Krystle pursed her lips looking at her father. She was explaining to them about Linus's new project but was cut off and then he was humiliating Linus. It was the first time she was seeing her father insulting a person because of their work. She had expected them to support her and Linus.
Linus tried to intervene and talk calmly, "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, please calm down. Take a seat, we will talk." He stayed composed, trying to cool the air and have a good conversation.
But Father Lewis looked at him accusingly as if Linus should have never crossed paths with his daughter. Pointing his fingers at Linus, "I am not talking with you." It came like a warning to make him silent.
Linus clenched his fist. He had heard about the Lewis family, never anything wrong about them. Even Krystle always spoke with them, like conversing with best friends. This was going completely out of control.
If they don't let them speak, how are they going to assure them?
Everyone felt the strong presence of somebody and turned to the entrance of the living hall. Alvin was standing with a chilly gaze. The four went blank for a moment.
Although Alvin doesn't voice it, Linus knew Alvin loves him and he wouldn't just stand and see people looking down on him. "Bro, I will manage." It was a time to calmly handle and Alvin couldn't do that with anybody but Anya.
Alvin glanced at Linus and stopped his eyes on Master Lewis. He had expected Krystle's parents to reject Linus. But hearing it first hand and seeing them shouting at Linus, Alvin was undoubtedly vexed.
He knew money matters. But he was in his current position after hard work for five years. So money could be earned and he wouldn't let them look down on Linus.
His intimidating voice knocked their ears, "I would like to see how prestigious people behave with a few hotels." He smirked dangerously.
Things would go out of hand if both offend each other. Linus anxiously turned to Krystle's parents. Their eyes widened and their faces turned dark. Linus's eyes shifted to Krystle who got angry for looking down on her parents, "Alvin Matthews, how dare you…"
Linus quickly held her from launching on Alvin. Krystle wasn't in a state to see any of them get insulted so he could understand her situation. He interrupted in a loud but requesting voice, "Could we talk, please?"
He prayed for Anya to appear. Only she could handle Alvin and let him take care of the issue at hand.
"But he…" Krystle met Alvin's deadly sharp gaze and the rest of the words went down her throat. Looking at Linus, she discerned Alvin was trying to help Linus but his way was infuriating.
She faced her parents who had ugly frowns. "Dad, Mom, hear me out first…"
"You listen to me." Father Lewis snapped at Krystle, "You can't live with his goodness."
He had donated money to Linus's NGO and seen his work. Linus was a hard-working, dedicated man. But all he wanted was a comfortable life for his daughter. Was it wrong?
"Are you going to look after him and his family for your whole life?" He was a father who looked at his daughter as a delicate doll, forgetting one day she will get married and take care of her family just like his wife.
Krystle's eyes flashed with disappointment. She had known her parents as the most understanding and cool ones.
She could ignore the strangers and passersby commenting on them. She was annoyed that her parents were also prioritizing money over everything.
What about her likes? Her feelings? Don't they have any value?
Instead of calmly responding, she retorted in anger, "What's wrong with that? If mom could do that, why can't a man do the same?"
Linus: "..."
He clenched his teeth. He could guess she intended to defend him but her words were disrespectful to her mother and him.
Anya, who had arrived, rushed inside, "Krystie…" She quickly blocked Krystle's eyes on her parents to stop her from continuing.
Before Father or mother Lewis could interfere, Krystle's anger was replaced with a sense of defeat, and complained to Anya, "Annie, look. My parents are no different from hypocritical parents of other families." It was making her disappointed and upset but she was trying hard to mask with anger.
Anya rubbed her arms, "Shhh…"
Krystle's mother pointed her shaking finger at Krystle, unable to believe her daughter called them hypocrites when they were worried about her future. She blamed her husband, "Look, I told you to stop spoiling her. You never listened to me. Now see, she is going against us for a man who came to her life a few days ago." Tears rolled down her cheek, without knowing if she should have been a strict parent while bringing up her daughter.
