Chapter 217


    Chapter 217


    Leon''s words caused my heart to skip a beat and I hurriedly bid farewell to May before catching a cab


    home. I got out of the car and pushed open the door to find the mansion brightly lit up. Even the shrubs


    in the garden looked like it been tended to recently.


    I hurriedly rushed into the house but did not see Shawn. As for Mom and Dad, they were seated on the


    couch, seemingly engrossed in conversation. As soon as they saw me, there was a sh of surprise in


    their eyes as Mom got up to ask, "Why are you home at this time of the day?"


    I did not want to rat on Leon, so I told a little white lie instinctively, "In the morning, I called and told you


    that I would be back at night."


    "Come on over and let''s have a chat."


    Since Shawn was not in the house and Mom looked calm while calling me over, I bet that they had


    already met him! What had they talked about, though?


    Did my dad behave like how normal parents do when they first meet their son-inw and showed an


    intimidating look?


    I was apprehensive as I took a seat by my mom''s side. She lifted her hand and stroked my hair


    affectionately while expressing rather reluctantly, "Ree, you''ve grown up so much. Although you''re still


    a teenage girl in my eyes, I regret that I wasn''t a part of your childhood."


    Back then, they were forced to leave. Furthermore, I was the one who had brought misfortune to them.


    Had they not taken me in, they would not have been forced into seclusion in a little town for nine years.


    I ced my palm against the back of Mom''s hand and said, "Let''s not talk about this. I''m eternally


    grateful for you and Dad." I was grateful for the boundless love they had showered me when I was a


    child.


    "Ree, we''ve just met with Shawn."


    My dad finally said the words that I was waiting to hear. So, I asked him anxiously, "What did you guys


    talk about?"


    "We talked about you, but nothing about marriage or anything!" he exined.


    My dad suddenly paused and exined in a low voice, exclusive to a middle-aged man, "If we brought


    that up first, then it would seem like my daughter was desperate to marry him. We mainly talked about


    you, but we didn''t mention anything else much. He''s quite smart, though, so he should be able to


    comprehend what your Mom and I meant to say."


    Of course, Shawn is smart! He definitely knows that you guys were pressuring him to think about


    marriage!


    Resigned, I asked my dad further, "Did you mention anything negative about me?"


    "What sort of negative things do you mean? Do you mean those naughty things that you did when you


    were a child?" He chuckled and replied, "We may have mentioned a couple of things about your past."


    I was a very naughty child when I was a kid. Although I was not as bad as Leon, who created a lot of


    havoc, I hadmitted plenty of mischief under his lead. Naturally, Quinn joined us too.


    Out of the three of us, Quinn was the only one who could get away from being reprimanded after we


    committed a mistake. No one med her for anything. Besides, no one could bear to berate her upon


    seeing her feeble look.


    Back when Leon and I were kids, we were most envious of her.


    Leon was the troublemaker and my uncle punished him badly when he was a kid. After he had grown


    up, he was then only chided for his actions. Come to think of it, I kinda missed the past.


    We would no longer be able to go back to those days of interacting wildly and happily with the entire


    family. Right now, my parents were the only ones left holding the fort in the massive Felix''s Vi.


    I smiled regretfully, "Leon''s the naughtiest and most uncontroble one."


    As soon as I brought him up, Mom''s expression darkened suddenly.


    I noticed that, so I asked, "Did something happen?"


    My dad said with a sigh, "Leon doesn''t want us to see that girl."


    In response, Iforted Dad. "You should be aware that Leon''s a prideful person. Although we should


    respect his wishes, judging by his slow progress, I wouldn''t be surprised if their rtionship stays


    stagnant even by the time Tamara turns three. Dad, I think you should talk to Francesca when you


    have the time. Let''s worry about the oue afterward."


    I reckoned that Dad should talk to Francesca because it would be much easier for an elder to convince


    a youngster with their words. Besides, he was skillful and experienced, so he would surely know the


    best way to win her over.


    He considered it for a moment before making a decision. "I''ll head over to Sundew tomorrow."


    I nodded and was just about to reply when Shawn sent me a text message. ''I''ll wait for you by the


    beach.'' Soon after that, I received his location via WhatsApp.


    I hastily got up and bid farewell to my parents. "I''m going out to meet your son-inw!"


