Chapter 35: Are His Parents Still Alive?
While looking through the newest cooperation document, the wristband on his wrist suddenly vibrated, and Keith frowned tightly. He went to reach for the cell phone that was beside him.
After opening his contact list on his phone, he paused for a minute; his eyes became as deep as the sea, and his fingers struck the table beautifully and regularly.
Then, Keith stood up and dialed another number. "Arrange the plane for me, John. I am going on another trip."
After lunch, Cathryn asked Dexter and Stella to help in the kitchen with the dishes. Although Dexter had a cold disposition and was disinclined to talk with others, he always followed Cathryn's lead. So as soon as he heard Cathryn's words, he immediately put down the book and followed Cathryn into the kitchen.
Stella actually didn't want to wash the dishes at all because she said it would damage her hands. As soon as she got into the kitchen and put on the gloves, her phone rang. Stella pointed to her phone and asked Cathryn if it was okay for her to answer. She instantly went to the balcony to answer the phone.
Dexter was seventeen years old, and he was almost five feet and eleven inches tall. He looked as though he was undernourished. His face was skinny. Standing in front of Cathryn, he was already half a head taller than her. His parents were both literary and artistic workers. He had a beautiful hairstyle that was very flattering. He was brought up in the world of art. His temperament was that of a prince charming in fairy tales.
Cathryn washed the dishes while Dexter dried them. The two of them chatted as they worked, and the mood was very relaxed and cheerful.
After they finished doing the dishes, Dexter handed a clean towel to Cathryn. "Cathryn," whispered Dexter hoarsely. He was going through puberty when a young man's voice started to change. His voice was not as clear as it used to be but had a kind of mature sense of depth.
"Huh?" Cathryn looked up at Dexter, motioning him to go on.
"Don't take Stella's words to heart," Dexter said.
After hearing his words, Cathryn was a little surprised at first, but soon her eyes were filled with joy, and she was brimming with happiness.
She reached out her hand and stroked Dexter's face, and said with a smile, "It's okay, really. I don't mind at all. I try not to take unpleasant things to heart when it comes to the family." Then, Cathryn put the towel down and put her arms around Dexter to give him a hug.
They started walking towards the living room, and she said, "Come on, they're waiting for us."
They walked in, holding each other's hands. Dexter found that as they grew older, Cathryn's hand was half a circle smaller than his. Aware of that, Dexter swallowed his words into his stomach.
Seeing Cathryn come over, Dexter's mother, Mrs. Clark, immediately shared the big news with Cathryn, "Stella's boyfriend just recently told his family about their relationship. So his parents have arranged to meet with them after the New Year. This is the third generation of our family, and Cathryn is the oldest child, but she really didn't expect that Stella would be the first one to get married. Isn't this exciting?"
Everyone in the living room burst into laughter after hearing Mrs. Clark's words. This was a tremendous event for their family. Cathryn tried to force a smile on her face and, at the same time, smiled bitterly in her heart.
As a matter of fact, she was indeed the oldest child of the third generation of their family regarding the legality, but she was also the first one that was going to have a child. However, Cathryn didn't dare tell them the truth.
Stella's face was flushed with bashfulness, and her heart was overflowing with unspeakable happiness because of Mrs. Clark's words.
"My boyfriend, Renz, just told me that he has got this year's bonus. He wants to buy me a Mercedes sports car." Stella said with pleasure.
Then, to the admiration of the relatives, she suddenly asked Cathryn, "Do you have your driver's license, Cathryn?"
The topic was shifted to Cathryn again. Cathryn was so exhausted that she didn't want to deal with it, but she had no choice. She had to force herself to face it.
"Yes," replied Cathryn. "Then it works out quite well. I won't need my old car anymore after Renz buys me the Mercedes so you can have it." Stella said to Cathryn generously.
Shocked by Stella's words, Cathryn hurried to wave her hands. Taking a look at the elders around her, she refused, "Thank you, Stella, but I don't really need a car. I haven't driven much since I got my driver's license."
"Oh, really, Cathryn? Well, if you say so. I would almost think that maybe you dislike my car." Stella smiled innocently. She looked at her with a furious look and said, "When you were a child, you used to give me your toys that you didn't want to play with anymore, didn't you?"
Cathryn was forced to listen to Stella, and she kept looking around, hoping there was an escape. Fortunately, her grandma's words rescued her from the predicament. "What about Renz's family? Are his parents still alive?" Cathryn's grandma asked Stella.
It seemed that Cathryn's grandma inadvertently inquired about Renz's family, but actually, she saved Cathryn from embarrassment. Stella pressed Cathryn hard step by step, but Cathryn just sat there without counterattacking. This was completely different from their childhood experiences.
Dexter could see that Cathryn was breaking out in a cold sweat, so he gave her a peach. As she was taking a bite, she was trying to figure out how she could get out of this awful predicament. She wondered if she should hide in her grandma's bedroom until Stella was done bragging about Renz and his family.
Just as she was about to stand up, Mrs. Clark suddenly looked back at Cathryn and asked, "Is there anyone that you are interested in, Cathryn?"