Chapter 2: TWO

The clink of spoons and forks rang out in Avery's lavish dining room. On the table were arranged a lot of delicious food that had been prepared by the maids who worked in the luxurious residence. There are few exceptions to Michiel's meals, however, as they are cooked by Avery herself.

"Your food is delicious, I like it." Michiel's light voice broke the silence that had previously created between the two. Avery glanced at the man and returned to her eating, which had been delayed because she had to glance at the man.

"Your cooking reminds me of my mother who has died," said Michiel again.

Avery sighed softly regardless of Michiel's words. She knew that this time Michiel was trying to get her to talk. But she wasn't in the mood to talk to him. Moreover it concerns his late mother who died seven years ago.

"You did well to duplicate it. Do you still remember the taste of the meal until now?"

Avery slammed her spoon down roughly and glared at Michiel. She was annoyed because the man had been asking her to talk even though she didn't want to talk to him. Especially when talking about the past that she had long buried tightly in her heart. It sucks! What does he really want?!

"Why have you been talking all this time? Just eat your food and be quiet."

"I just want to ask. I think you remember the first time my mom took you out to lunch at my house seven years ago. The taste of your cooking is the same as my mother's cooking, and I like it."

That man is indeed a rock head!

"I've forgotten. I just put the ingredients into the dish. I should have put poison in your food so you would die and not keep bothering me."

"Hmm... you might not do it to me." Michiel replied with a cute smile that sickened Avery.

The man finally chose silence and continued with the remaining half of his food. He had always liked to bother Avery for a long time. More precisely after he knew that Avery was his brother's future wife two and a half years ago.

"Are you going to Columbia? Following Andrew?"

Avery gave Michiel a glance over her curled lashes. She was afraid that he would follow her if she told him that this afternoon she was going to fly to Columbia.

"Today I'm going to fly to Columbia, are you—"

"You followed me?" accused Avery as she pounded the table. The woman looked very angry after hearing the news from the man that she too was going to Columbia. What the hell was that man going to do? Visiting his grandfather too? It seems impossible!

"Oh, so you're really going to Columbia this afternoon? Interesting, maybe we can be in the same plane and sit next to each other," said Michiel casually.

Avery sighed again in response to Michiel's every unexpected magical behavior.

"Impossible. I've booked a first class flight since last week, so we can't possibly be on the same plane. What are you gonna do in Columbia, anyway? Visiting Grandpa? Huh, is that a bastard grandson like you expected by grandfather?" Avery sneered viciously.

Michiel narrowed his lips and just stared at Avery dryly. He knew that she hated him very much, but he didn't like it when Avery thought that he was that bad to his grandfather because of the fact that he was very close to his grandfather. It's just that he is not as good at expressing his affection as Andrew.

"I have a job at Columbia. So I thought I could go see Grandpa and see Andrew as well. "

"Huh, I hope you don't mess up my life at Columbia because I want to spend my time off having fun with Andrew. I have to start running my baby program."

Michiel was silent long enough to digest every sentence Avery said. "You're a model... you'll turn fat if you get pregnant." Michiel commented dryly.

Avery raised her eyebrows in disbelief at Michiel's remark which sounded flat and saccharistic.

"I've thought about it carefully. I will take a break from modeling and become a housewife to raise my children. Besides, Andrew is already working, why am I also working. His wealth will not run out if I spend it with my children." Avery commented lightly without noticing the change in Michiel's cloudy face.

"But your contract is still valid for next year."

"Are you going to complicate my resigning process, Mic? I am your sister-in-law, you should be happy if I will give you a cute nephew. Why do you look so displeased like that?" Avery replied irritably. Really she did not understand the mind of that man. He should be happy because finally she has clarity for her relationship with his brother who has always been flat without passion. She had thought carefully about it, she had even thought about it a month ago with a lot of consideration from her colleagues.

"I'm only talking about your professional modeling, Avery Sherlon." said Michiel slowly with a sharp gaze. "And this is not a matter of being happy. The contract is clearly stated if you terminate the contract before the validity period is over, you will get a huge fine because it will make my company lose."

Avery snorted in annoyance. Why did her brother-in-law never let her life be easy? "Surely Andrew will pay the fine. You really are a cruel brother-in-law."

"You're much meaner, Avery. You are the meanest woman I have ever known."

Avery stared in disbelief at Michiel's cold reply. Even though in her life she had never done anything to that man. It is precisely this man who often interferes with her life and ruins her life. Then the man casually said that she was the meanest woman. Hell! She didn't accept it!

