Chapter 607 - Six Hundred And Seven: Goddess Of War
Thanks for the golden ticket ????
The third point of view:
Rita was asking for trouble, Pedro could sense that and if anything, Isabella was in love with trouble. Hence, he had to step in before things got messy.
"I don't think that's -"
"Sure," Isabella responded to the request, "I'll help out with the serving,"
Pedro turned to her, "You're a guest here, it's not your responsibility to do that," He said that but in reality, he was begging her to stay still.
"Why are you so worked up, babe," She came to him and pecked him on the lips, "Relax, nothing is going to happen," She smiled at him.
"Isabella," He was still not satisfied. He didn't know what Isabella would do nor did he want to know. Moreover, he brought her here to acquaint her with his extended family, not to make war with them. If anything, Isabella was not an advocate for peace, she was a goddess of war - the general at the war front..
Pedro knew his family was not easy but that was his responsibility, he didn't need her to fight his battles - it's his obligation as a man.
"I'm the daughter-in-law, are you going to stop me from fulfilling my role now?" she was sneaky with her words.
"Yes, Pedro," Lucinda supported her, "It might seem like a lowly gesture but it would foster affection between us. Moreover, she would feel welcomed as one," She patted him on the back, "Never stop a woman's love for the?kitchen,"
"I don't love the kitchen," Isabella said once again, creating an awkward ambiance without even trying hard.
"Oh," Lucinda was stunned and confused. Her daughter-in-law was kind of weird.
"It's kind of a sexist cliché to claim all women love cooking. I don't and I believe there are people like me out there who don't as well. But then, I only do that because of?him,"
No one needed to be told twice that the "him" was Pedro.
"Hence, don't pull that deeply old-fashioned and sexist gender norm on me," surprisingly, she added, "Please,"
This time, none of them were surprised by the silence, their new daughter-in-law has given them more than they could chew.
"Sure," Lubinda gestured, "Do whatever you want," She was honestly tired. Her heart felt for Pedro, he got a handful.
"Sure, come along," Rita was happy that her wish was granted, she strutted away as Isabella followed along at a slow pace.
Isabella didn't say a word until they got to the kitchen and saw Rita dishing out the warm food.
She smiled at her but Isabella knew better than to trust the razor-sharp fangs of a shark.
"So I heard that you and Pedro have been dating for a long time," the woman said as a worker stepped in to help out with the serving.
"Is that what you're really curious?about?" Isabella wasn't in the mood to beat around the bush.
Rita laughed awkwardly, "I like you, you're bold,"
"I don't like green snakes," Isabella retorted, not bothering to hide her dislike.
"I heard you don't intend to have children and that has created a rift in your relationship with Cecil,"
"You seem to have a lot of time on your hands,"
Rita laughed off her comment, "Cecil is a foolish woman, always dramatic," she said and then turned to Isabella, "I support you. Having children or not doesn't define your womanhood. You're free to make your choices without fear of judgment,"
"That's rich coming from the mouth of a woman desperate to put her son on the throne," Isabella lifted her gaze, "Your child being at the top, does that define your motherhood?"
Rita's expression changed, not that Isabella gave a care because she continued,
"You would come to know that I'm someone who gets bored by mundane things because you're all easy to read. You support my decision?" Isabella laughed, it was just too funny, "You don't want me to give birth because that means Pedro won't have an heir and at the end, it would be your son inheriting everything when he's gone?"
Isabella stepped closer to the woman who stood still, a plate in her grasp and the serving spoon held awkwardly.
"Child or not, I'll make sure you don't reap where you didn't sow. That's a promise," Isabella had an unnerving smile on her face as she asked, "Am I serving the food or not?"
Rita recovered from the shock, it was now made clear to her that the new daughter-in-law was smarter than she thought - she thought Isabella was all bark and no bite.
Without a word and no more pretense, Rita handed the meal to Isabella who accepted it and then placed it on a tray that was on the counter. She continued the process until the tray was full before she headed to the dining room, following after the employee who led the way with her own tray in hand.
By the time they were done serving the meal on the table, Isabella noticed that Pedro was missing. Lubinda who had been conscious of her noticed her gaze and said,
"Oh, he went out to answer a call. He should be back soon,"
Isabella nodded her head in appreciation, no other word was spoken between them.
They all dug into their meal and though Isabella swallowed down her food with great appetite - her appetite was huge lately - she was not comfortable with Pedro absent. Not that she was socially awkward, Isabella felt alone - Pedro was her anchor. Moreover, she came here because of him, what was she going to do with him absent.
His family didn't like her - not that Isabella minded, she was used to the treatment. When you've stayed in the dark for long, you'd find out it can get comfortable - they simply accepted her because of Pedro. She couldn't do it, being the disciplined, goody-two-shoes daughter-in-law. That would be betraying her nature. That was why Isabella was forthright with them - she doesn't act without a warning.
Isabella let down her spoon on the ceramics and that move attracted everyone's attention.
"Why? You don't like it? The food doesn't satisfy your grand taste?" Rita asked sarcastically. Since she couldn't achieve what she wanted, the woman was no longer wearing her mask.
Good, Isabella noted. She loved her opponent coming at her head on than being sneaky with her. Being sneaky requires her to use her brain, equaling a greater punishment in the end.
Isabella ignored the mad woman and turned to Lucinda, the sensible one, "I need to find Pedro,"
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