“It’s nothing. Are you okay, Samuel?” Laura asked, still looking perplexed.
“I’m perfectly fine. What could possibly be wrong? Stop worrying so much. And when you have a moment, please make sure Tina learns some proper manners. I don’t want her to cause a scene at her wedding,” Samuel remarked, the last part slipping out with an edge of frustration.
Tina was left speechless, her mind racing.
*Why is it always me?* she thought, irritated.
As the drizzle intensified, turning into a steady downpour, Whitney found herself without an umbrella, her bangs quickly becoming drenched.
Desperate to shield herself, she lifted her handbag over her head, trying to create some semblance of protection from the relentless rain.
Amidst the cascading droplets, a figure clad in black emerged, gradually becoming more defined as he approached.
His tailored black suit glimmered in the misty rain, a sharp contrast to the gray surroundings.
Long, elegant fingers gripped the umbrella handle, and as the rain fell like a curtain around him, his face became visible-chiseled and cold, with long lashes that accentuated his aloof demeanor.
Yet, when his icy gaze met Whitney’s, it softened, transforming into something warm and tender.
With a gentle motion, he raised the umbrella over her, providing shelter from the downpour.
“Sorry for being late; my flight got delayed,” Klein said softly, his voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos of the rain.
Whitney blinked, her long lashes fluttering in surprise. “How did you know I’d be here?” she asked, curiosity piquing her interest.
Klein chuckled lightly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Before we tie the knot, I figured it was only right to pay my respects to your grandmother first. Don’t you think?”
He handed the umbrella to her, saying, “Hold this for me. I’m going to pay my respects to your grandmother now.”
Whitney watched as Klein turned his back to her, his silhouette framed by the falling rain. He murmured something softly, bowing deeply before her grandmother’s photo engraved on the gravestone, a gesture of genuine respect.
He straightened up after a moment and reclaimed the umbrella from her grasp. “Let’s go. We should head down the hill,” he said, his voice steady.
Whitney looked up at him, her brow furrowing with curiosity. “Were you saying something to my grandma just now?” she inquired.
Klein chuckled, leaning closer. “I was just asking her if she’d give me her blessing to marry her beloved granddaughter,” he replied, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Whitney raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “And she actually answered you?”
“She did. Grandma said we should get married tomorrow,” Klein responded, his grin widening.
Whitney’s lips twitched as she muttered under her breath, “Like you didn’t pick the date yourself. Now it’s Grandma’s idea?”
Klein leaned in, his ear close to her lips, a teasing smile dancing across his face. “Hmm? What did you just say?”
“Nothing. Tomorrow it is, then. My dad and everyone else are still waiting for me at the foot of the hill. Are we heading down together or splitting up?” Whitney asked, her tone shifting to practicality.
“I need to swing by Moore Manor to grab my family papers,” Klein replied, his expression playful.
He shot her a teasing grin, adding, “But honestly, no need for any family papers to get married now. They just changed the policy yesterday.”
“Oh,” Whitney said, a hint of realization dawning on her.
She had almost forgotten about that significant change.
“Maybe you should wait here for a bit, and I’ll head down first?” Whitney suggested, her cheeks warming with a hint of shyness.
It felt as if they were secret lovers, sneaking around in the rain.
“Come on! I just got off the plane and rushed over to visit your grandma, and you won’t even let me show up as your boyfriend?” Klein feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart.
Whitney bit her lip, a conflicted look crossing her face. “We agreed to keep things private for now.”
She wanted to be the one to decide when they would go public.
Klein chuckled, leaning in closer, his cheek almost brushing against hers. “How about a little consolation prize?” he suggested, mischief sparkling in his eyes.
Whitney blushed, her curiosity piqued. “What kind of prize do you want?” she asked, her heart racing.
Klein’s smile deepened, and he replied, “Take a wild guess.”
She knew exactly what he was hinting at, but she hadn’t anticipated Klein to reveal this playful, bad-boy side of himself.
Not wanting to overthink it, Whitney closed her eyes, her lashes trembling as she leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek.
But just as she reached him, Klein slyly tilted his head, capturing her lips with his own in a swift, unexpected motion.
The sudden warmth of his lips against hers sent a shockwave through Whitney, her eyes widening in flustered panic.
“Wow, you!” she gasped, her cheeks burning.
Klein pulled back just in the nick of time, tracing his lips with his fingers, a mischievous grin lighting up his face. “Thanks, that was the best consolation prize I could have asked for.”
With a huff, Whitney stormed off down the hill, clutching his black umbrella tightly, her cheeks puffed in annoyance.
Klein couldn’t help but smirk as he watched her retreat, still holding onto his umbrella. “Man, my girl is so cute,” he murmured to himself, excitement bubbling within him.
Tomorrow, he would finally step into a new chapter of his life as a married man.
At the foot of the hill, Whitney saw that Samuel and the others were still there, just as she expected.
“Dad, you guys go on ahead. I drove here myself, so we should go our separate ways,” Whitney said.
Samuel fixed his burning gaze on his daughter and said, “I think your grandma would be very happy to see you.”
“Yeah,” Whitney answered flatly.
Samuel didn’t miss the flush on Whitney’s cheeks. ‘Is it just because she rushed down the hill, or is there something else going on?’ he wondered.
He was dying to ask, but with his wife and Tina right there, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“Are you heading back to Moore Manor later?” Samuel suggested.
“Yeah,” Whitney replied.
Samuel nodded and said, “Just hang around for a while before you head out. I’ll be back after I take Laura home.”
Tina’s lips moved, but she didn’t say anything. She was really pissed off by what her father just said.
‘It’s like he’s treating Mom and me like outsiders, and he and Whitney are the real family!’ Tina fumed.
Tina glared at Whitney, her frustration barely contained.
Whitney scoffed. “Alright. Dad, I’m heading out now.” she said.
“Okay, drive safe,” Samuel said, putting on his best fatherly act.
‘What a joke,’ Whitney thought to herself, unable to take his fatherly act seriously,
*****
When Whitney got back to Moore Manor, she headed straight to her grandmother’s portrait.
April saw Whitney, realizing they’d just come back from visiting the late Madam Moore. She greeted Whitney warmly, “Oh, Whit, you’re back!”
“April, I’m kinda hungry. Do we have anything to eat?” Whitney asked.”
“Of course! I made soup this morning, just in case you would be hungry when you got back. Let me serve you a bowl,” April replied.
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.