"I prefer using Bailey than Park, Mrs. Park. What are you going to do?"
Mrs. Byrne lightly hit her shoulder with an elbow, striving to stop her from talking. Her mother noticed anger from her eyes even though her lips formed into a smile. It didn't give her any sign that she was happy hearing her daughter's words.
Then, she leaned closer to Alyssum and whispered, "stop triggering her. You wouldn't want to see her mad and also, Mr. Park is with us so apologize."
Alyssum, on the other hand, heaved a sigh and just shrugged. Hence, she glanced at Mrs. Park, who was waiting for her to speak. She wanted to hear a sincere apology coming from Alyssum.
Her eyes gaze at Mr. Park, who was calmly drinking his wine but his eyes focused on her direction. She bit her lips and caressed her nape to soothe her tension.
Then, she smiled and mumbled, "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I don't have any reason to protest my mistake."
Mrs. Park grinned, sweetly towards her which creeped her out. She didn't know if her smile was fake or genuine. All she knew, it was not a good sign.
Why?
Many staff from Park Enterprises told her that this woman in front of Alyssum was not as elegant as she seems. She was very good at concealing her true form and that's why they warned her not to mess with Mrs. Park.
"Well then… Can we have dinner now? Serve dinner." Mr. Park announced as their maid started to place the first-course meal.
Her eyes roamed around, striving to search for him but it seemed that he didn't want to have dinner with them. She triggered him and she perceived that tomorrow, he wasn't given much attention to her. She released a deep sigh and thought that it'll be a long day for her.
After dinner, Chance didn't even show up to say goodbye to her which made her unhappy. But on the contrary, Christian was here to say goodbye, smiling at her.
"Mrs. Bryne, Mr. Bryne… Take care. Aly, see you tomorrow." Christian said.
"Thank you, Christian. I'll see you tomorrow." Alyssum replied before she closed the car door.
And as the driver started the engine, Mrs. Bryne glanced at Alyssum and abruptly, hit the back of her head. She winced while caressing her head and glared at her mother.
"What was that for?!"
"I told you beforehand that you behave to create a good bond with Mrs. Park. Why did you trigger that woman?!"
"Mom! She was a horrible person and she needed someone to trigger her! You know what she did to you!"
"I know, honey but… I don't want you to get involved with her. You know that she was a threat to our company. So please, don't do that again, okay?"
She sighed and responded with a nod. Her mother smiled, extended her arms as Alyssum giggled, and came closer to her mother, hugging her tightly. She was happy that even though her mother was dreadful to her, she felt the love from her.
After all, she was the princess in their household.
"I'm sorry mom for what I did. I don't want her to control me or even Chance. And what she did to you wasn't great."
"I know sweetie and I understand that."
Then, her mother loosened the embrace and cupped her cheeks. Her lips formed into a smile when discerning her daughter was sulking just because of her manner a while ago.
She added, "you don't have to do the battles for me, sweetie. You know I can do anything just to protect our family, especially you and your brother. So promise me that never triggers her temper, do you understand me?"
"I promise mom."
"Good."
Her mother fixed her seat and glanced at the window. She was staring straight at her mother, who was striving to be strong for her family. Alyssum perceived that her mother suffered a lot more than before they met Park's family.
She wanted to discern her daughter's happiness so she decided to have a pact with the Park's Family. However, it's a bad move for her. She didn't even look at their background and now, it was a regretful verdict to be a partnership with them.
Alyssum heaved a deep sigh and moved closer to the car window, leaned her head, and watched every move of the car on the road. She couldn't want to see her mother suffer from that family.
Particularly, Mrs. Park.
She didn't like their mother, being a predator of the family. Controlling the people around her and even her mother, she used her to be a personal puppet. Bryne's family had a huge company but not as broad as Park Enterprises. In order to attain the partnership with them, her mother was required to attend every event that Mrs. Park created.
To see their company's loyalty.
Alyssum couldn't even take it anymore. She didn't want to see her mother suffer so she would do everything to protect her and her family. It was a promise that she was created inside her mind.
She snapped into a reality when her mother abruptly mumbled, breaking the silence inside the car, "Aly, just focus on making Chance fall for you."
Her eyes gazed at her mother and answered, "making him fall for me?"
"Yes, I heard from Brenda…"
"You didn't hear that from her," Alyssum said, cutting her mother's words.
Her mother sighed before continuing, "... Brenda told me that her cousin is making a way to have a date with him so you better hurry or she will win him over you."
"I know that mom. I don't have plans for that but I'll do my best to win him over her. And besides, I know Chance more than she is. I got this."
Her mother smiled and ruffled her hair. "Well, you are my daughter after all. A competitive beautiful woman and maybe in the future, you will be Mrs. Bailey."
"Not, Mrs. Park?"
She rolled her eyes with her arms crossed before she replied, "I don't like hearing that last name into our family. Bailey is much better than that… last name."
They both laughed when her mother conceded to her query from Mrs. Park a while ago. After all, they were family.