Everyone: "…"
Anya stopped Krystle from saying anything. Anya knew Krystle was also feeling bad for shouting at her parents but she would rather show herself as strong and independent instead of sad and helpless.
Anya has seen quite a few kinds of parents nowadays. Janet abandoned her little son, Casper who just wants to control his sons. Although her parents were the best in her view, Krystle's parents weren't bad. They prioritized Krystle's happiness but their view of happiness was quite different from what Krystle wished for.
"Krystie, if parents are angry, we should persuade them. They wish for our well-being." Anya tried to calm down her friend.
She glanced at Linus. Her friend's livid words meant she was going to have a house-husband aka boyfriend. Society looks at him as a kept man. Considering Linus's personality, it definitely caused harm.
Anya advised her friend, "And please choose your words wisely. You don't want to hurt any of them. Do you?" She pointed at Linus who was in a foul mood.
Krystle pursed her lips and glanced at Linus. She grumbled to Anya while tugging Linus's jacket, "I don't want to pressure him when he just started his company."
The pressure of earning money wasn't good for a start-up and relationship. Linus aimed to help more and more people. So she didn't want to make it as earning money or suffocate him to be with her.
Father Lewis, who was a bit calm by Anya's presence, looked at Krystle. Their daughter was careless, boisterous, loud, and a party animal. When did she become so sensible?
'And the company?' He didn't know anything about it. All he knew was Linus was dependent on his family or Alvin. They were also confused about how Alvin was Linus's brother.
In the meantime, Alvin admired his little Donut who controls every kind of situation. May it be violent or a family argument, she turns into a fierce kitten or an innocent kitten. Hearing Krystle, he scoffed in his mind. He calls her Loudmouth for a reason.
Linus sighed at his Hotheaded's words. She couldn't talk sweetly even though her intention was pure. Her temper always takes the upper hand. He held her hand that was tugging his jacket and made her sit.
Meanwhile, Anya turned to the Lewis couple. She knew relationships weren't a simple thing for families in a wealthy society. She requested on behalf of her friend, "Uncle, Aunt, please calm down. If you want to know anything, talk to Linus. I assure you that he will respond to your every question."
Glancing at Krystle, "And please listen to Krystle." It was important for them to know Krystle liked Linus, not for his looks or money but his personality.
To give them privacy, Anya was going toward Alvin who warned them, "I shouldn't hear your voice upstairs."
Everyone: "…"
Anya hid her smile pressing her lips. Alvin wanted them to talk instead of raising voices at his brother. Rather than saying it, he warned them to behave. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and took her upstairs.
Father and Mother Lewis were distracted. They both liked Anya. Excluding the part that she got pregnant out of wedlock, they treated Zane well. So seeing Anya close to a man, "They are?"
Linus responded, "They are in a relationship."
Although they liked Anya, seeing her choosing a well-settled man, they felt bitter in their mouths looking at Linus and Krystle.
Father Lewis's tone changed to grim when he questioned, "What company?"
Thus Linus and Krystle tried to calmly respond to every question. Krystle often got angry, but Linus took care of her. Since it was just a start-up and with a minimum profit plan, Father Lewis wasn't happy with it.
Whereas Mother Lewis was first to cool down seeing Krystle excited and happy whenever she spoke about Linus. It still worried her thinking how Krystle was going to manage after marriage with less income.
She worriedly asked, "What if it doesn't work?"
Krystle huffed at the question. Either they were negative or pressure Linus. She tried to liven up the air, "Rest assured, I will become a nanny to Annie's babies and extort money from her husband."
Other three: "…"
How was she still in the mood to crack a joke?
Linus told the backup plan, "I will help bro at his company." But he would still like to do something on his own.
Mother Lewis just nodded as Linus will get a good position in his brother's company.
Alvin had museums across the world. Father Lewis was sure Alvin would have other businesses too. But there was no company in Narnia, "Matthews?" He would prefer to be just an acquaintance of the Matthews family, nothing more.
Linus proudly responded, "Skylark"
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