Chapter 7 You Kissed Me!

An elderly man around in his sixties was sitting in the living room. He was none other than Liam’s father, Richard Collins. Sitting on his right was Mrs. Collins and on his left sat Liam.

When he heard Ileana calling him dad, a surge of happiness rang in his heart.

But to make sure he still asked in surprise, “What did you just call me?”

His sudden questioning raised Ileana's heart pacing but she still composed herself to answer him.

“Dad,” she uttered softly like a whisper.

Afraid that she might have offended him. But the next reaction relaxed her alert muscles.

“Good, Very Good! Keep it like that.”

He chuckled and excitedly praised her by taking a cup of tea.

Ileana passed on another cup to her mother in law with a soft smile on her face.

“Mom, please have this, I specially made it for you!”

Both her in-laws were very happy with her behavior. The tea time before breakfast went smoothly and Ileana was sitting next to Pamela.

Pamela took Ileana’s hand in hers and said softly with a pleased smile.

“Ileana, I’m very happy that I got you as my daughter-in-law. Do you know you are the first one who took us as your own parents! I'm grateful to God!”

Liam, who was sitting across from them, looked up plainly.

Seeing his reaction Pamela spoke, “I never expected that the predictions of an eminent old monk on Mount Czar would be so accurate. I should pay him my visit to return the favor and get his blessings too.”

She was a pious lady so thought visiting the temple would be the best. But her son busted her idea with his cold words.

“Don’t celebrate too early.”

He then stood up, looked at Ileana and said icily, “Just wait for three months first.”

He then turned around and left for the bedroom.

Pamela saw his retreating back, but it didn’t affect her cheerful mood at all.

She made Ileana sit closer to her and whispered in Ileana’s ear, “How was last night's experience?”

Ileana didn’t know how to answer the sudden awkward question. She then lowered her head and spoke softly, “Umm… It was quite good.”

Hearing that Pamela’s eyes brightened, she giggled and spoke, “I saw both of you kissing!”

She probed further with excitement, “Did you two…?”

Ileana got nervous at the sudden outburst of questions. She didn’t know what to say or how to react even. The conversation tapped her into last night’s memory. Her expression changed.

Deeply immersed in her thoughts because of flashbacks of last night. Where she lost her first kiss with someone who didn't love her. Along with detective pairs of eyes outside the door.

With the sudden awkwardness she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself there and then.

She blushed hard and bowed her head low even more looking at the pair of shoes.

Fortunately, a cheerful voice rang in her ears, like a rescuer appeared in the midst of drowning.

It was Sharon, who rescued her from the deep embarrassment.

“Good morning Dad, Mom and My sweet sister-in-law!”

She jogged in the living room and greeted everyone.

“Good Morning Sharon!”

Ileana raised her head and responded back cheerfully with a pleasing look in her eyes.

Pamela’s conversation halted and she looked at her with a smile.

She then ordered Sharon, “Go and call your brother down for breakfast.”

Sharon flatly refused, “I don’t want to go upstairs mom.”

Seeking for the opportunity to elope and it was the perfect one Ileana volunteered.

“I’ll go and get him then, mom.”

She swiftly ascended the staircase and reached the door.

Upon getting inside the bedroom, she announced to Liam, “Mom asked you to go downstairs for breakfast.”

“Mom?” Liam spoke coldly, “Since when did you become so close to my family?”

“...”

Ileana didn’t say anything.

Seeing her not reacting, he then stared at Ileana and sneered.

“Well well well… as you got married into our influential family. Were you excited that you didn’t sleep last night?”

“Yes,” she answered calmly and then jeered, “Looks like Mr. Collins is a pro in knowing women’s well.”

“Well it’s not about me, but the dark circles under your eyes are clear enough. So be prepared to answer them when you go downstairs. So that they shouldn’t hold me as the culprit.”

She was made speechless.

After pondering for a moment, clearing her throat, “Ahem..”

She said in a serious tone, “For your information, Mom has already asked me if we did something the previous night.”

She expected Liam to understand the meaning of ‘something’…

He didn’t disappoint her.

So he asked with a somber expression, “What did you say then?”

“I didn’t answer. Sharon’s sudden entry interrupted the conversation. So I got rescued.”

She answered him truthfully.

“Ummm… then did my mother…”

He wanted to ask further but his words were cut in the middle.

“Mr. Collins, I don’t think you have a short term memory loss issue right?”

Ileana said plainly.

“You…” he gnashed his teeth.

“You kissed me last night. Do you still want to pretend… that you did nothing to me last night?”

She supplied him with another fact.

Liam was held tongue-tied by her.

He neither wants others to misunderstand anything nor wants Ileana to have high hopes about him. But her words made him feel guilty.

A tinge of annoyance ran across his face upon the realization. But why did he have to feel guilty?

His mind was in a mess as he couldn’t refute it.

Unable to decipher the meaning he held Ileana by the shoulders strongly to argue back.

She twitched her lips and snickered at him.

She wriggled strongly and broke free from his grasp. Shook her head and retreated towards the living room downstairs.

While descending the stairs she grinned from ear to ear. As she settled scores with him finally.

Liam was standing in a daze in the room. His jaws were clenched tightly with pursed lips.

“Bamm!!!”

He threw the vase kept on the table in annoyance.