31.

AMBER'S POV. I followed Vincent who was walking towards the family dining room. The Waston mansion looked so spacious that the ceiling of the room was so high. On the other hand, the gilded pillars scattered around made me marvel.   For a moment, my attention was distracted, then my gaze moved to the dining table.Vincent's family members were gathered there, including Vincent's grandfather sitting on the far right chair.   I felt awkward at once. She bowed briefly, paying her respects to all of them.   "Greetings, Amber. My goodness, we've finally met. I didn't expect Vincent to actually bring you to gather with all of us," said Joseph, Vincent's grandfather, who gave me a big smile in greeting.   I gave Joseph a faint smile of her own. My whole body was completely overwhelmed with awkwardness at that moment. This meeting with Vincent's family was a first-time experience.   Since signing the partnership with Vincent, I had yet to meet Vincent's parents. Therefore as I approached the dining table, until she was actually at the dining table and sat down awkwardly, I tried to control my nervousness.   For some reason I felt that she was very different this time.     On one of the chairs opposite a woman and a man, I could see their smiles. She guessed that they were Vincen't parents.   Next to Vincent's parents was a woman, and then there was another woman to Vincent's left. I had a little trouble looking at the woman on Vincent's left side because I was in the center.   Strangely, at that moment I realized that the smiles of Vincent's parents were not as genuine as Joseph's. Although it was faint, my eyes sharply read the frown of Vincent's mother.   As if she thought my presence in their midst was very strange.   I only gave a faint smile in greeting. I pushed away the uncomfortable feelings in her heart, as well as all kinds of bad guesses.   "This is the first time Amber has joined our family," greeted the middle-aged man, Vincent's father.   "What do you think, Waston? Isn't Ambet beautiful enough to be Vincent's partner?" asked Joseph between chuckles. Although his voice was a bit faint due to old age, Joseph exuded a very strong aura of warmth.   In front of Vincent, Waston had pretended to have a thinking face. Waston watched Amber with an ignorant smile, then laughed like Joseph while nodding his head repeatedly.   "That's right. You're really good at choosing partners for Benny," Waston said, his tone joking.   Asleena felt uncomfortable at Waston's compliment. The more she tried to shake off the bad thoughts, the more they nagged at her heart.   Waston's words sounded like someone who was forced to agree. Even the direction of his eyes was reluctant to look at Asleena when praising.   Unfortunately, Asleena could not say more. Although her trust was not full, Asleena still nodded briefly.   "Thank you, sir..." Asleena stopped when she forgot the name of the man in front of her. Her awkward smile widened along with her expression of a slight uncomfortable grimace.   "Waston," replied Waston who had changed his facial expression to a flat one.   "Ah, Mr. Waston. Thank you, Mr. Waston," continued Asleena who felt bad.   Waston who had been looking at Asleena flatly and sharply instantly released his laughter again. At that moment Waston nodded along with Joseph who didn't seem to notice her suspicious gesture.   In front of Waston, Asleena did not say anything else.   "Asleena is indeed beautiful. I heard that you are the son of the owner of Hudge Group?" said the woman beside Waston, Waston's wife and Benny's mother.   "Yes, Mrs. I am Mr. Joshua's only daughter," Asleena replied. She continued to interact normally as if unaware of Benny's mother's cynical gesture.   "Ah, well deserved. You have the air of the heir to the Hudge Group. My father-in-law is indeed good at finding sons-in-law for this family," said the woman who also let out a small laugh.   Asleena just smiled. Just like Waston's words, Asleena sensed an insincere tone. Only with a faint smile could Asleena realize the woman's awkwardness.   Why were Benny's parents acting like this to her?   "Mom, dad, I brought Asleena here. That means there will be no canceling the wedding plans between us," Benny suddenly said firmly, a warning implied in his tone.   Suddenly the whole room was shocked to hear Benny's words. Including Joseph who had no idea that there had been a discussion about canceling Benny and Asleena's wedding plan.   "What do you mean, Benny?" Joseph asked. Instantly the warmth on his facial expression faded, giving way to a sharp frown. "Since when... has there been any discussion about canceling your wedding plans?"   There was a sudden silence. At that moment, Waston and Kathrine looked at each other with faint grimaces. They looked uneasy after Joseph said that question.   On the other hand, Asleena was getting more and more awkward in the middle of a situation like this. Asleena watched Benny's parents interacting through their eyes. Just by that gesture, Asleena again sensed that they were hiding something.   Was there any discussion about canceling Benny and Asleena's wedding plans?   Asleena didn't want to pay attention for too long. When she shifted her gaze, Asleena was awkward. It suddenly occurred to her that they might have discussed canceling the wedding plan when Benny was visiting a woman he was close to.   