"What are you saying? I'm cruel? Huh, seriously. Hey Michiel Thompson! I'm not finished talking!" shouted Avery when Michiel just left her with a very loud scream.

Squeezing her dizzy temples, Avery pushed her plate away which still left half of her breakfast unfinished. Arguing with Michiel made her lazy to continue with the rest of her breakfast. She also chose to be prepared because she didn't want to miss her flight this afternoon.

My Sweetheart Andrew! Wait for me.

-00-

Avery pursed her lips in disgust as she stared at the dull scenery that lay outside her airplane window. The gray evening cloud looked the same as her mood now too gray. She felt upset that she had taken this first class flight without thinking about the risks that would happen to her during the trip.

"Ave, you want to order something?"

Michiel asked beside her as he flipped through the menu book in his hand. This afternoon the man suddenly appeared next to her with a smile without his annoying sin. Even though she still clearly remembered how the man was angry before leaving her mansion. But suddenly the man appeared next to her and seemed to have forgotten their little fight this morning.

"I want wine. I want to get drunk and fall asleep so I don't have to see your face."

"Wine is not good to drink on long journeys. You better drink warm milk and eat some cookies."

"You think I'm a baby!" Avery blurted out irritably. But Michiel still ordered the milk for Avery when a flight attendant walked by to take Michiel's order.

"Why are you here? You must have followed me," accused Avery who knows how many times. Ever since the man sat next to her, Avery had said the accusation so many times that Michiel felt tired of hearing it.

"I don't know, my assistant ordered it. Besides, I don't know if you also use this plane," replied Michiel lightly. Not long after, a flight attendant came to hand over Michiel's order, smiling sweetly at Michiel, which Michiel also replied with a sweet smile.

"You player!"

Michiel gave his smile long enough for the flight attendants to disappear from the hallway of their aircraft cabin.

"Are you jealous? You can get my smile as much as you want, I'll give it away for free."

Avery gave a face of disgust when Michiel smiled very seductively in front of her. The woman then grabbed the glass of milk offered by Michiel and turned back to face the window.

"Have you told Andrew you're going home?"

"I want to surprise him. So I didn't tell him if I came home today."

"Ohh ... okay."

Avery heard a strange tone emitted by Michiel. Suspiciously, the woman turned to face the man, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Maybe you already told him ..."

"Actually I sent our picture to Andrew, you want to see?"

Michiel shows his cellphone screen which contains a portrait of herself facing the window and also a photo of the man who is showing his flat face which looks charming.

"Aaargghhh!!! You stupid! You are the most annoying man Michiel! Go away from me!" Avery angered as she pushed Michiel's shoulder hard so that Michiel was pushed back a little. The man seemed silent in the face of Avery's anger as he looked at the woman's face from the side.

"When are you going to be gentle with me, Ave?"

-00-

The fallen leaves look so beautiful in front of the spacious courtyard of the Thompson family's mansion. Andrew lowered his windshield a little while staring at the strands of yellow leaves that fell freely from the big trees that grew around his grandfather's house. It didn't feel like he had been in Columbia for more than three weeks. Taking care of his sick grandfather and also the main company owned by the Thompson family. Sometimes he felt sorry for and missed Avery. His wife must be annoyed that he always leaves her on business, but luckily he has a younger brother who keeps her safe in Chicago, so he could handling his work here. He believed that Michiel could look after Avery for him until he returned later from Columbia.

"Good evening, sir."

Andrew returned the respectful bow of one of the butlers who opened the car door for him. The middle-aged man silently followed him behind his body. But suddenly Andrew turned around when he remembered something.

"Have Michiel and my wife arrived?"

"Ahh... they..."

"Michiel Thompson! Go away you damn it!"

Mr. Kim hung his lines in the air when they heard Avery's voice that was so distinctive from within the luxurious mansion. Spontaneously he raised his eyebrows as he shrugged his shoulders lightly at Kim Jimin, the butler at his grandfather's mansion.

"From now on you have to get used to the noise, Kim," said Andrew lightly, patting Mr. Kim's shoulder. After that he immediately entered the mansion to meet his beloved brother and wife whom he missed so much.

"Andrew!" Avery jumped into Andrew's arms and immediately hugged him tightly. Andrew also returned Avery's hug no less tightly, kissing the top of Avery's head several times.

"Drew... I miss you," whimpered spoiled Avery. From a distance Michiel just watched it nonchalantly as he walked closer to Andrew. Things he never liked when Avery was around his brother.

