' Sister, you are here? Greetings great grandfather. Greetings Butler Jerry.' Ruby says stunned and looked at Jade while trying to hide her guilt. Was Jade aware that she was the one who orchestrated that incident?
Jade and Old man King nodded at the same time which was a meme-worthy scene. The older one and the younger one both nodded twice and turned their faces to the left at the same time.
' Greetings Patriarch. Hello Jade.' Liam says giving a warm smile. Ruby clenched her fists tightly while Jade tried her best not to sneer at him.
Was she that familiar with him? He was only putting on this charade since old man King was present.
' I need to speak with your parents. Are they home?' Old man King says to Liam Lincoln.
' Yes they are. Come in.' Liam Lincoln says.
He signals to the steward to take care of them while he hurried to inform his parents. He had a feeling that they were to settle his engagement with Jade Thompson but he was not ready yet. He didn't want to be tied to one woman already especially as she was cold and didn't know how to please or flatter him.
' Sister, you should try their blueberry muffin it's the best. Auntie made some for me yesterday, you should really try it. Excuse me, get grape juice for my sister and ginger tea for my great grandfather.' Ruby says passing a plate of muffins acting like the mistress of the house.
Jade and Old man King simultaneously raised their right eyebrows while curling their upper lip in a sneer. Butler Jerry was speechless at their telepathic expressions.
Jade didn't particularly like the taste of grape juice since some tended to taste a bit sour and she had a sweet and spicy tooth. Old man King HATED ginger tea because everybody seemed to think he needed it at his age.
' We just had breakfast.' Jade says.
' Sister I thought you were at camp. It doesn't look good if you quit halfway.' Ruby says "thoughtfully"
' An accident happened at camp so I was granted three days leave so they could carry out an investigation.' Jade says nonchalantly (as if).
As expected, Ruby's face flushed.
' Oh what happened?' She asked doing a "good" job pretending to be calm.
' Someone tried to attack me twice. I think it's an old enemy of mom's, you should be careful. But I think they have a selective issue with me.' Jade says staring at Ruby catching the little changes in her expression. Panic to Pretend Calm to relief to fake concern.
' Then sister you should be careful. I told you to try to be a little more amiable, now you might have unintentionally offended someone.' Ruby says.
Jade and Old man King look at Ruby and then at each other. Their glance translated to English: Is this White Lotus related to you?
' Patriarch King greetings. Forgive our inhospitability.' Mr Lincoln says closely followed by Mrs Lincoln and Liam Lincoln.
' No I was the one who came uninvited.' Old man King says.
' Good day, Mr Lincoln, Mrs Lincoln.' Jade greeted.
' Jade, how are you doing?' Mrs Lincoln asks with the air of an elder.
Jade nods indifferently. Mrs Lincoln smiled to cover the anger in her eyes. Just because she had a good backing and a beautiful face, she thinks she's some big shot not even knowing when to lower her head to please her future mother in-law. Is this little girl with wet ears planning to ride on her head after marrying into their family.
' Auntie, come sit. Uncle you sit too.' Ruby says making space for them. Mrs Lincoln looked at Ruby approvingly. Now this was a good daughter in-law material, even if she wasn't the one patriarch King doted on the most, she was still his great granddaughter right?
' What brings you here today?' Mr Lincoln says.
' I want to discuss the engagement between our families.' Old man King says.
The two sides had different thoughts.
Liam, Ruby, Mr and Mrs Lincoln: They are here to discuss an engagement date. So impatient!!
Old man King and Jade: Let's get this over with and go back for a little brunch.
' My granddaughter met the eldest son of the Lincoln once and found him of good character and so she had said that she would get her eldest daughter married to him provided she agrees. In respect of her late mother's wishes, my great granddaughter agreed to this marriage. But I would like to know if you see my King family as a joke.' Old man says releasing his imposing aura.
' I.. I don't understand what you mean.' Mr Lincoln stammered. Ruby Thompson, Liam Lincoln and Mrs Lincoln looked equally confused.
' Is your son really the eldest Lincoln in this generation?' Old man King asks.
