Personal Stories: Webnovel After Love

Part 6 The Second Encounter

            Weekend is approached quickly …

            In Chen residence, Joanna could not keep her happiness for dinner. She even prepared a festive supper with 7 different dishes and one special dessert. Nancy, the head of maids and all maids could see her face glowed with radiance.

            Li Qiang shrugged off his shoulder when their youngest son asked what was all about.

            “Honey, did you call Ethan?” Shouted Joanna from kitchen.

          Li Qiang sat in the family room which next to the kitchen while a 12 years old boy was busy reconstructing his lego into the miniature city.

            “I did, honey.”

            Joanna appeared from kitchen’s door. “Then, why did that brat still not be here?”

            Li Qiang grinned. “Well, honey that brat is our son. Why do you always be hostile towards your sons?”

            “They always make me stressed out. The one is so cold and can freeze the Himayala, while another is too charming and broke up the heart of many girls. Honey, why had they not inherited our traits?”

            “Mom, I will be an obedient son for you.” The boy suddenly interrupted Joanna’s complaints.

            This made Li Qiang and Joanna could not help but smiled contentedly.

            “Oh Toby, my sweetheart. Of course, you are the best.” Joanna raised her thumbs.

            Toby smiled sweetly.

            Ten minutes later, a loud voice broke the peace. A handsome man with boyish feature, a spiky hair, sweet dimples which complement his beautiful face, appeared. He held a big backpack on his back.

            Joanna’s face showed displeasure. She put both her hands on the hips and glared his son who was standing with a naughty smile. He took off his backpack and put it on the floor. A smile never left his sexy thin lip when he strode towards Joanna. Li Qiang only sighed helplessly.

            “Hi, my dear Ms. Wei. You looked more beautiful than the last time I saw you.”

            Joanna kicked his son’s stomach with her right elbow.

            “Stop playing around, you brat.”

            The man instantly rubbed his muscular stomach, pretended being painful.

            “Ups, Mom. Your power is unbelievable.”

            “Ethan Chen!” Joanna lost her patience.

            Ethan, her second son, lifted his hands to signal his defeat. All men in Chen family knew very well how disastrous it would be if Joanna was distraught.

            “Now, clean yourself. Tonight, we will welcome special guests, so I warn you to behave.” Joanna ordered with threatening tone.

          Ethan chuckled. “Okay, Mom. I am really curious how wonderful that girl is to make my mom so obsessed.”

            Ethan had no idea when Joanna threatened him to come back home from abroad. Even though he tried to persuade her with his charms, Joanna disdained it harshly. She would tell her husband about his secret activity. Ethan’s face turned pale in an instant since he was into the photography from high school, but Li Qiang has never allowed him to it.

            An evening came soon. Li family arrived at Chen residence.

         Joanna welcomed them with her bright smile while Li Qiang showed his calm demeanor, but soon he broke it as meeting with Li Jie’s gaze. Maggie and Kate suppressed their hates when Joanna was hugging Amy warmly and enthusiastic way.

            “Amy dear, you are so beautiful.” Joanna exclaimed in delight.

            Amy’s face blushed. Indeed, she was beautiful with long navy blue and lace shoulder straps. The blue small tail tied her slender waist and her hair was an up do style, encircled by white pearl hair clips.

            Ethan stunned for a second. He had never met an innocent look and pure eyes like her. Certainly, she was not his type, but something magically attracted his curiosity. He then glanced another girl beside Amy. This girl looked gorgeous with burgundy off-shoulder dress which the length only reached an two inches from her knees. Her wavy long hair fell in sexy look and her pinky lips would invite any men to kiss her wildly.

         Ethan grinned which made all eyes turned to him. Joanna shot a warning through her eyes. Ethan suddenly stopped chuckling. Accidentally, his eyes met Amy’s confused look. Once again, he felt something strange tingling with excitement.

            Joanna led the way to the family room. Toby, her third son came from upstairs.

            “Toby dear, let me introduce you to Uncle Li family.” Joanna spoke affectionately.

            Amy squinted her eyes. Toby appearance looked familiar, but she could remember when she had seen him. When she lost in her thoughts, Toby greeted them politely with wide smile. His smiling disappeared soon after looked at Amy.

            “Ice cream girl.” Toby saw her with obvious annoyed look.

            All eyes looked at each other questioningly. The sudden memory struck Amy.

            “You are that a little boy.” Surprise fulfilled Amy.

            “I am not a little boy.” Toby pouted.

            Amy burst into a laughter. “Yeah, I am really sorry.”

            Joanna stepped in. “Amy dear, did you know our Toby?”

            “No, auntie Chen. We just met once in the supermarket a couple days ago.”

            Joanna’s eyes widened when realization came up. “Wow, dear. This should be a fate.”

            Maggie was more irritated. In the front door, she felt agitated when saw Joanna’s affection towards Amy. Then this circumstance turned her hopes upside down. Meanwhile, Kate almost released her envious feeling which seemed burn inside her heart.

            Li Jie and Li Qiang exchanged glances. They smiled understandably.

            “Hmm, Mrs. Chen, we have something to give as small gift.” Maggie interrupted Joanna.

