The woman pulled back, still staring at him with an adoring expression. “I hope you have been good, right? You have been well?”
He nodded, his lips curling into a small grin. “Of course, Mom. I am good as always.” He confirmed, earning a nod from her. Once done with that, he turned towards me, pulling me closer to him by our intertwined hands as he stared at me with so much adoration I could not help but believe he truly is a good actor, for even I nearly fell for the look, before he looked at his mother again. “Mom, this is my girl, Isabella.” He then turned to me, “Isabella, this is my mother, Gloria Kingston.”
So I was right, she is indeed his mother. My own lips slanted into a small smile, the best I could muster in my nervous state as I extended my hand out, “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kinsgton.” I acknowledged, the hand shaking an awkward personality work trait that emerged out of my nervousness. “I am Isabella.” I internally cringed the moment I said that, imagining how stupid I must look in front of her with my hand out like that and with me introducing myself like that.
I had practiced what I would say and how I will introduce and present myself to them the whole day, even when I was getting ready, I practiced the words I would say, what would seem perfectly casual and not awkward. Yet, the moment I stand there, all those practices went down the drain and so did my well planned words.
I was taken by surprise though when Gloria stared at my extended hand, before she suddenly chuckled. “Nonsense.” She pushed the hand away, and my heart got caught in my throat, at the fear of something going wrong. But then she opened her arms, and pulled me into her warm embrace, her motherly scent of vanilla and a touch of lavender filling my senses, calming my nerves. “Just call me Gloria, okay?” She whispered, her tone warm and welcoming.
My eyes dilated in surprise, and out of question, I found myself looking in Christian’s direction with questioning eyes, but he only gave me a comforting smile and a nod that showed it that it is okay, and that my worries and perhaps, baseless.
I do not know why, but I took his words for it, and embraced Gloria back with my one free hand since Christian will not let go of the other. “Alright, Gloria.” I whispered, and when she pulled back, she sported a grin that showed she was satisfied by my words.
But our little moment was interrupted by a familiar voice I have heard before. “Wait, Isabella is here? Christian’s Isabella?” That voice, I instantly recognized the owner of the voice, and my thoughts proved to be correct when she suddenly made an appearance from the room adjoining that of the living room, and the moment her eyes met mine, they sparked up. “It is Christian’s Isabella!” Grace Kingston exclaimed, sporting a wide grin.
“Wait, his Isabella really showed up?” This time around, the voice is that which I do not recognize, and I understood why when a man showed up, following behind Grace Kingston, a blonde this time around, looking to be around Christian’s age or maybe a few years older. When his gaze fell on me, he exchanged a knowingly look with Grace, before he smiled as well. “She did show, finally.”
“I know right.” Grace’s excitement was impossible to miss, and I will be lying I said I am not lost on this entire thing. What is this about Christian’s Isabella? Did they know me? What is all this about? Am I missing something here?
Amidst my confused state, the two closed the distance between us, coming to stand in front of us. Grace was the first one to speak, extending her hand out, “Hi, I am Grace. We met at my gallery’s auction, remember?”
My own lips slanted into a small smile as I took her hand, giving it a small shake. “Yes, I remember, of course. How can I forget when someone,” I stressed the word, as I looked up and glared at Christian who held up an innocent look, I scoffed, then stared at Grace again, finishing my sentence. “ended up buying the painting I wanted?” We both chuckled at that, and when it died down, I added. “No but really, I love the Gallery. You are doing a great job with it.”
Grace grinned, the pride at being complimented oozing out and I do not blame her, she worked for it and earned the accolade. “Thank you.” She then placed a hand on the arm of the man beside her, “Isabella, this is my husband, Louis Monet. And Louis, of course, Isabella.”
Louis kindly extended his hand out for a hand shake, which I accepted easily because in no way does he give off red flags in any way. “Nice to meet you, Isabella.” His tone was warm, and polite as he pulled back from the handshake, “Finally, someone will shut up and we can rest peacefully.” He threw a look at Christian, his light joke earning a chuckle out of everyone except Christian.
“Yeah, yeah. You are so funny.” Christian said dryly, not finding this amusing in any way. Then he looked around, as if looking for someone. “Now where is my little angelic princess that just happens to be borne of you two devil’s spawn?”
Just then, before anyone else could speak further, cute little voice came, followed by a little girl that came running into Christian’s arms. “UNCLE CHRISSY!” She called out.
For the first time since we stepped foot in the house, Christian released my hand as he leaned down to pick her up into his arms, “My Allie.” He spun her around, earning chuckles from the little girl. When it died down, she placed both her hands on his cheeks, then offered him a cheeky grin.
“I missed you, Uncle Chrissy.”
He grinned back, the widest I have ever seen from him. “I missed you too, my little Allie.” He leaned down and blew a raspberry on her cheeks, earning giggles from her. Then, he kissed her cheeks, and pulled back. “Allie, I want you to meet someone.” He turned to us, so they were facing me to be specific. “Love, this is my niece-unfortunately borne to these two knuckleheads.” He sported a frown, which disappeared when he continued. “Allison, and my Allie, this is my wife, Isabella.”
I threw him a pointed at him introducing me as his wife just like that when we have not even broken the news to them yet, but shook my head and waved at the little girl instead. “Hi Allie.” I softened my voice, “I am Isabella. But, you can call me Bella.”
Allie stared at me in shock for a few seconds, not saying anything. I threw a curious, worried look at Christian, wondering whether I have said something wrong. He seemed just as dumbfounded. However, a sudden, piercing scream came from her, startling all of us. It died down as soon as it came though, then her doe eyes widened in excitement, and her voice came. “You’re Uncle Chrissy’s Bella?”
Her question had them all chuckling except me filled with confusion.
“Uhm…”I threw a look at Christian, wondering what the hell that is about that everyone is saying the same thing.
But the culprit simply gave me a look that has my insides spinning before he nodded, and answered his niece’s question. “That is her, alright.” He then held my gaze, his voice dropping when he added. “That is my Isabella.”
Ladies and gentlemen, I died there.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.