Capítulo 95: Chapter 93
"Mom, Dad this is Alex, my wife." Keith said introducing his Omega wife to his parents.
"N-nice to meet you Sir, Ma'am." Alex said, greeting his in-laws. He contemplated whether he should hug them or shake their hand or something. Hugging them seems overly familiar and shaking their hand might get rejected as well, especially with the way Keith's mother is staring at him with that blank expression. In the end, he settled in bowing his head.
"It's nice to finally meet you Alex. Please make yourself at home." Lawrence said, giving Alex a reassuring smile. He glanced at his wife who remained quiet. "Why don't we sit down first and have some tea while the table is being set up for us. Alfred!" The Andersen patriarch called out to his trusted aide who efficiently prepared tea for the couple. Lawrence ushered his still silent wife towards the table.
Alex watched as his in-laws sat down and took a sip of their tea. Keith talked to his father about business while his mother remained silent. Alex wanted to talk to the older woman but doesn't know where to begin. She looks familiar but he cannot recall when or where he had met her. He wanted to get to know her, but she seemed distant and uninterested. He can feel her scrutinizing eyes though he cannot tell if there is an animosity behind those gazes. Well, he couldn't blame her if there is, after all he's a nobody who suddenly appeared in their world. He's a commoner defying the social norm and married the most sought-after bachelor in town. People say these things happened only in the movies but even those movies must have been based in some real stories like his and Keith.
"So, Alex, I heard from Keith that you're having your internship at our company. How is it going so far? What course are you taking up?" Lawrence asked Alex who was surprised that the attention suddenly turned to him.
"Ahmm, y-yes Sir. I-I'm taking up a Business Management course." Alex replied meekly.
"Hmmm, so once you're done you should be graduating soon."
"Y-yes Sir."
"That's good. So, what's your plan after graduation?" Lawrence further asked.
"I-I originally plan to... ahmm help manage our family business." Alex replied.
Lawrence smiled. "You're such a good son. By the way, what's your family business, if I may ask."
Alex wondered if Keith's father would mistakenly think he's related to some business acquaintance of his like what he sees on dramas and movies. Maybe he should have just answered him directly. "Ahmm it's just a small family restaurant Sir. My father is the chef, and my mother helps him manage it. I-it's small but it's been operating since I was a kid." Alex replied defensively but with a hint of pride on his parent's hard work.
Lawrence was taken aback; he doesn't mean anything with his questions, but it seemed he might have offended his son's wife. "It's not about how small or big a business is, I can tell your parents are hardworking people, enough to keep a business running for that long. It's an amazing feat and I'm sure your parents would be happy to know you are proud of their achievements." Lawrence sighed. "How I envy your parents. You're studying with the intention of helping them out and you're working hard to earn your degree. I wish my youngest son would be as hardworking as you. You're probably around the same age but he's still immature. Right honey?" Lawrence said, trying to urge his wife to talk to their son's wife. Kate has been silent and hasn't made any effort to join in on their conversation.
"Kiefer will graduate if you stop giving him too much freedom and kick his ass instead." Kate replied angrily.
"Common sweetheart please don't be mad. I'll make sure Kiefer will graduate and be a responsible adult." Lawrence replied, laughing a bit to lighten the mood.
"I'm not mad, rather I'm at the point where I'm losing patience and I'm starting to tell myself not to care anymore because no matter what I say you still have it your way." Kate replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Alex fidgets in his seat, he doesn't know if he should stop the couple from arguing because he felt like he somehow contributed to the situation turning out like this. He has never seen an Alpha couple fight before, his parents have different second genders and his father has always treated his mother gently and he never saw him raise his voice against her, so this type of situation is entirely new for him. He glanced at his husband, but Keith is drinking his tea looking unbothered and so is Alfred, thus he is at a loss at what he should do.
"Okay, I promise I will deal with Kiefer as soon as possible." Lawrence replied with a sigh as things are not going the way he wanted to.