    Meanwhile, my mom smiled at the sight of me being all flustered. "Look at you all excited. Slow down


    and don''t trip on your way out."


    I walked out of the house and saw Joseph waiting by the entrance, so I entered the car and handed my


    phone to him. He keyed in the address on the navigation application and suddenly said, "Miss, this is


    Mr. Xenos'' private home in Bryxton."


    Shawn has a private home in Bryxton?! Initially, when I first got to know him, I thought that he did not


    have a ce to stay in Bryxton, so I invited him to stay over at my ce. But he didn''t mention anything


    about this private home back then… Wait. Was that when he started to have feelings for me?!


    I considered the situation for a moment and asked, "Does Shawn have a preference for anything?"


    Joseph thought about it for some time before replying, "How about lisianthus flowers?"


    "Has he ever epted any roses from a woman?"


    He replied lightly, "No, he''s never epted any."


    "Joseph, let me know when we drive past a florist."


    …


    Inside the study room of the Xenos'' Vi, it was daytime and Diego had just suggested a way to go


    after the Saunders family. Meanwhile, Shawn received an unfamiliar phone call. He generally did not


    answer any calls from strangers, but this time, he hesitated because it was a phone call from Bryxton.


    That was the city where Renee had grown up, so he often paid more attention to it.


    He hesitated for several seconds before answering the phone in a low voice, "Hi, Shawn speaking.


    Who''s on the line?"


    "Shawn, I''m Renee''s mom."


    Being an intelligent one, he instantly realized her intention for cing this call. For the first time ever,


    his face revealed hints of nervousness as he called out, "Hi, Mrs. Felix."


    Diego, who was also inside the study room, heard Shawn''s respectful address and he was instantly


    stunned. As far as he could remember, this was the first time that Shawn had addressed an elder so


    respectfully.


    Even when Shawn met his father''s partners or even Tracy''s mother, he would generally greet everyone


    sinctly and had never addressed anyone with such regard. As such, it was surprising to hear him


    being so polite.


    In the past, no matter how much Shawn doted on Renee, behaved affectionately toward her, or even


    risked his life to save her, Diego had always felt that it was all because of his obligation as a man, and


    that obligation should not be considered love.


    At that moment, Diego was finally sure that Shawn was steadfastly in love with Renee. That was why


    Shawn was willing to give in to her and respect her. He regarded her family members much more


    important than his own. His love for Renee was selfless.


    "Shawn, I obtained your contact number after countless efforts." There was a brief pause on the other


    end of the line before the person mentioned her main purpose in making this call. "Ree''s father would


    like to see you."


    She made her intention perfectly clear, so Shawn found no reason to reject her. "Mrs. Felix, I''ll head


    over to Bryxton tonight."


    "Okay. Please keep this from Ree. I don''t want her to think that we''re being nosy."


    After Shawn hung up the phone, Diego voiced out gloatingly by the side, "Your mother-inw and


    father-inw must want to meet up to discuss the details of the wedding. You''ve got to perform well.


    Otherwise, they might think twice about handing over their daughter''s hand in marriage to you. You


    can''t turn up empty-handed too."


    Meanwhile, Shawn red at him from the side of his eye. "Get out."


    Diego revealed a nosy smile. "Aren''t we going to discuss the matter about the Saunders?"


    "What else could be more important than this one here?"


    Diego pointed out in a single sentence. "Tsk! Our mighty Mr. Xenos seems to be trying to hide


    something."


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    However, Shawn merely instructed coldly, "Get out."


    As soon as Diego saw that, he did not dare to stay in the room any further and hastily walked out of the


    door to head downstairs. Hey on the chaise lounge and sunbathed while Shawn remained in the


    study room with a thunderous expression.


    Shawn considered the situation for a moment before cing a call to Waylen. "I''m meeting my mother-


    inwter, so please arrange for some gifts that are suitable yet not toovish."


    Meanwhile, Waylen responded hesitantly, "Mr. Xenos…"


    "What''s wrong?" he asked indifferently


    "Nothing. I''m just slightly surprised."


    Unexpectedly, he continued to pursue the matter. "What are you surprised about?"


    "I reckon that you sound really nervous, Mr. Xenos."


    He was rendered speechless by that. Since when did my men start to challenge my authority and make


    fun of me? Besides, I''m not nervous. I just don''t want to embarrass Renee.