+15

    bChapter /bb521 /b

    The familiar voice made Sana, who was still tangled up with Wesley in the car, freeze instantly.

    Wesley thought of a possibility, let go of Sana quietly, and raised his hand to straighten his tie awkwardly.

    Outside the car, Lionel and Celeste, who had just finished work and gone grocery shopping together, looked at the man and woman in the car. Their expressions turned unpleasant, especially when they realized the woman was their precious daughter.

    “Sana, get out here!” Lionel shouted, holding back his anger.

    Sana pushed open the car door and got out at once. Wesley didn’t dare stop her this time. He got out right after, stood up straight, and greeted Lionel and Celeste.

    Wesley said, “Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, hello. I’m Wesley, a former schoolmate of Sana’s. I work as a psychologist. Earlier…b” /b

    Sana saw he was going on and on, so she cut in quickly. “Shut up. You talk too much.”

    “Don’t you say a word.” Lionel red at Sana and went on studying Wesley.

    Wesley smiled and let him look him over.

    Celeste, seeing how calm Wesley was, thought there must be some misunderstanding about what had just happened. She broke the silence and asked, “How long have you and Sana been dating? Have you been dropping her offtely?”

    Wesley said gently, “Mrs. Gardner, you’re mistaken. I’m still pursuing her. As for dropping Sana off, that’s all my own doing. Earlier, Sana left her bag behind. I wanted to tell her, but it made her hit her head and get angry. I’m sorry.”

    Sana frowned as she listened. It was true, but there was something about Wesley’s words that felt off like he was implying more.

    “You really only wanted to tell her that she left her bag? Nothing else?” Lionel fixed Wesley with a sharp look, not missing any little expression.

    Lionel didn’t mind Sana dating, but if someone tried to take advantage of her under the pretense, that was definitely not okay.

    Wesley held Lionel’s gaze steadily, his tone serious. “Absolutely nothing else. I respect all of Sana’s wishes. I’d never do anything without her permission. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, if you don’t believe me, you’re wee to keep an eye on me anytime.”

    “Hmph, easy to say,” Lionel scoffed.

    Sana listened, her heart in her mouth.

    Sana thought, ‘What if Dad hits Wesley? But Wesley really is innocent this time.’

    Just as Sana was trying to figure out how to help Wesley get away, she heard Lionel say, “Youe upstairs with me. We need to

    talk.”

    Sana froze. “Huh?”

    “Of course, Mr. Gardner. I hope I’m not intruding,” Wesley smiled and nodded. He locked his car and followed Lionel into the building.

    Celeste took hold of Sana, who was still in a daze, and hurried after them. She whispered, trying to reassure her, “Don’t worry. Your dad’s not that mad.”

    12:55

    Tue, 2 Sept

    110)

    Celeste thought, ‘Looks like Lionel probably takes a shine to that kid. And why not? The kid speaks well, has good manners, and seems genuinely into Sana. If things work out, we’d be thrilled–no reason to get angry!

    Thinking of all the blind dates Sana had turned down, Celeste found Wesley more and more likable. The more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed.

    Celeste wondered, ‘Have I seen this boy somewhere before?

    “Is he the one from before?” Celeste asked Sana quietly.

    Sana stared at Wesley and Lionel walking ahead, distracted. “Yeah.”

    Celeste suddenly realized, thinking, ‘No wonder. Sana must have liked him for a while.‘ Celeste just couldn’t figure out what Sana

    and he were up to.

    “Mom, Dad really won’t yell at Wesley, right?” Sana stared at the closed study door, growing more worried by the second.

    As soon as they got home, Lionel took Wesley into the study to talk.

    The door was shut tight. Sana couldn’t hear a thing inside, and her anxiety grew.

    “You care about him that much? Then why aren’t you dating? The boy said you turned him down,” Celeste teased.

    “Mom, that’s different. I’m being serious. Wesley’s a good guy. If Dad yells at him for no reason, how am I supposed to act around himter?” Sana said, flustered.

    Sana stood up. “No, I have to check on them.”

    Celeste watched Sana’s worried face and shook her head. “Girls grow up and fly the nest.”

    Sana, too caught up in her worries to hear clearly, turned back, confused. “Mom, what did you…”

    Click. Suddenly, the study door opened.

    Sana turned around right away. “Dad, you didn’t yell at Wesley, did you?”

    “What are you saying? Why would I yell at him for no reason?” Lionel gave her an annoyed look.

    Then he spoke to Wesley in a friendly way. “Mr. Finch, you and Sana sit on the couch for a bit. Celeste and I will make dinner. You’re staying to eat with us tonight.”

    Lionel’s warm demeanor was totally different from how he’d been downstairs–all angry.

    “Thanks. Hope I’m not putting you and Mrs. Gardner out. Oh, Mr. Gardner, what did you buy? I can cook some simple home dishes. How about I do it instead?” Wesley said, sounding natural.

    “No, you’re a guest here for the first time. We can’t have a guest working in the kitchen.” Lionel refused without thinking.

    “Mr. Gardner, you’re too polite. If I can’t help with cooking, I can make some coffee for you.” Wesley wasn’t going to miss any chance to butter up,

    “Oh, you can make coffee, Mr. Finch?” Lionel asked.

    “I learned a bit before. I like the taste of coffee, and some of my patients do too.” Wesley went on to talk about how to make a few

    12:55 Tue, 2 Sept A

    well–known kinds of coffee.

    53%

    -15

    Lionel loved coffee himself. When he heard Wesley talking so well about it, he started discussing it with Wesley without realizing it.

    Celeste saw that and didn’t disturb them. She took the vegetables and pulled Sana into the kitchen to keep asking her questions.

    In the living room, Wesley stayed with Lionel, talking first about coffee, then ssic literature, and then history. Wesley even added some of his own ideas as they talked.

    During their time in the study, Lionel had already been quite impressed by Wesley’s expertise and his sincere feelings for Sana. After their chat just now, he waspletely won over by Wesley’s wide knowledge.

    When Sana finally dealt with Celeste’s questions and came out of the kitchen, she heard Lionel calling Wesley by his first name,

    friendly.

    Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought Wesley was his son.

    “Wesley, you’re really good at making coffee. I’d say you’re better than a lot of baristas in cafes,” Lionel said, unable to help praising as he drank the coffee Wesley had poured.

    “Mr. Gardner, you’re too kind. It’s mainly because the coffee beans and pot you have are so good. That pot is a Technivorm Mamaster, right?” Wesley said.

    “Good eye, it’s a Technivorm Mamaster. Let me tell you, I paid a lot for this pot…” Lionel said.

    Seeing that Lionel was about to go on and on, Sana couldn’t hold back. “Dad, why are you telling him all this?”

    AD

    Comment

    Send gift