CHAPTER 203: UNEXPECTED GIFT.

"Dad!"

"Honey!"

Both Charles and Mrs. Donald called out to mr. Donald for his words because they were literally taken aback by his sudden declaration.

"What?" Mr. Donald sneered, eyes narrowing. "I’m just stating the obvious truth. Besides, what can this young man even offer?"

"Honey," Mrs. Donald interjected gently, placing a hand on his arm, "you don’t have to talk to him like that. He’s the first lover our son has ever brought home. The least we can do is give him a little respect."

"I won’t," Mr. Donald snapped, his voice rising. "This young man hurt our son in front of the entire world—"

"Enough!" Mrs. Donald’s voice cracked through the air, sharp and commanding as she cut him off. "That’s enough," she repeated, her tone laced with finality.

The dining room fell into a heavy silence. Even the sound of silverware ceased.

Augustine blinked, his heart thudding, finally realising that Mrs. Donald wasn’t just soft-spoken—she held undeniable power in her marriage.

Seconds later, Mrs. Donald forced a strained smile across her lips, shifting her gaze from her husband to Augustine. "Don’t mind him, okay," she purred softly, her voice a calming balm against the tension in the room.

Mrs. Donald returned her focus to her plate, delicately swirling her fork through the rice. "I’m sorry for the way he spoke to you. You’re human, Augustine, and no one... no matter how angry should treat some else’s child in a poor manner."

"But honey, we can’t just let our son marry into that kind of family."

"Dad, I’m not planning on getting married anytime soon," Charles blurted out, his eyes widening in shock. The sudden mention of marriage had completely blindsided him.

"Oh... right," Mr. Donald muttered, hustling voice barely above a whisper. "Well, marriage or not, I still won’t sit back and watch my son get entangled with anything that has to do with this man’s family," he added firmly, folding his arms as though trying to shield himself with his own conviction.

"Honey! Do you remember that live show I watched months ago?" Mr. Donald began. "The one I told you about a man who was launching his company’s design, but then, right in the middle of it, an image of him kissing another man popped up on the projector... and he denied it right there on stage?"

Mr. Donald let out a breath, his gaze shifting between his wife and Augustine. "Apparently, that image was of him... and Charles."

Mrs. Donald sighed. "Charles already explained everything to me."

"H-huh? When and where?"

Mrs. Donald scoffed. "Charles gave me a detailed explanation of his life and that of his lover Augustine just minutes ago. From Charles perspective, Augustine doesn’t seem like a bad person so perhaps let’s give him a chance."

Scoff!

"What chance? For someone who had purposely hurt our boy, he doesn’t deserve a second chance." Mr. Donald mumbled beneath his breath while devouring the meal that laid before him.

"Don’t put whatever he says into heart Augustine." Mrs. Donald stated with warm voice. "By the way, Augustine, I heard you were involve involved in a car accident right after you and my boy broke up. How is your health now?"

"Umm, I’m doing more better than before." Augustine replied, feeling at ease by the warm and welcoming behaviour of Mrs. Donald. "By the way, I brought some things over, would you mind if I take them inside the house?"

"Ohh, you don’t have to bring anything. It’s totally—"

Mrs. Donald was unable to complete her statements because Augustine swiftly rose up from the dinning chair and with hurried steps, he rushed out of the house heading straight to his car where he opened the boot.

"What the fuck!" Augustine exclaimed, eyes blown wide as he stared at the contents of the boot.

Inside was a rose bouquet, ten neatly wrapped fantasy novels, an Xbox gaming set, and an elegant set of stainless steel cooking pots.

Augustine’s chest tightened as he took a shaky breath. "Wh... why would Reginald do this to me?" he muttered under his breath, the question slicing through him like a cold wind.

With a loud hiss rolling out of the mouth of Augustine, he dived his hands deep inside his trouser pocket before pulling out his phone.

Swiftly, Augustine hands began to roam across his phone screen and seconds later, he dialled the phone number of Reginald.

