Chapter 310 Gaining The Approval Of The Shaw Family
“I’m here, no matter what happens.” Detecting that I was worried, Michael held my hand tightly and looked at me tenderly.
I felt a lot more at ease after feeling the temperature coming from his palm and took a deep breath to calm down. I would have to meet Michael’s family sooner or later, anyway.
Michael led me through the long corridor while holding my hand, and we finally arrived at the living room.
An older man around seventy years old sat in the living room on a couch. Although his hair was gray, his agile and deep eyes seemed capable of reading a person’s thoughts.
His eyes went straight to me when Michael and I entered the living room. I felt inexplicably pressured once I noticed his gaze.
Rooted to the ground, I didn’t know what to do. I knew the identity of this old man as soon as I saw him even though Michael had not introduced him yet.
“Hello, Grandpa.” I finally remembered to greet the old man after hesitating and standing still for quite a while.
I worried that he would be difficult to get along with judging by his looks because his eyes made me a little uneasy, but soon after, I knew I was overthinking things.
“So this is my granddaughter-in-law. Come here and let me take a look at you.”
Stunned after hearing what he said, I wondered if there was something wrong with my hearing because he looked strict, yet his words felt kind.
I turned to Michael and saw him gesturing at me to go over to the old man with a smile.
Today was the first time I came to the Shaw residence. I looked away from Michael and walked toward his grandpa. At the same time, I saw Josephine watching me with a displeased look, and I knew that she was still angry with me.
I stopped and hesitated when I was close to the old man as I didn’t know what to do next.
“Your name is Anna Garcia, right?” Michael’s grandpa, Andy, took the lead and started a conversation. I guess he couldn’t help but show some kindness when he saw me standing there nervously.
“Yes, Grandpa.” I lowered my head and answered softly.
“Anna means one full of grace. It’s a good name.” The old man looked at me with a smile before taking my hand and letting me sit beside him.
Having him treating me so kindly, I was surprised and felt inexplicably happy. I could feel that he wasn’t ostracizing me and that he liked me quite a fair bit. I felt so much lighter because of this. After all, I didn’t want Michael’s family to hate me.
“Anna looks decent, Michael. You should treat her well and never hurt her after marriage, you hear me?” The old man patted my hand, looking pleased before turning to Michael and speaking with a hint of authority in his tone.
“I know. I’ll cherish her all my life.”
Michael was in a good mood when he saw that his grandpa was pleased with me. However, for some reason, what he said made me uncomfortable. Am I not thinking straight recently?
“Dad, you can’t possibly be satisfied with her as a granddaughter-in-law, right?” Josephine spoke while glancing at me coldly before turning to Andy.
“Anna is so much better than Emma. She looks pleasant and pleasing to the eyes; I like her.” The old man made no secret of his appreciation toward me.
I felt happy when hearing his praise and satisfied that I could gain the approval of someone in the Shaw family.
“Dad, you only like her because you don’t know what she has done yet!” Josephine looked at me again, and her expression turned colder.
I knew she didn’t want the old man to like me, so she deliberately targeted me. It made me feel nervous immediately.
Andy had a good first impression of me, but I was worried that her words would change that.
Michael’s expression was also faintly sullen at this time. He was pretty angry, seeing that his mother was targeting me.
“I’ve lived for a long time already, and you don’t think I know how to read people?” The old man snapped before she could continue. He also looked at her with dissatisfaction.
Josephine had always acted high and mighty, so she would dare to target me even in front of Michael. But the old man knew what to say, and he also used a fierce tone when he spoke. Josephine immediately stopped talking when she heard him and shot me a glare.
“Anna, you will soon become a member of our family. You can tell me if someone in this family makes things difficult for you—I will help you.” Andy retook my hand and spoke kindly.
This was the first time someone other than Michael defended me like this. My eyes reddened from all the overwhelming emotions. I didn’t know why but I felt the deep affection from Andy, the kind of affection elders gave to the younger generations.
This was the first time I met him, yet he made me experience familial affections. I was completely fond of the old man at that instant.
“Thank you, Grandpa,” I sniffed before smiling at him.
Michael just smiled slightly without saying anything when he saw my reaction.
I noticed a room not far away with its door open at this time. Inside the room was a middle-aged man practicing calligraphy, and his figure appeared very elegant. The man must be Michael’s father.
I stood up and went to the door of the study before offering my greeting. “Hello, Mr. Shaw. I am Anna Garcia.”
In my impression, people who liked calligraphy were often very scholarly and would be kind to others.
And as expected, Lincoln Shaw looked up and promptly smiled at me after hearing my greeting. “Oh, it’s you, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. To gain a hold of Michael’s heart is pretty remarkable.”
Michael’s father was like his grandpa; he talked more casually and was easier to get along with. I was once again relieved, seeing that he was not dissatisfied with me.
I smiled in reply, and Michael spoke at this time. “Dad, you continue your calligraphy practice. I’m going to stroll around with Anna.”
Although the other two members of the Shaw family were easy to get along with, Michael could sense that I was still feeling quite uneasy.
“Okay, go ahead. Tell your mom to ask the kitchen staff to prepare a sumptuous meal.”
Lincoln seemed to be absorbed in calligraphy. He resumed his practice, not knowing that his casual words just now warmed my heart.
Michael took me to the garden behind the mansion. It took us nearly half an hour to complete our tour around the Shaw residence. The garden was remarkably extensive. It even made me wonder if this garden of the Shaw family was bigger than the gardens of royal palaces.
“Your garden is so big.” I looked at the garden overflowing with bright flowers all around, and my mood turned brighter.