"Hi Drew. It's good to see you again." Michiel gave a brief greeting to Andrew and they then hugged each other after previously Michiel pulled Avery's body forcibly attached to Andrew.

"Finally you arrived safely. Have you seen Grandpa's condition?" Andrew asked Michiel as he sat himself on the velvet sofa in the living room.

"I just came. Isn't grandfather bothered by your wife's noisy screams?" quipped Michiel while glancing at Avery with a sneer.

Avery met Michiel's annoying gaze with a fierce gaze as she folded her arms across her chest. It's all that guy's fault. If he had not kissed her in front of the maids and embraced her waist like lovers, she would not have screamed at him. She did not want the maids to misunderstand and think they were lovers. In addition, she also wanted to protect Andrew's feelings.

Sometimes she was afraid that Andrew would be angry with her because of Michiel's misdeeds such as kissing her, hugging her, poking her, or having other physical contact. But fortunately so far Andrew has never had a problem. In fact, the man once told her that it was better for Michiel to touch her than other men. She don't know what the man's heart was made of, but he was very patient in dealing with Michiel. Unlike her, who would always get angry every time she saw Michiel in front of her.

"Soon Grandpa will come down. Usually grandpa will join for dinner at the dinner table. Grandpa's condition is much better now." added Andrew providing information. Michiel nodded his head in understanding as he reached for his cellphone to check important emails that might have sent his cellphone.

"Grandpa..."

Suddenly Avery exclaimed loudly as she ran up the steps to get to Edward's grandpa who was preparing to go downstairs. The man in his late eighty looks so fresh in his home clothes. When he saw Avery, the man immediately smiled sweetly as he spread his arms wide to welcome his granddaughter-in-law's embrace.

"Oh my God... I couldn't believe you were coming, Ave. Long time no see."

Grandpa Edward hugged Avery tightly and patted her several times. Not long after that, Michiel appeared behind Avery's body while giving a strange smile when he met his grandfather.

"Grandpa... How are you?"

"You, you bastard grandson."

Grandpa Edward hit Michiel hard on the head and made Michiel groan in pain while hiding behind Avery's body so as not to get a painful blow from his fierce grandfather.

"Grandpa, why did you hit me?" whined Michiel.

Avery, who is uncomfortable with Michiel's presence behind her, tries to drive Michiel away from her so that Edward's grandpa can hit him freely.

"You never visited your old grandpa. Whatever you do in Chicago. You should take care of grandpa, not be busy playing around out there. Instead, you delegate all your duties to Andrew. From now on you don't have to go back to Chicago, your job is to take care of all the Thompson family assets here."

"Poor you!"

Avery whispered viciously next to Michiel as she stomped on the man's feet. It felt great to see him looking helpless under Edward's grandpa's anger.

"I can't, grandpa, I have a company I have to manage in Chicago." said Michiel pitifully, but Avery quickly denied it.

"He is Lie! Michiel is busy teased beautiful models, he's even been dating four models in one week."

"Is it true? Then you have to stay in Columbia, you can't go back to Chicago."

Michiel gave a sharp gaze while giving the threat implied in his sharp eyes. In his head he had plans to avenge Avery's actions today for making him the target of his grandfather's anger. And the worst thing is that he may indeed be arrested in Columbia because he does have to run the family company in Columbia.

"Grandpa time for dinner, let's chat in the dining room."

Andrew arrives and mediates the small commotion between Avery and Michiel. During his time in Chicago he was so fed up with all the ridiculous arguments that had happened between them that he was never bothered by it again. In fact, sometimes he felt funny when he saw Michiel's ridiculous behavior when arguing with his wife.

"Finally this house feels alive again... Hasn't it been a long time since we got together like this?" said Edward opening the conversation when they were all gathered at the dinner table for dinner together.

Avery, who had previously been helping Andrew to take food, turned to Edward with a regretful look.

"I'm sorry grandpa, I rarely visit grandpa in Columbia. My job in Chicago is very busy."

"You shouldn't have to work, isn't Andrew already fulfilling all your needs, why do you have to work? You should have prepared yourself for the pregnancy program."

"Cough"

Michiel was pounding his chest rapidly when he felt the tightness in his chest from choking on the water he was drinking. Instantly everyone at the dining table gave Michiel a strange look with frowns on their faces. But Andrew, who felt sorry for Michiel's situation, immediately approached his little brother and gave him several pats on his back.

"Thanks, Drew."

"Be careful when you drink, you can die when you choke."

"Yes, you are so sloppy, Mic. You should immediately look for a future wife so that someone will pay attention to you and take care of you. Look at Andrew, he's married to Avery and is living happily, you should imitate your brother too." Edward advice is to which Michiel replies with an irritated chuckle.

