162. A Suitor
At The Olsens Mansion, the next morning…
Heidi groaned in her sleep, feeling the continuous tapping on her shoulder.
“Wake up, Heidi. Why are you still sleeping at this hour?”
“What’s it, Mum?” Heidi whined, burying her head in the pillow. Her mother peeled her off the bed, forcing her to sit down. “It’s already morning, are you so tired from work that you lost track of time?”
Regina raised an inquisitive brow, her signature interrogative gesture.
Heidi rubbed her eyes. “Oh, it’s morning?”
She wasn’t tired of course, but her body felt sore all over. She got down the bed and trudged towards the bathroom, covering her mouth while yawning.
Her mother pulled her back. “Heidi…” she said, checking her out from head to toe. “Something about you has changed.”
“Ah-what?” The sleep went away in an instant, hearing her mother’s words. Heidi avoided her mother’s gaze, replying, “Why not? Have you forgotten I’ve been away for three years, Mum?”
With that vague reply, Heidi rushed inside the bathroom.
“Well, hurry up! Your grandfather won’t eat until you join us for breakfast! And we have an important guest!”
Standing under the shower, Heidi’s mind wasn’t on her mother’s words, rather, her thoughts were occupied by the event that unfolded last night.
Traces of his kiss lingered on her lips. His cold eyes pinning her down while he uttered those possessive words flashed in her vision.
‘Damn! Lucas Harrison!’
Heidi snapped her eyes open, gasping at those crazy thoughts.
Her heart racing uncomfortably, she hastily got ready for the day and skipped down the stairs.
“Which family did you say you are from, Young Man?” That was her grandfather’s voice, brimming with delight.
“Hehe, Dad, I don’t know if you still remember. The Andersons have long left this city anyway, but he’s that little boy who would sometimes escort his sister here to see Heidi.”
Heidi’s heart began drowning like a sinking ship. Her footsteps slowed down, and she strained her ears, listening to the conversation going on in the dining room.
“Mrs. Olsen is right. I was that boy, Grandpa,” Steve’s voice sounded.
“Hey, stop calling me so formally, just call me Mum.”
Heidi appeared in the dining room, looking exasperated already.
Everyone turned around to look at her and Steve flashed her a bright smile. ”
Good morning, Heidi.” Her eyes fell on him after greeting everyone. “Uhm, well, good morning.” Lost at what to say, Heidi returned his smile with a stiff one from her.
“Surprised to see me, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, you’re full of surprises.”
Coincidentally, the only empty chair was the chair beside him.
Heidi’s cheeks heated up in embarrassment, throwing her mother a look filled with many questions.
Her mother said scornfully, “Yeah, I invited him, since you promised to bring him here but you didn’t.”
“Mrs. Olsen – I mean Mum met me last night. She asked me to come this morning,” Steve added, elaborating on her mother’s statement.
“Thank goodness, the servants saw him drop you off. Heidi, were you never planning to introduce him to us?” This time, it was Heidi’s father that spoke.
“What’s going on, Heidi?” Grandpa Jeffery said. “You have a suitor already and you refused to let us know?”
Heidi felt bombarded from all sides, her muscles tensing up.
Her eyes went to Steve who gave her nothing but a smile, then her eyes darted across everyone on the table. ” Guys-”
“It’s alright.” Grandpa Jeffery stopped her. “The food is turning cold, let’s all start eating. We have been waiting for you, by the way.”
Heidi threw another questioning glance at Steve. He gave her a reassuring look, mouthing ‘relax’
But what was there to relax about?
She never planned to introduce Steve to her family.
Urgh! Her Mum.
She should have known that she would go to such a great length as to personally invite Steve. Now she regretted letting him drop her off last night.
If she hadn’t heard his explanation, she would have thought Steve spent the night at the mansion.
Harold Olsen’s family had been quiet all along until Lilian spoke up.
“You’re ridiculously a lucky girl, Heidi,” she said, her tone sarcastic. ” You found a suitor so fast, why don’t you marry him as soon as possible so you can pack and leave?”
“That’s right, Heidi,” Aiden butted him. “This Dude seems well off. You won’t keep on being greedy by remaining here, right? I’m sure he’ll cover all your expenses for decades.”