Alex was so concerned about his in-laws that he didn't notice someone else had entered the room. He was startled when he heard an unfamiliar voice. He saw a grinning man walking towards them.
"No wonder no one welcomed me in. Everyone is here."
Kate scowled upon seeing her son, her displeasure is evident on her face.
"Mother, why the long face? Also, why am I hearing my name? Are you guys talking about me while I'm not around? Since when did you become a gossiper? That is not a nice Mother." Kiefer exclaimed. He approached Kate and gave her a kiss on her head despite her obvious annoyance.
"What gossip are you talking about? You ungrateful bastard. Do you think I have time for gossip when I have too many problems dealing with your disgraceful behavior?" Kate angrily replied, pinching her son's ears.
"Ouch! Mom! It hurts." Kiefer complained, clutching his ears which turned red.
"Oh please! Can you stop being loud and overly dramatic? Don't humiliate me in front of other people." Kate said, smirking at her son.
Alex flinched at his mother in law's words. He was reminded that he was not yet accepted as Keith's spouse.
Kiefer on the other hand, stopped whining and upon the mention of other people, his eyes landed on the only unfamiliar person inside the room. The way this person is sitting closely to his older brother only meant one thing, his mother is at it again, though he expected it already, given that his mom calls for a family dinner. However, he was expecting the Alpha girl from last weekend, as it seems his mother is overly fond of her, he thought she would want to give her another chance to win his older brother. Kiefer creased his brow in confusion. "Since when did his mother start introducing a male partner to his older brother and an Omega at that?"
Keith gently squeezed Alex's hands under the table, assuring him not to take his mother's words to heart. Alex nodded and tried to smile at his husband.
"Forgive my rudeness and the unsightly display of Andersen's familial love. I'm Kiefer, the youngest and most normal member of this household." Kiefer playfully extends his hand to Alex which he immediately retrieves when he notices his older brother's piercing glare.
"Normal? You mean the most troublesome member of the family." Alfred snicked silently but audible enough to be heard by everyone in the room.
"Alfred, I thought you're on my side?" Kiefer whined to the head butler who just shrugged at him. "I assure you I am telling the truth." He said looking at Alex with a flirtatious smile, momentarily forgetting his brother's glare. "If my brother rejects you I am very much available." Kiefer said, still thinking Alex is one of those potential brides for his brother.
"That's enough!" Lawrence said, his voice full of authority. Kiefer flinched at his father's words. "Stop flirting with your brother's wife."
"Wife?!"
Kiefer could not believe what his father said that he had to repeat it again, the look on his brother's face confirmed it. "Wow! Mother, you finally did it! I can't believe you were able to find someone my brother would approve of!" Kiefer was flabbergasted with the news, he could not fathom the idea that his brother finally gave in to their mother's incessant meddling.
He knew that there were numerous Alpha women their mother had introduced to his older brother. Gossip magazines are always following the blind dates wondering if the latest woman will be the one. Who would have thought that all it takes for his brother to finally agree is an Omega and a man at that.
But why doesn't their mother look happy with the news? She should be happy Keith finally ties the knot though if his older brother got married they should know about it. Does that mean the Omega is not someone their mother introduced to his older brother? Was that the reason Mom doesn't look pleased with the news? There's too many questions in his mind but he is afraid to ask for now as he only now feels the tension in the air.
"Alfred, what's taking so long? They only need to set the table and they are taking forever. Never mind, I'll just do it myself." Kate irritatedly said to Alfred, waving her hand in annoyance.
At that moment, Alex gasped! Realization hit him upon seeing his mother in law's hands. "How could I forget about it!" he suddenly blurted out which made everyone inside the room look at him bewilderedly.
"Alex are you okay?" Keith asked worriedly.
"Ahh, no! I'm okay! It's just that I've been racking my brains why your mom looks familiar to me." Alex explained as five sets of eyes looked at him confused.
"Well our mother loves to go to charity events, I'm sure you've seen her in some magazine."
Alex shaked his head at Keith. "No, that's what I initially thought as well. However, I feel like I.. ahm met her before and I.. just realized it when I saw your mom's bracelet."
