4

At 8.00 pm, Dylan invited Abbie to her parents' house. The man wearing a gray suit combined with a white cotton shirt stopped his car in the yard of his parent's house, then immediately got off together with the secretary who is now his girlfriend who was wearing a white dress and letting her hair down just like that.

Abbie was stunned, looking at Dylan's parents' house which was so luxurious like a mansion. Or maybe the man is the son of a very rich family like in romantic movies?

"This is your house?" she asked with a look of awe at the part of the upper floor where there were balconies with white guardrails.

"No, this is my parent's house," Dylan answered then grabbed Abbie's right hand and held it. "Come on, let's go inside, Mommy must be waiting," he continued.

"Poor maid here must be tired if they have to clean this house every day," Abbie muttered.

Dylan smiled faintly, glancing at Abbie who was in awe of the luxury of his parents' house. the man was very relieved that he would not have to look for another girl to marry and that he would inherit from his grandfather.

when they arrived near the entrance, Abbie suddenly forced Dylan to stop and looked at him with an uncomfortable look. "Dylan, I ... I'm scared."

"Why?" Dylan asked.

"I ... I'm not ready. I've never met a boyfriend's parents before," replied Abbie with her heart also saying, 'in fact, I was never ready to be in this situation. This morning I was still a secretary, now I'm a future wife. I feel like I just want to run away!'

Dylan smiled faintly at Abbie who looked uncomfortable and even very scared. "You don't need to be afraid, my mother is a good person, she will accept you because you are my choice," he said reassuringly.

"But ..."

"Come on, my mom will be angry if we make her wait too long," said Dylan, continuing to pull Abbie into the living room.

In the living room, Abbie was immediately greeted by Annette and Dylan's sister, Fanny. She was immediately invited to the dining room and joined other family members to eat together.

Dylan sat in a chair next to Abbie, then immediately took the food his mother had prepared. Occasionally he glanced at his girlfriend who looked uncomfortable, then nudged his leg until his girlfriend glanced at him.

"Come on eat, after this I want to take you to a sacred place," he whispered a little.

"Sacred place?" Abbie frowned.

"Yes, so eat fast," Dylan exclaimed, then immediately ate his food in the form of rice with a side dish of stir-fried shrimp.

Abbie began to take food, occasionally glancing at other family members who were eating casually. Apart from Dylan's mother and younger sister, there is his father named Louis Valencius, and his grandfather named Benjamin Valencius.

"Abbie, are you originally from New York?" asked Louis casually.

"No, Sir. I'm originally from San Francisco," replied Abbie, slightly looking down.

"What are your parents doing in San Fransisco?"

"They have a small fruit shop business. My father is focused on managing the shop because my mother is often sick," explained Abbie nervously.

Louis nodded his head and went back to eating.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Asked Benjamin who looked old with almost full white hair.

"I have a younger sister. She goes to college in New York too, a bit far from my rented apartment," explained Abbie trying to relax.

"Abbie, I know the relationship between you and Dylan is still new. But, why do you believe he deserves to marry you?" asked Louis.

"Um ..." Abbie swallowed her saliva, feeling confused about what to answer.

Dylan glanced at Abbie who didn't have the right answer, instead, it would make his grandfather suspect this sudden wedding plan.

"Dad, please don't ask things like this of Abbie. Let her adapt to our family first. The problem with her accepting me is that it's not something you need to know at all. You don't need to doubt her, because she's a good girl." She even came from San Fransisco to New York to work in my office, which was solely to meet the needs of her parents and to help pay for her younger sister's college. Here, I was the first to have feelings for her, I was the one who asked her to get married. She just needs to accept me, and I think there are many reasons why she accepted me. You know I've never chased girls, on the contrary girls are chasing me because I have money. But Abbie is not like that.That's why I want to be with her, want to marry her, because I'm sure, behind her simplicity and innocence, she has something that I need."

"But you need to know her reasons. You have to be sure that she isn't just taking advantage of you who are already attracted to her," Louis said with a serious look at Dylan. "You have to understand, sometimes a simple girl can be more cunning than a girl who looks naughty," he continued.

Dylan immediately put the spoon and fork onto the plate with a bang. His mood was completely ruined because of his father's disrespect for Abbie.

"Dad, why did you say that?" he asked angrily. "Are you going to say that she wants to be with me because she wants our family's wealth?"

"Yeah ..., that can't happen." Louis shrugged his shoulders.

"Dad, you don't have to worry. I won't disturb your property anymore after I get married, I will hand over the company in New York to you again!" Dylan said emotionally, then took Abbie's hand. "I can still get a job at another company. I have skills. I can start from zero. I don't need wealth from you. I will never change my decision. I will never fail my plan to marry Abbie just because you want to take over the company."

"Dylan, you're exaggerating. Daddy doesn't mention property at all!" said Annette with a frown.

"Yes, I know. But it's his words that hurt me, Mom. He has belittled the girl I chose!" Dylan said irritably, glancing at his father who was behaving beyond his expectations. He did marry Abbie so he could inherit from his grandfather, but seeing Abbie being humiliated also made him sad, he didn't accept it.

Abbie glanced at Dylan who defended her all out, even willing to lose his position. She felt sad, then looked at Louis

"Mr, Louis, don't ever make Dylan leave the company. Thank you because you were kind to me, but if in the end, you want to make Dylan leave the company just because you don't like me, I should step down," said Abbie, then let go of Dylan's hand.

"I'm not like what you think. without marrying a rich person, I can still find my sustenance for my family. I have never had any petty intentions to seize other people's property. It's not me at all," she continued with a disappointed look, then stood up.

"Abbie, where are you going?" Dylan asked, standing too.

"I have to go," replied Abbie

"But, Abbie ..."

"Abbie, please sit down," cried Benjamin with a pleading look. "Sit down, Grandpa has a solution for you and Dylan," he continued.

Dylan also begged Abbie to sit back, while Louis left the dining room instead. Annette and Fanny were still there, but they didn't continue to eat because they had no appetite anymore because of this mess.