C220 Where Were You

Mark looked at everyone then continued, "Now that Alicia is pregnant, I believe we should begin preparing for Mike and Alicia's wedding." My heart skipped a beat. Alicia slowly looked at me. I looked back at her. Neither of us spoke. Peter nodded immediately. "I agree." "They already have their marriage certificate." "They are already engaged." "They're husband and wife by law." "But our family still owes them a proper wedding."

Quinton smiled broadly. "Definitely." "My son and daughter deserve a beautiful ceremony." Mary nodded repeatedly. "I've already imagined Alicia wearing her wedding dress." Valeria laughed. "And I've imagined myself crying." David teased his wife. "You'll probably cry before the ceremony even starts." Everyone laughed. Valeria suddenly looked toward Sarah. "Speaking of marriage..." Sarah blinked. "Yes, Aunt?"

Chris immediately whispered to me, "...Here comes trouble." I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh. Valeria folded her arms. "Chris already told me you two secretly registered your marriage." Sarah immediately lowered her head in embarrassment. "...Yes." "We already have our marriage certificate." David looked at her. "Your family didn't object?" Sarah smiled awkwardly before explaining, "It wasn't exactly planned that way."

She glanced at Chris before continuing. "When I appointed Chris as Vice Director..." "I knew Ben would probably target him." "If Chris was officially my husband..." "Ben would think twice before creating unnecessary drama inside the company." She smiled softly. "But..." "We haven't forgotten our traditions." "When everything settles down..." "We'll still hold a proper traditional wedding." David nodded approvingly. "Very smart." "I like the way you think."

Chris immediately puffed out his chest proudly. "My wife is brilliant." He pointed toward me. "Brother." "Did you hear that?" "My wife doesn't have to tell everyone how smart she is and how her iQ bigger." "Other people praise her instead." Everyone laughed. Alicia narrowed her eyes dramatically. "...Am I being targeted?" Chris immediately raised both hands. "I didn't mention any names." The entire table burst into laughter.

I smiled before looking at Alicia. "Well..." "My wife is still the smartest woman I've ever met." Everyone looked at me. I continued proudly, "Even your mother wants to learn cooking from her." Valeria nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely." She looked at Alicia with sparkling eyes. "I still remember those dishes you cooked." "They were unforgettable." "I've been wanting your recipes for a long time." "Unfortunately you don't send your videos anymore."

She paused before asking another question. "And..." "Where exactly did you learn sewing?" "Those engagement outfits were more beautiful than anything I've seen in designer stores." Alicia smiled shyly. "I just learned little by little." Chris immediately looked betrayed. "Mom..." "I thought mothers were supposed to support their sons." Valeria laughed. "I am supporting my son." "I'm also supporting my future daughter."

David chuckled before turning toward Alicia. "Actually..." "I have another question." Everyone looked at him. "When did you become so good at chess?" He sighed dramatically. "I've been losing to Quinton lately." "I need your master to teach me." "Otherwise he'll keep bullying me." Before Alicia could answer... Peter suddenly coughed. "Cough! Cough!" Everyone looked at him. Alicia laughed. "I don't think I need to answer anymore." Every eye slowly shifted toward Peter.

Peter looked completely innocent. "What?" David pointed at him. "You taught her?" Peter scratched his head. "Only a little." Quinton laughed loudly. "A little?" "She once beat me within 5 minutes." Peter defended himself. "I'm getting old." "Even I lose sometimes." Mark laughed. "Dad..." "That's the first honest thing you've said tonight." The room erupted with laughter once more.

After everyone calmed down... Valeria suddenly smiled mysteriously. "Sarah..." Sarah immediately became alert. "...Yes?" "I have one last question." Valeria smiled. "I've already heard Chris's version." "So today..." "I want yours." Sarah blinked. "My version?" Valeria nodded. "How exactly did my son appear at your university graduation?" Everyone suddenly became interested. Even Peter leaned forward slightly.

Sarah thought for several seconds before smiling helplessly. "...To be honest..." "I still don't know how it happened." Everyone laughed. She continued, "My plan that morning was very simple." "I was going to collect my degree..." "Say goodbye to a few classmates..." "And then fly back to Scotland." She smiled as the memory returned. "Early that morning..." "Chris suddenly called me." "He asked why my university looked so crowded." "I casually told him..." "'It's graduation day today.'" "I thought that was the end of the conversation."

She laughed softly. "But a few minutes later..." "I suddenly heard someone calling my name." She turned toward Chris. "When I looked back..." "He was standing there..." "Holding the biggest bouquet of flowers I'd ever seen." Everyone smiled. Chris scratched his head. "I nearly got lost trying to find her." The room laughed again. He suddenly looked toward me. "Brother..." "Don't tell me you've never bought flowers for Alicia."

Before I could answer... Alicia turned to me with raised eyebrows. "...Well?" "Have you?" I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. "...Not yet." She folded her arms. "So my husband has never bought me flowers." Chris immediately laughed victoriously. "I win." Everyone laughed. I smiled before looking at Alicia. "Then I'll make up for it." "I'll buy enough flowers to fill our entire room." She smiled sweetly. "I'll remember those words." Peter laughed loudly. "You young people really know how to make old people jealous."

The dinner continued with endless conversations... Stories... Laughter... And playful teasing. Time passed far quicker than anyone realized. Eventually... The dishes had all been cleared away. It was finally time to head home. Since David and Valeria were taking Mary and Quinton back with them... The four elders left together in David's car. Meanwhile... Alicia looked at Chris and Sarah. "We'll take you home." The two happily agreed.

Not long afterwards... We started by driving toward the Chambers residence. The ride was peaceful. Chris looked out of the window before sighing dramatically. "You know..." "My parents drove to your parents to their house first." "And now you are sending me first." He looked pitiful. "...I'll be all alone." Sarah smiled gently. Without saying a word... She slowly reached across and held Chris's hand. Chris froze. His heartbeat instantly quickened.

She smiled warmly. "You won't be alone." "You'll spend the evening thinking about us..." "...and about our future." Chris stared at their joined hands. A huge smile slowly spread across his face. "If that's my assignment..." "I'll gladly accept it." Laughter filled the car. A few minutes later... We arrived outside the Chambers residence. Chris reluctantly got out. After waving goodbye... The car continued toward the Wood residence.

Meanwhile... Inside the Wood family home... Tracy had been pacing back and forth ever since dinner ended. She repeatedly glanced outside through the window. Kelvin sighed helplessly. "Sit down." "She'll be home soon." Tracy shook her head. "I'll only relax after seeing her." At that moment... Headlights illuminated the front gate. "A car!" Tracy immediately hurried outside. Samantha followed closely behind.

As the vehicle slowly came to a stop... Samantha froze. "...That's Alicia's Maserati." At that exact moment... Inside the car, Alicia smiled at me. "I'm tired." "You drive from here." We quickly exchanged seats. Just as Sarah stepped out of the passenger seat... Tracy's eyes widened. Before she could even greet her daughter... She noticed Mike climbing into the driver's seat... While Alicia settled beside him. The Maserati slowly drove away.

Mother and daughter silently watched the taillights disappear into the night. Only then did Sarah walk toward the front door. The moment she entered... Tracy folded her arms. Her expression became both relieved... ...and suspicious. "Sarah..." She looked directly into her daughter's eyes. "Since when did you start lying to your mother?" She paused before asking the question that had been bothering her all evening. "...Where were you?"