Chapter 150: STUTTERED
The maid immediately nodded and called for the other ones to come over and help her out.
Monica linked her arm with Felix’s’ and they both walked inside the mansion. The Smith’s mansion walls were painted in gold, making it look like an ancient Egyptian palace. The enormous space and expensive-looking pieces of furniture fitted perfectly. Some other maids were stationed in the mansion by the butler to scrub everywhere clean.
"Good day, young miss", the butler greeted. "You arrived early. It’s not even lunchtime yet", the butler added before turning to Felix. "Good day, Mr. Walters". Felix nodded at his greeting.
Monica gave Felix a look after hearing the butler’s comment. She had reminded Felix that it was too early but he said that they shouldn’t be late or keep them waiting.
"Well, someone was in a rush to get here. That’s why", she replied. Felix pretended like he didn’t hear anything.
"I see. Let me go and inform your parents that you have arrived then", the butler said before bowing and leaving them alone. He glared at the maids who stared at the couple instead of completing their work. They immediately faced their chores after feeling the piercing glare from the butler.
"Let’s sit", Monica urged Felix but the latter had frozen. "Don’t tell me you are still scared".
"Am not", he quickly denied. Monica heaved a sigh of frustration.
"In case you are forgetting, my mom and dad watched you grow up even after you went abroad to complete your education. It’s not like I am bringing a stranger into this mansion and introducing him to my parents, saying that I am marrying him", she tried to reason out with him. "Or do you prefer to have a stranger replace you?" She questioned him jokingly but he didn’t find it funny.
"Don’t you dare", he glared at her. "Alright, so better act normal or else...." She said sternly before leaving to go sit on a couch.
Felix quietly followed behind her and sat down. Not long after, they heard the voices of three people coming down the stairs.
"They are over here madam", The butler gestured with his hands towards the couple who had already taken their seats.
"Mummy!" Monica exclaimed happily before standing up and walking towards her mother with arms wide open. "I missed you so much".The elderly woman reciprocated the hug.
"I missed you, dear".
Mr. Smith noticed Felix, who was standing like a statue. "Why are you standing over there? Are you not going to give this old man a hug or a handshake at least?" Mr. Smith reached for Felix’s hand to hold but noticed that the latter had a sweaty palm. "Why is your palm wet?" He asked Felix.
Mrs. Smith and Monica had already broken their hug and watched the two men. "I-I just f-finished washing my h-ha....", he stuttered but he wasn’t given the chance to complete his sentence because Monica abruptly interrupted him. "Felix’s palms are wet. After all, he is anxious", she said, making the elderly couple give each other a look first.
"Anxious? Why?" Mrs Smith asked this time. She went closer to Felix and placed her palm on his head to check his temperature. "Are you sick?" Felix immediately shook his head aggressively.
Even he didn’t know why his body was reacting this way. "Felix is not sick, Mom. He is scared because Dad and you might reject our relationship", she blurted out without a second thought. Felix’s eyes widened in shock before he glared at her.
"No, Aunty. It’s not that", he tried to defend himself. "I am not anxious. Like I said, I just finished washing my hands", he continued to lie.
He knew lying was wrong but he couldn’t let them know that he was anxious. That would be a total embarrassment. His deep blue ocean eyes shivered slightly, giving him away.
Mr and Mrs Smith gave each other a knowing look before they laughed out. Monica was not sure why her parents were laughing but she joined them nonetheless. Felix suddenly felt embarrassed. Mr Smith tried to control himself before he spoke.
"Look, boy. It’s normal to feel anxious or nervous. Believe me when I say I felt worse when I went to meet your aunty’s parents", the old man said as he placed his hands on Felix’s shoulder and patted it. "Don’t feel bad. It’s normal", he added with an assuring smile.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Walters might have the same name but they were different people with different personalities. Mr. Smith was on the cooler side while Mr. Walters was on the strict side, considering how he treated Ethan the day he had come to their family dinner, uninvited.
Felix relaxed a bit after hearing Mr Smith’s words but his body was still at the normal level of tense. The butler who had been by their side since the time the old couple came down excused himself to go check on the food.
Mr Smith urged everyone to take a seat but not before sending the maids away. Their ears had already sharpened to hear the talk that they would be gossiping about to add flavor to their lives. They could only leave with a sigh.
"So Felix, you have finally decided to settle down?" Mrs Smith suddenly asked. Monica was hugging her mother like a koala, leaving his side to make him answer the questions alone. What a heartless woman, Felix thought to himself.
The young man first cleared his throat before replying, "Yes, aunty. I would love to marry your daughter, Monica", his voice holding endearment towards Monica, who hid her face away.
"The same Monica that you had cheated on several years ago? What makes you think that I would let you get married to my daughter whose heart you have broken before?" Mr. Smith questioned Felix with a solemn expression. Suddenly, the tension in the living room became suffocating and Felix nervously gulped down his saliva.