"What about my bracelet?" Kate asked, finally talking to Alex for the first time.
"Ahmm.. I'm not sure if you remember Ma'am, we met about a month ago at a department store."
Kate just stared at him blankly, no sign of recognition on her end.
"Department store? Really mom? You still go shopping there? I thought you love going to high end shops?" Keifer asked but he immediately asked further when his mother glared at him. Kate then turned to Alex, probing him to continue.
"This is really embarrassing. I was a bit absent minded that time and ahmm I ahh.. I bumped to you Mrs. Andersen. I sincerely apologize." Alex said, bowing his head.
"That's fine." Kate said, somehow relieved. She got worried when Alex mentioned her bracelet.
"But I'm glad you got your bracelet back, I was a bit worried because it looks expensive but I really have to go at that time so I wasn't able to do it myself."
"Wait what? What are you blabbering about?" Kate raised her voice, she has a nagging feeling in her head that she cannot shake.
"Don't shout at my wife, mother!" Keith said, the threat in his voice is evident. As if he is ready to fight anyone who would dare to come at his wife.
"Stand down Keith! You are still talking to your mother, be respectful. Besides, your mother doesn't mean any harm." Lawrence, then turn to Alex. "Can you continue?" He asked worriedly while looking at his wife.
Alex nodded, not sure why they are still talking about the incident. "I… I was with my mother and I was a bit in a rush to go back to her because I'm worried about leaving her alone for so long."
"I'm not asking about that." Kate said firmly, though this time in a much lower tone. "Repeat that part about my bracelet."
"Ohhh! After we.. I mean after I bumped into you Ma'am you, I'm really sorry about that." Alex apologized again but seeing Kate's face, he knew she's not after his apology so he continued his recollection of that day. "I guess because of our collision, your bracelet fell off, it's a bit shiny so it was easy for me to spot it. I followed you to return it but you got inside the fitting room and I was really in a hurry so I asked the sales lady to return it to you. Not that I don't trust her but the bracelet looks really expensive so I was hesitant at first and I was really glad you got it back."
******
Alex could feel the tension in the air and the lavish food in front of him is not helping at all. Since his morning sickness lessened and his appetite doubled up, he couldn't help but salivate at the spread before him. It seems like Bean knows that Grandma prepared the food and it's making the baby excited which in turn is getting channeled to him. He just hoped his stomach won't grumble so loud because that would be extremely embarrassing. He has done enough blunder for tonight. Keith's mother's impression of him is probably at its low and he shouldn't add his hunger to the list.
Keith's family is probably disappointed in him, he may be an Omega but he is still a man. A man bumping into a woman is not a good thing.
Keith's brother is listless, his father who was very accomodating to him earlier suddenly had a grim expression when he told them about the incident a month ago. Lastly, Keith's mom looks mad and she hasn't said a word since they left the drawing room.
Alex knew he should be repenting at this moment but what can he do, the food is making him drool. It's so good he couldn't help himself but eat.
"Is the food to your liking Young Master Alex?" Alfred asked, breaking the silence. Lawrence gave him an appreciative look.
"My wife cooks most of it, eat to your heart's content Alex." Lawrence said. "Right honey?" Lawrence gave Kate a look that says "let's talk about it later." He knew there's a lot of things going on in her mind right now.
"Yes."
********
Dinner didn't last long as it seemed most of them had lost their appetite. Alex was not surprised when his mother in law excused herself and retired for the night. Keifer slipped out before anyone would notice.
"Would you like some more tea?" Alfred asked.
"No, I'm good. Thank you." Alex smiled at the older man. He is left with him while Keith is talking to his father.
"You look exhausted, would you like to rest first in the Young Master's room while you wait?"
"No, I'm good. I think Keith will be back soon."
Alfred nodded in understanding.
Few minutes later, Keith came out with his father. It was the two old men who sent them off.
Alex left his in-laws house with the thought he wasn't liked and despite his mind conditioning that it doesn't matter. He left still feeling bad about it.
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