She considered their first encounter to have been a draw. As always, Raeleigh didn't have a proper seat in the room. Standing beside her, Jepherson didn't sit either; they were a tableau of modern-day star-crossed lovers.
Marissa simply averted her eyes to prevent a headache from coming on.
"Jenna, your father wants you to have this, and this is from me." Marissa took a gift and handed it to Jenna, who quickly received it and thanked her.
"Thank you, Mom."
Hansen stood to one side, his hands clasped behind his back, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Raeleigh lowered her gaze slightly. It was better not to look around if she didn't have to, so as to avoid meeting a gaze that she shouldn't and end up making things awkward.
However, the way Hansen was standing with his hands laced behind his back still made her feel like he was a carbon copy of Jepherson.
Their posture and disposition were the same, not to mention their appearance.
And especially when they were standing. If it were anyone else, it would have been strange for them to hold such posture. After all, he was already middle-aged, with his young son present in the same room. The fact that he had been forced to stand as well was truly embarrassing.
However, neither Jepherson nor Hansen showed any kind of embarrassment. Not only that, but what was even stranger was that they looked like royalty standing in the hall, making the room shine.
Raeleigh didn't know if it was because the way she thought was strange, or maybe that was really the way they came off. Either way, that was how she saw it.
After Jenna put away the gift, Marissa looked at Jepherson and said, "Jerry, this is from your grandfather and I."
She took out a cheque and placed it on the table. Jepherson glanced at it and walked over to take it, then handed it to Raeleigh. He then thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Grandma."
Raeleigh raised her dark eyes and took a look at Jepherson before shifting her gaze to Marissa and repeating, "Thank you, Grandma."
Naturally, Marissa was having none of it. She had not prepared a gift for Raeleigh to let her know that she had no position in this house. However, Jepherson had given his gift to her, which meant that Raeleigh was more important in his heart.
Marissa was offended, but she held back in order to maintain the harmonious atmosphere of the dinner that day.
"Why isn't Santiago here yet?" Marissa settled on asking. Jenna then looked at Raeleigh and asked, "Raeleigh, what did Santiago say just now?"
Raeleigh thought for a moment. "He said he wasn't sure when he would come back, but that he would. He also said that he had something to do, and that we didn't have to wait for him."
Jenna grumbled, "Wait for him, my foot. He had the nerve to think that Grandma would wait for him at her age. Blast him with calls and ask him to get back home."
Raeleigh called again. The moment it went through, she stated, "Disclaimer - I can't do anything if you don't come back. Aunt Jenna's angry."
"I heard Grandma's back. Did she make things difficult for you?" Santiago asked. Raeleigh was really in awe towards him. Why was he so unreliable? He had already said that he would come back, but right then, he refused to bring it up at all.
"I'm not getting bullied or anything. When are you coming back?"
"I'm already here. I'll come and find you wherever you are." As soon as Santiago got out of the car that Jacky had driven him over in, he waved his hand and made his way into the Richards Group Manor. Raeleigh looked around with a curious expression. Had he just said he was already back?
"Where are you?" Raeleigh took a look outside. As if he was bragging, Santiago responded, "What, you miss me or something?"
Angered, she snapped, "Are you here or not? I'm going to tell your brother..."
"Don't keep using my brother to put pressure on me. If you're actually that good, then you should come look for me and kick a*s the Raeleigh way." Santiago came in through the doorway and saw her standing in the ice and snow, on the phone with him. The first thing he saw was her slightly flushed face and red hands.
After putting away the phone, Santiago walked towards her, who was somewhat furious upon hearing the beeping sound on the phone. Had he just hung up on her?
She was about to call him again when she heard voices from behind her.
"Mr. Santiago."
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