            She winked an eye to Kate. Her daughter caught her intention, then stepped forward and pushed Amy secretly, so she would be closer to Joanna. With sweet smile, she pretended being elegant and fine lady. Amy breathed deeply.

            “Oh, thank you Maggie. Please call me Anna. We are soon to be in-laws, so no need being formal.”

            Kate clenched her fist. Joanna was kind and friendly, but her attitude was only affectionate towards Amy.

          “Amy dear, what is on you? Is that a gift too?” Joanna felt curious from the start when glanced Amy holding a big bag. She was too excited to keep up with others, forgetting it for a while.

            A shy face was flashed. Amy looked down and handed in the bag.

            “Auntie Chen, this …”

            “Anna, this is a cake.” Maggie snatched the bag and gave it to Joanna.

            “Oh wow. Please don’t bother to do it. We are family after all.”

           When Joanna stretched her hand, Maggie pull out a squared box from inside bag. Ethan laughed so hard when was seeing the brown box with giant blue ribbon wrapped it.

            Confusion has seen in Joanna’s face.

            “Did a shop cake sell this box? There is no brand name on it.”

            Maggie smiled wickedly in secret. Amy’s cheek reddened. She squeezed her hand nervously.

           “Oh, Amy did not buy it. She asked our house helper to make it.” Maggie glanced Amy with motherly look, expecting Joanna would be disappointed.

            Joanna’s face looked neutral. “Thank you, sweetheart. Please enjoy the house for a moment. I will check the kitchen.”     

            Ethan was standing next to Amy’s embarrassing face.

            “You know, my mom really hates no sincere gift. You just made one point for that.” His whisper tingled Amy’s ear.

            Kate looked at them jealously. She felt flattered when Ethan stared her attentively before. She was acting shy to attract him. Meanwhile, Toby paid no attention since he still held a grudge towards Amy. He was watching his favorite channel.

            Li Jie and Li Qiang soon were immersed in business talk, so they did not see the atmosphere. Maggie chosen to follow Joanna to earn good impression.    

          Amy glared Ethan without fear. She leaned back to create a distance between them. Ethan smiled naughty. Obviously, as a man with many girlfriends, he knew that girl did not like his playfulness side.

            “Hmmm, Ethan. Just leave her and talk to me. She is always serious about anything.”

            Kate spoke flirtatiously as was grasping Ethan’s arm. Her voice sounded sexy and soft. Ethan transferred his attention to Kate. Amy snicker at their interaction and she has just stepped up when the sound of arriving car was heard from outside.

            “I think Theo is coming, pal.” Li Qiang spoke to Li Jie.

            Joanna rushed ahead. All people there were standing in that room.

       A handsome and tall figure with black suit was dragged by Joanna. His face looked cold and expressionless.

            “What is happening here, Mom? I thought you are sick like you said in the phone.”

            Theo observed this situation with an irritated look.

           “If I said the truth, would you come here? You barely visited your parents.” Joanna responded defensively. Her face looked bitter.

            She has still not forgiven his son for his rude behavior after the marriage plan leaked out to public. Theo confronted her after back from his business trip in Japan. Their quarrel ended up with Theo gave in on her mother stubbornness. However, the next two days, Theo blocked any call from Joanna and stayed in his penthouse instead.

            Joanna was furious, then asked her husband to lie about her being sick. This hide and seek has always happened when Joanna wanted Theo to fulfil her request while the latter against the idea.  

            Although from outside Theo looked so cold and heartless, he eventually always granted Joanna’s wish.

            “Theo, give your respect to Uncle Li.” Commanded Li Qiang firmly.

            Theo sighed, but his expression remained cold.

            “Uncle Li, how are you?” He bowed down with respect.

            Amy was amazed. Never in her mind, this cold icy man would greet others politely. Kate instantly tidied up her hair and stood up excitedly. She looked up at him appealingly. Ethan is also handsome and attractive, but Theo has like noble man who is outstanding and powerful. She heard many achievements of him in business world in five years.

            “Big bro, you are coming.”

          Toby was running to hug him. Theo smiled softly as he was stroking his brother’s hair. His coldness melted through small dimples.

            “Wow, big bro. This is rare sight that you are defeated by mom.” Ethan teased with big grin.

            Theo furrowed his brows.

            “Ethan, stop being ridiculous.” Joanna cut off Theo’s mockery.

            “Theo dear, this is Auntie Maggie … This is Kate, the younger daughter… Then, you had met Amy before.” Joanna introduced three beautiful women.

            Amy looked uncomfortable. She avoided Theo’s eyes unconsciously.

            Joanna pushed Amy to stand in front of Theo.

            “Dear, Amy looks very beautiful today right? I bet many men approaching her.”

            Amy was speechless when Joanna boasted about her in Theo’s face. She felt ashamed as Theo was observing her from head to toe.

            This woman is so strange!

           Theo could not believe his sight that the woman is front of him has transformed differently from the first meeting. She seemed outwardly composed, looked innocent with a light make-up, and showed purity in her black crystal eyes. She was not type of extraordinarily beautiful woman, but there was something which could lure people’s attention to her if they have seen her longer. However, Theo despised her two-faced which was fake and disgusting. Realizing something from Theo’s eyes, a cold gust blew Amy.