The only right time was that moment. Because Benny alluded after leaving her abruptly to meet another woman he was close to.   "Why isn't anyone answering?" Joseph asked once again. His voice raised slightly. "Kathrine? Waston?"   Again Kathrine and Waston did not answer. They were still confused about how to explain to Joseph.   "Benny, why do you ask that? Answer grandfather's question, is there any discussion about it?" Now the direction of Joseph's gaze shifted to Benny.   Benny only glanced at Joseph after having been focused on his food. Before answering, Benny had noticed Kathrine and Waston in turn. The eye gaze interaction only lasted briefly. Before Benny finally straightened his sitting position as he took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.   "It's nothing, Grandpa. I just said what came to my mind," Benny replied, forced to lie.   Joseph squinted slightly at Benny's answer. There was obvious suspicion in his eyes as he looked at Benny. His chewing movements slowed down.   "If that's the case, why did the thought of canceling the wedding plan cross your mind?" Joseph asked once again.   "I don't know. Maybe there was a time when my wedding plans with Asleena were not desirable," Benny replied casually, even though he knew that his answer was very likely to arouse Joseph's suspicions.   The more evasive Benny became, the more Asleena worried that Joseph would think of something further. The atmosphere was uncomfortable. Finally, Asleena quietly moved her foot to nudge Benny's leg.   Benny was somewhat surprised and turned to Asleena with a confused look.   Since Joseph's gaze also moved to Asleena, Asleena deliberately curved her thin smile at Benny. Asleena pretended to be friendly.   "Why don't you just eat your food? Isn't this the first time I'm meeting your family?" Asleena asked between repeated smiles.   In Asleena's presence, Benny froze for a moment. At first Benny didn't realize that Asleena was giving him a code through a forced smile and a look. But it was only after Asleena quietly stepped gently on Benny's foot that the man realized her gesture.   "Oh my. I totally forgot..." Benny suppressed a facial wince with an awkward laugh. His eyes, which had been glaring at Asleena, now looked normal again. He looked at Kathrine, Waston, and Joseph who were astonished at him. "I shouldn't have made grandfather think of all sorts of things."   Benny deliberately did not stroke the part of his leg that Asleena stepped on earlier. Still trying to sit up straight and give a face that made sure he was okay.   Luckily Kathrine and Waston, who were actually waiting for the tense situation to melt, also laughed. They both blended into Benny's charade as if nothing had happened.   As a result, the behavior of all of them made Joseph shake his head. Joseph sighed harshly because he was embarrassed to witness the behavior of his family members for the umpteenth time.   "Grandfather promised Asleena's father to help the Hudge Group company to improve. If their wedding plans are canceled, that means I'm breaking my promise, right?" asked Joseph who had resumed eating.   Benny had no choice but to nod his head in agreement.   So did Kathrine and Waston.   All three of them were secretly relieved that Joseph was no longer suspicious.   "I know you two are just getting to know each other, but you can approach each other personally," Joseph said, adding to his previous sentence. "Every day, as you live together, you will surely become closer and more accustomed."   Hearing Joseph's last words made Asleena spontaneously choke up. All eyes were once again on one person: Asleena.   Benny was a little panicked underneath his composure. He approached Asleena, just about to take action, but Asleena signaled refusal. After Benny retreated hesitantly, he looked at Joseph who was frowning in panic.   "What happened to you, Asleena?" asked Joseph. He even stopped eating to make sure Asleena was okay.   Coughing for a few moments, Asleena forced her lips into a smile. Signaling that nothing had happened despite the grimace on her face as she held her chest tight.   "Gosh, you're not eating carefully," Benny said, watching Asleena through bemused eyes. He took two tissues, folded them quickly, and wiped Asleena's face.   Asleena tried to keep Benny's hand away from wiping her lips. It was uncomfortable because they were the center of Kathrine, Waston, and Joseph's gaze along with Benny's two younger sisters.   After finishing, Benny returned to his position. He completely ignored his parents who were not expecting to see the action.   "Benny, you've never done that to any woman," Waston said, not believing what he had just seen.   Joseph couldn't help but laugh as he shook his head repeatedly.   "This is a good sign. The two of you will be even more compatible in the future," exclaimed an enthusiastic Joseph.   Hearing that made Asleena unable to say anything. Because she remembered Benny who said they would live in different apartments. Even though they were next door to each other, how could they get to know each other better? How can Asleen and Benny build a more intense bond when they are not in the same place?   That was what bothered Asleena's mind.   During the conversation, Joseph constantly talked about Asleena and Benny's marriage. It was like Joseph had high hopes for the two of them.   If only Joseph knew how things really were.