Chapter 6

As soon as Robert and his family entered, Margaret’s expression changed. She didn’t look so excited to see them and crossed her arms tightly.

“Ohh, Robert,” she said flatly. “You’re here.”

Robert, who noticed his mother's cold expression, tried to ignore it and smiled at her.

“Mother, it’s nice to see you."

Margaret stared at him for a bit before looking toward Max's direction.

“Max, you look thinner than the last time I saw you. Are you even feeding well?”

Robert sighed as if this wasn't the first time he had heard such comments from her.

“Mother, Max is fine. He’s just been busy with the company’s work like the rest of us, trying to do many things to keep the company growing. I hope his efforts won’t be in vain.”

Margaret frowned a bit. “Busy, yes. At least Alex is also working so hard, and he's not looking very stressed. Let’s hope he doesn’t work himself sick.”

The tension in the room became a bit thick. Robert’s wife, Sandra, tried to change the topic and lighten the atmosphere.

“It’s always lovely to visit, Margaret. Your home is always looking sweet as always.”

Margaret, who wasn't interested in talking to her, gave her a forced smile.

“Thank you, Sandra. I suppose your salon has kept you quite busy.”

Sandra’s smile wavered but quickly returned.

“Yes, it has. The salon is always getting more customers, which keeps me busier. Thanks to you for promoting my little business.”

As everyone sat down, Alex leaned toward Emily and spoke softly.

“Don’t mind my family's drama. Just play your role well so that you won’t be detected.”

Emily shifted uncomfortably.

“Okay,” she said quietly, though she wished she could leave the house or, rather, just disappear.

Sandra, who noticed a strange face in the house, suddenly pointed at Emily.

“And who is this?”

For the first time, everyone’s gaze shifted to Emily. It was as though she had been invisible all along.

Margaret answered with a smile.

“That is Emily. She's Alex’s fiancée.”

Sandra gasped. The rest looked very surprised, but Max was the first to speak, his voice still sounding shocked.

“Wait… isn’t this Emily, Alex’s secretary?”

“Yes, Max. The same Emily who works as Alex’s secretary,” Margaret said.

Sandra laughed lightly, though it sounded mocking.

“Well, that’s… unexpected.”

Robert gave a short laugh before he spoke.

“Alex, you always manage to surprise us. I didn’t think you’d go so low—”

Before he finished talking, Alex cut him off, his voice hard and cold.

“So low to marry one of your mother’s maid’s daughters?”

Robert’s face turned red, but he didn’t dare get angry at this point. His eyes moved to Margaret before he signaled a maid over to fill his cup with red wine.

Sandra’s face turned red with embarrassment, and she avoided looking at anyone. She was the first child of one of Margaret's maids, whom Robert had his eyes on the very first time he saw her and impregnated.

Max stayed quiet as he watched the whole drama, his eyes mostly fixed on Emily. His face showed that he was surprised, but he didn’t say anything.

Emily felt very uncomfortable. She felt out of place in the room. She sat quietly beside Alex, picking at her fingers, wishing the conversation would end so she could leave. She avoided looking at Max, knowing he wouldn’t make her feel any better.

Max blinked, looking away from Emily, who was still playing with her thumbs. She sat without a word while Alex stared at Sandra, who was struggling to make herself look good in front of Margaret.

“You seem to be in a happy mood today. What’s got your mind so excited?” Robert spoke, throwing the first stone at Alex, who looked over with a smile gracing his lips.

Alex knew Robert wouldn’t flare up because of the previous reply. If he dared to get angry, he’d be chased out of the house with his tail between his legs like a dog. After all, it was the truth.

“And you seem so obsessed with me these days, dear uncle. Are you sure you have nothing up your sleeve?”

Robert swirled the glass of wine he had just received from a maid in his hand and looked over at Emily, as if he was about to throw another stone her way instead.

“And your dear little secretary… though it was quite unexpected. We all do hope you don’t treat her like you treat the rest. Just like the playboy you are.”

“Now, I’m quite fascinated by your interest in the both of us, really. What information are you hoping for me to slip up? That our wedding is less than three weeks away?”

That information made Robert raise a brow as he sipped from his glass.

“I am only watching out for her. We do not want a sweet girl crying, now do we?”

“Enough! If you can't maintain peace at this family dinner, then leave,” Margaret yelled, gripping her walking stick tightly. She was getting too old for all this.

She wished her first son and his wife were still alive. Then she wouldn't have to stress so much just to make sure the family legacy ended up in the right hands.

“Do not stress yourself so much, Mother. Have some water.”

Max stretched out a glass of water to Margaret, who took a step back before turning around to walk toward the dining area.

Emily was starting to understand what was going on without any explanation needed.

Alex pulled up the little one beside him and led her toward the dining table.

Looking down at their intertwined hands, Max wasn't at all settled. He adjusted his tie, clearing his throat before following behind the couple.

He needed time to talk to Emily alone, to ask her what was really going on between her and Alex.

The dinner was quite a feast for the eyes, unlike anything Emily had seen before, but she quickly composed herself so that no one noticed her shock at the amount of food.

Sitting quietly while making sure not to touch anything out of place, she watched as Alex picked up some dishes and placed them on her plate. Emily silently thanked him before picking up her fork and knife to slice into the steak.

She wasn’t very good at it, trying to cut it into perfect squares like those on the table.

Alex cut up his plate of steak fully into little cubes before exchanging his plate with hers.

Everyone at the table felt like they were being fed with dog food, except Margaret, who was thoroughly enjoying the scene.

Emily smiled at Alex, which he understood as her way of saying thank you. He nodded before moving to cut up his own plate.

Emily ate slowly to avoid embarrassment, copying Sandra’s movements without Sandra realizing she was being watched by Alex’s little secretary.

Emily was so focused that she didn’t realize her elbow had hit a glass off the table until the shrill sound of breaking glass filled the room, making the whole table go silent.