On the first ring, Reginald picked up the phone call. "Good evening CEO Augustine, how is everything going?"

"How’s everything going? Seriously? You bought all this weird-ass shit and stuffed it into my car boot?" Augustine snapped, his voice laced with rising frustration. "My boyfriend’s parents don’t even have kids in the house, so who’s supposed to use the Xbox? And why the hell did you get a set of pots? Do you want Mrs. Donald to think I’m insulting her kitchen—like I’m saying her utensils aren’t good enough?"

Augustine ran a hand through his hair, the irritation boiling over. "And these spicy fantasy novels? What the hell are they doing in my car? Who am I supposed to give them to? Because I’m pretty sure they were a mistake... just like everything else you crammed into that boot."

Reginald fluttered his eyelashes, clearly panicked. "Umm... CEO Augustine, what do you want me to get? I’m currently driving, but I can reschedule my plans and come over to wherever you are. Just tell me what you need."

Augustine let out a sharp sigh, exhaling loudly through his nose. "Are you on your way to that date you mentioned?"

From the other end of the phone call, Reginald promptly nod his head. "Yes sir." He whispered.

Augustine sigh, letting out a loud exhale. "Alright then. You’re free to go on the date. I’ll find someone else to get me new package."

"Sir, I can always reschedule so you don’t have to bother yourself—"

"Reginald!" Augustine called out firmly, cutting him off mid-sentence. "You don’t have to feel bad for me, okay? I can figure things out myself."

He paused, forcing a tight smile even though the uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him. "And I’m rooting for you on your official first date, so you better make it a success."

Despite Augustine’s words, the hesitation in his tone made it clear that he was confused on what next to do.

"But sir how are you..."

"That’s enough, Reginald. You don’t have to be sorry and you don’t have to ruin your date because of me okay, and also... I can totally handle things over here."

Despite the explanation of Augustine, Reginald still feels the need to help because he knew that Augustine was most likely in a tough spot.

"I don’t think I’m going to be comfortable knowing..."

Before Reginald could complete his statement, Augustine swiftly hung up the phone call.

Sigh!

"Was that CEO Augustine?" Freda asked as she tilted her brows upwards.

"Yes," Reginald replied. "He called because of something urgent." Reginald went on to explain as he tries to clear the tense air.

Meanwhile, Augustine who was looking extremely frustrated dug his phone deep inside his trouser pocket as he let out a loud sigh.

He began to contemplate within himself when all of a sudden he felt a soft tap on his back, prompting him to snap out of his thoughts as he turned around.

"You’ve been out here for too long, so I thought I’d come check on you," Mrs. Donald said, her voice wrapped in that familiar warmth.

Augustine let out a heavy sigh. "I told my secretary to get gifts for you and Mr. Donald while Charles and I were getting ready to visit, but all he brought were some weird things."

"Ohh," mrs. Donald purred. "I thought you were out here because of the way my husband spoke to you." She said while smiling. "By the way, let me take a look at the things you bought." She went on to utter before shoving Augustine out of her front.

Immediately the gaze of Mrs. Donald fell on the car boot, her eyes became extremely wide open as she gasped in surprise. "How did he know I love spicy romance novel?" She inquired, a beaming smile plastered on her lips.

Mrs. Donald bent down, pulling the neatly wrapped set of pots from the boot, her eyes sparkling with genuine delight. "Oh, gush! Your secretary must be heaven sent—I’ve been meaning to replace my old pots."

Just as Mrs. Donald joy lit up the entire place, Mr. Donald, having finished his dinner, stepped out of the house.

He strode toward his wife and Augustine, with Charles quietly following close behind.

"What are you staring at?" Mr. Donald inquired of his wife as he stretched his head to take a look at what was inside the car boot.

"Umm, Augustine are you finally going to leave my son alone—"

The words of Mr. Donald was cut short as he his eyes fell on the video game and in an instant, he jumped up on his feet while exclaiming in joy.