CH004

Mrs. Eduardo was furious and couldn't hide her annoyance. The ride home was silent, the tension in the car palpable. As soon as they walked into the house, she didn't waste a moment.

"Niklas, what was that?!" she demanded, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Niklas sighed, clearly anticipating this. "Mother, you can't expect me to marry someone I don't even know. She's a gold digger. Did you see her dress? It still had the tag on it!"

His mother took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "And so what if she rented a dress? That doesn't define her character. Andrea is a good girl from a decent family. She has helped us both, and you know it."

Niklas rolled his eyes. "Helped us? She helped you ward off a fellow scammer and now she's suddenly wife material?" He asked her missing out the part where she had lied about helping him out, while in real sense they had spent a drunken one night stand together.

He didn't want to mention it, lest his mother would freak out and go extra miles to ensure the marriage happened, with the hopes that the one night stand would result to a pregnancy at her end.

Mrs. Eduardo's eyes narrowed. " You’re judging her based on superficial things. You didn't even give her a chance."

Niklas rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Mother, this isn't just about a chance. It's about my future. I can't marry just anyone out of convenience."

"Niklas, this isn't just about convenience. It's about securing our family's future, your future. You know what your father has said. You need to marry to claim the CEO position. Andrea is kind, respectful, and she will be good for you. I know it because I came from humble backgrounds too" she said with a much more softened voice, though it was still mixed with the authoritative tone that still lingered.

Niklas sighed, feeling trapped. "And if it doesn't work? What then?"

She stepped closer, her eyes filled with determination. "Then you deal with it like an adult. You don't humiliate her in public. You don't treat her like she's beneath you. You show her respect, Niklas. Because she deserves it, and because it's the right thing to do!!"

Niklas looked away, his mother's words sinking in. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll try. But I'm not making any promises."

As Niklas and his mother continued their conversation, the front door opened, and Aunt Claudia, Mrs. Eduardo's sister-in-law, strolled in with a smug expression. She had a knack for appearing at the most inconvenient times.

"Oh, I heard you two had quite the scene at the restaurant today," Claudia began, her voice dripping with faux concern. "Such a shame when things don't go as planned."

Mrs. Eduardo's jaw tightened, but she forced a smile. "Claudia, I didn't realize you were early today. What brings you here?"

Claudia waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, I finished early from work today. I heard from a friend who was at the restaurant—how embarrassing for poor Andrea. Imagine, showing up in a rented dress and being humiliated like that."

Niklas looked away, his discomfort clear, while Mrs. Eduardo took a step forward, her posture defensive yet composed. "It was a misunderstanding, Claudia. Niklas and Andrea are sorting things out. Right, Niklas?"

Niklas glanced at his mother, then back at his aunt. "Yes, we're working through it" he fired at her as if he had an argument with her. He hated her, especially with the way she always treated his mother who was a housewife while she, a working class woman.

Claudia arched an eyebrow,not wanting to believe what she had heard.. "Really? Because from what I heard, it sounded like Andrea was desperate to climb the social ladder. Marrying into our family for convenience, isn't that right?"

Mrs. Eduardo's smile grew more strained. "Andrea is a wonderful girl from a respectable family. She's agreed to the marriage because she genuinely cares about our family and has fallen in love with Niklas. We're all doing our best to make this work."

Claudia chuckled, clearly enjoying the tension. "Well, let's hope so. After all, we wouldn't want the responsibility of finding a wife for Niklas to fall to someone else, now would we?"

"That won't be necessary. Niklas and Andrea are getting married, and everything will proceed as planned."

Claudia's smirk didn't waver. "We'll see about that. I just hope Andrea knows what she's getting into. Marrying into this family isn't easy, especially with the expectations we have."

"Aunt Claudia, thank you for your concern, but as my mother said, we are handling it. Andrea and I will make this work." Niklas, feeling the pressure, spoke up and held his mother's hand, wanting to lead her out.

Claudia's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I'm sure you will, dear. Just remember, everyone is watching. Don't disappoint us."

With that, Claudia turned and left for her room up the stairs, her presence leaving behind a bitter taste in the air. Mrs. Eduardo sighed heavily, turning to her son.

"I know mother" he slightly muttered, knowing what her eyes and sighs were trying to convey to him.

He didn't want to make her worry, and because of her, he would go through with the wedding and tolerate the girl.