The gazes of Mr and Mrs Lincoln changed.
' You couldn't possibly be thinking of getting Jade married to Jayden?' Mrs Lincoln says.
' Correct. My thoughts exactly.' Old man King says.
It was as though a rainbow crosses over Ruby's head. Jade was going to marry that nerd!!!
' Why would you do that to her?' Mr Lincoln says.
' First of all it was her mother's last wish. Secondly, if my darling Jade like him and she can by all means marry him anytime she pleases.' Old man King says.
Then four pair of eyes turn to Jade looking at her with shock, surprise and scrutiny.
' You want to marry Jayden? Why would you do that to yourself?' Liam Lincoln says.
Old man King, Jade and Butler Jerry turned to him. That sounded wrong in thousands of ways.
' What do you like about Jayden that Liam doesn't have?' Mr Lincoln says. This fish called Jade Thompson was too big to let slip through his fingers.
' What I like about Jayden that Liam doesn't have?' Jade says looking thoughtful.
After a moment she said, ' Jayden is very naive, I have a certain fondness for innocence. He's very obedient, I'm quite stubborn and I disliked being disobeyed. He's hardworking and doesn't complain, I'm lazy and I disliked listening to complaints. Best of all, he cooks really delicious dishes. You know what they say, "the way to the heart is through the stomach". I thought I would shape Liam Lincoln into something likeable after marriage but I got a full package deal already.' Jade says.
Each person had different thoughts,
Ruby: This b*tch doesn't like Liam, thank goodness.
Liam: Did she say she will shape me into something likeable? Aren't I already likeable?
Mrs Lincoln: At least she's out of my hair but how dare she reject my son for that low life jinx.
Mr Lincoln: So Jayden is this cunning. He directly went to seduce the big boss. As expected of my brother's son, both are so conniving.
Old man King: So the future in-law can cook, if Jade says it's delicious then it has to be. When can we live.
Butler Jerry: The First Young Miss' reply is so domineering like those CEOs in telenovellas.
Jade: Don't dilly dally! I'm ending an engagement not participating in a police interrogation.
' But it isn't good to just end the relationship this way, right?' Mr Lincoln says unwilling to give up this golden big thigh*
' Of course it won't, Infact it can get stronger. Let's be connected my marriage. Jade and Jayden, Ruby Thompson and Liam Lincoln. That is, if it's alright with the rest of you.' Jade calmly suggested.
Mrs Lincoln eyes brightened. Okay? No it was perfect!! But she had to maintain courtesy.
' It's a shame it couldn't work out between you and Liam but you Thompson sisters are welcome to our Lincoln family as long as the children agree.' Mrs Lincoln says. They all turn to Liam and Ruby.
' Since the elders have decided, I will go along with it.' Ruby says meekly with her head lowered. Mrs Lincoln smiled at Ruby and nodded in satisfaction.
Liam also agreed to the arrangement.
Jade broke out into a huge smile. ' Finally!! Good riddan.... I mean good heavens I need to hurry, I have been feeling weak all morning need to go to the hospital. It's a pity, I couldn't stay longer.' Jade says. Her statement would have been somewhat believable lf her smile wasn't reach up to her head.
The Lincolns were speechless. Ruby was speechless. Old man King was amused, was she so much in a hurry?
' Then we won't keep you any longer.' Old man King says.
' Yes we wouldn't want to waste your time. I need to return to cam.. the hospital.' Jade says as she helps Old man King up energetically.
' Take care then.' Mr Lincoln says somewhat regretfully.
' Sister when will the reformation camp be over? School resumes soon.' Ruby asks kindly reminding everyone present that the lady before them had destructive tendencies.
' Two weeks I think.' Jade says and walks away quickly before the tried to engage her in more idle talk.
As Jade left the building she bit her lips struggling to stay silent.
' Do you want to say something?' Old man King ask.
' Great grandfather you know me best. I just want to say, Dear engagement, allow me to shout my happy goodbye.' Jade as she spun round but then... She turned to see Liam Lincoln's stunned face.
Awkward!!!