible !
Kathryn turned to her guests, she forced an apologetic smiled "they are worried for their grandpa, please do forgive their unintentional mistake" she said with a bit of shame.
"Its alright. But when is Felix coming? Let's all settle this once and for all. Besides, ...." She looks at Louisa's belly " they need to get married before it begins to show for everyone to see." Leah said sounding a bit annoyed.
'How dare those boys ignore her !'
"Grandfather, how are doing now? and why did your blood pressure suddenly rise?"
"Oh, it's you boys. Why are you standing at the door? Come inside and sit down."
"Okay, but tell us what happened? You've always been careful, so how come ?"
The brothers each took a seat on both sides at the foot of the bed, as Daniel questioned the old man.
The elder Anderson chuckled softly, " What do you think?" he asked eyeing his worried grandsons.
Truth is, his blood pressure never rose, not even in the slightest. He had feigned to be unwell, and had instructed their family doctor to diagnose him as such.
"I didn't want to see their faces, and also watch your mother dancing to their tunes"
At his last word, his face turned to anger. With annoyance visible in his voice, he continued to say, "that stupid father of yours and disloyal son of mine who couldn't even persuade his wife out of her selfish decisions, ran away with the excuse of playing golf with his friends, leaving me to handle his stubborn wife together with those two pests !"
At his words, soft laughter filled the room. The worried looks were now replaced with bits of happiness.
"Let him come back here and see what I do to him !" the elder said still sounding a bit angry
"He he, dad really pulled one over you. Have you tried calling him?" Daniel asked amidst laughter
"Do you think I will be this angry if I haven't ?! I've called not once, but several times already. And anytime, I was directed to the voice mail"
"Father wisely planned his escape route"
"Yeah, he even fooled his stubborn wife" the old man nodded in agreement
...
The laughter continued for sometime until the head maid came to call the brothers on Kathryn's order.
Several minutes later, five people stepped out from the dinning area their. The brothers and their mother, together with Leah and Louisa.
This time round, Emil didn't rush to leave. He sat quietly on a sofa in the living room waiting to hear the reason for Kathryn's call.
Daniel likewise sat beside his brother on the two in one sofa. He had his legs crossed while typing on his phone. He was messaging with Lina.