CHAPTER 11

Even though I lived in a different country and just arrived here, I am updated on what is happening here and who are the people that my family knows. Kieffer was keeping me updated for some reasons and that included the chances that when I came back at least I knew who those people were even if they didn't know me. I also know their background and those things about their business. Those were not secrets for us, well, for others, it was.

After we ate, Nikko said that he'll be back to his duty. He will be in his car after he checks the surroundings. And for me, I spent the rest of my time inside the condo doing anything that came to my mind.

After weeks of being independent, Kieffer called saying that we will be having a family dinner tomorrow evening with our family friend. But I doubt that after I received the location. We rarely have family dinners in luxury and fancy restaurants. We always ate at home together except if there were other gatherings.

Kieffer said that he can't come because he has a meeting tomorrow at that time so I need to go there alone. And that only made me feel more nervous. Does this 'family friend' know me? Kieffer didn't tell me who this 'family friend' was because he didn't know either.

What are they planning to do?

I dressed up presentably and nicely. My parents said that they will fetch me but I said that I can go there alone.

I don't feel like driving this evening so I ordered Nikki to drive me there.

"Who's the family we will meet today?" I asked while staring outside.

"Wang family, Ma'am." Nikki answered. I closed my eyes as I leaned on my seat and sighed heavily.

"Why? I doubt that what will happen later is not just an ordinary dinner." I said. My voice was calm but my heart was beating fast due to nervousness. Suddenly, I don't feel like going.

Nikki didn't answer my question so I opened my eyes. He was looking at me in the rearview mirror. His eyes were worried.

"Say it. So I know what I will do." I said using a weak voice.

"Mr. Andres, your father, has a project and Wang will support your father since Mr. Andres already lost a lot of money while working on the project."

"In exchange for what?" I asked but Nikki looked away. My lips parted and I clenched my hands on the dress I am wearing.

"I thought I already got my freedom. I guess I am wrong." I bitterly said after I realized what will be the situation I will be facing later once I arrived at that restaurant.

"Nikki," I called him before I got out of the car. "Once you see me suddenly standing up in the middle of this damn dinner, please get me out of there," I told him before I gave him a small smile. He nodded at me and gave me an assuring smile.

"Yes, Ma'am." He answered. Then, I breathed deeply before I got out of the car and walked inside the restaurant.

The waiter assisted me to our table. I immediately saw my parents and the Wang family. The couple and their two sons, Yael and Henry. My mind wondered about Mark. Didn't they invite him? This is a family dinner after all. Or they didn't include him in this kind of event since Mark was adopted?

"Kathy, you're finally here!" Mom said as soon as she saw me. Dad stood up to greet me.

"Let me introduce to you my daughter, Catherine Andres. Honey, this is Mr. Jeremy Wang and his wife Mrs. Yeri. These two handsome men are Yael and Henry." My mother said, I looked at them and politely greeted them. By the look of the brothers on me, I knew that they already knew what would happen tonight.

"My eldest son, Kieffer, could not come because he is still in a meeting right now," Dad told them.

"It's okay. It's good to have a responsible son like Kieffer. I see that he is interested in business. I guess it runs on the blood." Mrs. Wang said then, laughed.

After we all sat together, my parents were having a chitchat with Wang while I was playing with my phone under the table. I know it’s rude but I am uncomfortable, especially when Yael and Henry are staring at me.

"Good evening. Sorry, I'm late." I immediately raised my head when I heard that familiar voice coming from our back.

He’s here. Looking at the time, I guess he just came from his work.

I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Wang didn’t even glance at him while Yael and Henry only glanced at him.

"And who is this handsome man?" Mom asked after Mark sat in front of me. Just by looking at his face, he didn’t notice that I was at this dinner too. He might be thinking that this was a coincidence but it was not. He didn’t know me- the real me so I will assume for now that he also didn’t know my family… personally.

"Oh! He's Mark. The boy we adopted at that orphanage." Mrs. Wang said like he was nothing. I didn’t feel that they cared for him but why? Why adopt him if they are going to treat him like this? Or are there more reasons behind why they are acting cold to him?

This family is more interesting than us, huh?

"Nice to meet you, Mark. I am Gabriella Andres, this is my husband Alex Andres, and our daughter Catherine Andres." Mom introduced us to him. He nodded and smiled at my Dad and when he looked at me, I stared back at him as I sipped on my wine. He looked away when I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Thank you for inviting us to eat dinner, Yeri. But I guess you have another reason behind this." Mom told Mrs. Wang. My heart began to pound loudly again. My nervousness earlier was gone when Mark appeared but now, I became nervous again that I suddenly lost my petite.

When Mrs. Wang asked my age and suddenly compared it to her son, that’s when I confirmed my thoughts. The situation that I was in.

This is not a casual dinner, this is a dinner they plan to put us in an arranged marriage for their damn business.