Since a long time ago, the topic his grandfather had always discussed was about wife, so he felt disgusted by it. For now he feels he does not need a wife. He was enjoying his good life too much when he could flirt with Avery, and if he had a wife, he wasn't sure he could flirt with Avery too easily. Besides that he actually had more feelings for Avery.

"Grandpa, why do you always discuss wife matters, I still like my single life. Having a wife will only complicate my life," said Michiel huffily.

Edward who was next to him immediately hit Michiel's head again because of his beloved grandson's disrespectful attitude.

"You, always deny everything Grandpa said. You are grandpa's only grandson, you should get married soon and give grandpa grandchildren before grandpa died. If your mother were still there, she would have wanted the same thing as grandpa," said Edward at length.

Michiel, who seemed lazy to listen to his boring grandpa's advice, chose to eat his meal in a very bad mood.

"Looks like this year Andrew and I will start the baby program, please pray for us grandpa," said Avery sounding sweet. Edward smiled happily as he stroked the top of Avery's head fondly.

"That's great news. You have been married for a long time and it is time for you to have children. Grandpa believed that Andrew could be a great father and a reliable husband. It's not like Michiel who is just busy playing out there."

"Grandpa... can you stop commenting on me? I will definitely get married when I find the right woman. Besides, now I already have a woman I like," said Michiel huffily.

Keep comparing with Andrew since earlier made Michiel's ears feel hot. They all didn't know how he really felt. Only his mother knows who the woman he really loves. But unfortunately his mother had passed away because of the asthma he had suffered from since he was young.

"Then introduce her to grandpa. Grandpa wants to know how you like it. Maybe you're just looking for a flirtatious woman who can only waste your money."

Avery looked so satisfied as she glanced at Michiel's witty lyrics. She never once felt this happy because she finally found the right person to conquer Michiel. Maybe she really should be around Edward so that Michiel can't bother her like in Chicago.

"We're finished, we will go upstairs to rest."

Andrew, who had been silent, started to get up from his seat and took Avery up to their room. Seeing the two of them who were about to leave the dining table, Edward just nodded without giving any comment. It was fitting for Andrew to have some time with his wife after more than a few weeks the man had not seen her because he had to handle all company affairs in Columbia.

"When will you follow your brother? Having the perfect wife and family. You are grandpa's only grandson, grandpa wants to see you happy with the woman you chooses before grandpa leaves this world. "

"Why does grandpa keep saying that. Grandpa is not going anywhere. One day grandpa will surely see me walking on the altar with my future wife. So grandpa doesn't need to think all kinds of things."

"But when?" asked Edward chasing.

Michiel began to feel the unclothed atmosphere of his grandpa. Their conversation tonight will definitely be long, seeing how excited the grandpa is when discussing his future plans.

"Later when I really find the right woman. Now I just want to grow my agency company in Chicago. I can't share my concern with family matters yet. "

"Leave your agency in Chicago," said the Edward firmly.

Michiel endured any emotional turmoil that had gathered at the crown of his head by clenching his fists under the table. His grandpa had always forbidden him to start his own company. Even if it weren't for Avery, he wouldn't have bothered coming to Columbia because surely his grandpa would have forbidden him to come back to Chicago.

"You should take over the corporate in Columbia because all of the Thompson family assets will be yours. You are the true heir of the Thompson family. The Thompsons' blood only flows in you, not Andrew. Andrew is the child your mother adopted from the orphanage, so you should take that responsibility and not leave it to Andrew."

"Grandpa shouldn't have said that. Andrew would be offended if he heard that." warned Michiel, glancing at the door to Andrew's room which was closed tightly. Luckily the man was now comfortable with Avery in his room. But, what's up with his heart now?

"Grandpa wouldn't have said this if you had done all your work and didn't leave it to Andrew. If you are not selfish like this, he will definitely live happily with his wife."

Michiel closed his eyes for a moment to hold back all the anger that wanted to gush out. He didn't want to make his grandfather sick. Edward was the only family he had apart from Avery and Andrew. He did not want to feel remorse like he used to when his mother died. Really at that time he was completely devastated because he was abandoned by two women at once.

"We'll continue our conversation tomorrow morning. I'm tired and want to rest now."

Without waiting for an answer from his grandfather, Michiel just got up from his seat. Even though he knew his actions were very disrespectful, it was better than exploding his anger in front of his frail grandfather. He will not repeat the same mistakes in the past.

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