Chapter 4 The Reunion

Marielle and Nina arrived at the mansion and they were welcomed by Marielle’s grandparents, her mom, and her relatives. Her dad was in Sweden at that time. Something happened to Anderson International and his father instructed him to come back for a while to fix the company’s problems. "Grandma! Grandpa! I missed you guys so much!” Marielle happily hugged and kissed her grandparents. They couldn’t control their tears. “It has been awhile. If dad didn’t say you are coming home, you will not really come home”, Richard Lee, eldest son of Chu Lee and Thomas Lee’s father, uttered. “I’m sorry guys. I’ve been busy. I promise, I won’t leave you again”, Marielle told them. “Welcome back sweetheart!” May Lee, Marielle’s mom welcomed her daughter with a big hug. After greeting, her mom and her two aunts Sara Young and Ranie Park busied themselves at the kitchen. The Lees had lots of servants and personal chefs but at a special occasion like this, the women in the Lee family took care of the cooking while the men talked about business or politics. The young Lees also got together in the living room on the second floor and talked about anything under the sun. “So sister, tell us about your love team, Steven. How did he accept your situation?” Trisha asked. Trisha was Thomas Lee’s younger sister and has the same age as Joshua, Marielle’s brother. “Oh! He doesn’t know it yet,” Nina interrupted. “What? Why didn’t you guys tell him? When he finds out, he must really be heartbroken”, Trisha added. Trisha had a long-time crush on Steven. They had met once when she visited Marielle and Joshua in LA and when Marielle brought her to the filming place. Steven treated her well like a little sister but for Trisha, his actions moved her feelings from just a big fan to a long-time admiration. “I will tell him on the phone. I don’t have the courage to tell him personally!”, Marielle said. She would like to tell Steven about her coming flash wedding before going back to China but she was lost in the middle. She remembered Steven's sudden confession of his feelings towards her. She just didn’t know how to explain the situation to him. Marielle always considered Steven like her big brother and best friend. Also, Steven was in Egypt for an advertising shoot when Marielle quit the entertainment industry. Trisha was against Marielle’s decision but she didn’t say anything anymore. Sunny, while rubbing her belly, asked Marielle about Vincent. “You guys haven’t personally met yet. How are you going to handle it?” Sunny was Mark Lee’s wife and she was on her first trimester of pregnancy. Mark Lee was Marielle’s cousin from her second uncle, Winston Lee, a black belter. “I will talk to him like a normal person”, Marielle said while shrugging her shoulders. “I saw his photos in the magazine. He is good looking but I don’t know about his attitude yet”, she added. “Sister, are you blind? He isn’t just good looking. He is an epitome of a perfect art. He is just DROP DEAD BREATHTAKINGLY HANDSOME”, Trisha sighed. “I’ve heard he is also an arrogant, aloof, domineering man. An icy cold they say”, Sunny rebutted. “Eighty percent of the female population in the world agrees that an arrogant guy is more fun to be with these days. Like they say bad guy is a better date than a good guy”, Trisha voiced out while eating potato chips. “Trisha, where did you get that idea?” Nina asked. “Romance novels, movies and dramas” Trisha continued. “You have to stop watching romance movies and dramas and stop reading romance novels”, Marielle commented. “Does that mean that I have to stop watching your movies?” Trisha was jokingly provoking her cousin. Nina and Sunny suddenly looked at each other then laughed. Marielle was stupefied. “For sure we can no longer watch her new movies and listen to her new songs because she is going to be Mrs. Grey soon. Hmmp!” Nina implied the words Mrs. Grey to Marielle ears. “She is not Mrs. Grey yet so she must enjoy her single life first while she’s here with us”, May Lee, Marielle’s and Joshua’s mother interrupted while going towards them. “Good morning Aunt May”, Nina greeted her. Nina was closed to the Lee family. They treated her as their own daughter. She was even considered as their eldest sister who they always confined if they got in trouble. “Stay with us for tonight, Nina and we’ll call the driver to help you tomorrow”, May uttered. “Thank you, aunt. I miss my family so much. I can’t wait to see them”, Nina replied with a smile. “Mom, you’ve met Young Master Grey’s mother before, how is she?” Marielle asked. May stated while sitting at the arm chair of the sofa beside her daughter, “I’ve met her at a banquet once. She has a sophisticated aura. A blue blood and noble person. But I also noticed that deep inside she is a virtuous woman”. “Oh dear! It seems like you are going to have a perfect mother-in-law!” Trisha smilingly imparted. “Well, I can’t wait to meet the high and mighty Grey family. Including the Hu who made all my dreams vanished into thin air”, Marielle exclaimed while spreading her handson the air. After dinner… Old Master Chu Lee and Old Madam Mei Lin talked to Marielle and May at the study room. The room was big and it composed of big bookshelves with different kinds of books from the old ones to the modern ones. It had also some traditional Chinese writings on the wall. But the one that would really capture everyone’s eyes was the big walled painting behind Old Master Chu’s desk. The painting was made by his favorite artist, Asteria. As a matter of fact, the Lees and the Roberts were Asteria’s big fans. Asteria was a mysterious artist. She never showed herself to everyone. Every time she had an exhibit, her assistant was always the one arranging everything. But most aristocrats and families from noble clans liked her artworks a lot. One of Asteria’s biggest fans was Vincent Grey’s mother, Mila Hu. However, Asteria suddenly stopped painting three years ago. Except for the Lees and the Roberts, nobody knew the reason. How did these two families know a lot about this mysterious artist? That was because she was Marielle herself. While she inherited her beautiful voice from her mother, who was also a singer, she got her talent in painting from her own grandmother Old Madam Mei Lin. She stopped painting when she focused on her work in the entertainment industry. On the other hand, Old Master Chu liked to write traditional Chinese characters. On the mahogany table was 6 inches crystal ‘dala’ horse from Sweden. The ‘dala’ horse was a gift to him by Andrew Roberts, Marielle’s paternal grandfather. In the study room, there was a set of traditional Chinese furniture such as chairs and a tea table. The old master and old madam sat together while Marielle and her mom sat opposite to each other. “My child, tomorrow we are going to Hu's mansion to formally introduce you to them”, Old Master Chu Lee softly said. "All five of us are going including your uncle Richard”. “Grandpa, why is it so sudden? I haven’t prepared any gifts yet”, Marielle explained. “We already prepared everything darling. You don’t have to worry about it”, Old Madam Mei Lin smiled. “The patriarch of the Hu family wants the wedding to be held as early as possible. They seemed can’t wait to take control of our company”, May said. “I’ve seen their intention that’s why I announced Thomas to take my place. I would like Richard to take the job but he declined. He is not confident enough to compete with Director Vincent Grey”, Old Master Chu Lee responded. “Grandpa, speaking of big brother Thomas, when is he coming home?” Marielle asked. “Thomas will come home soon. He is not attending your engagement party but he is always updated to what is going on in the company and in our family”, he answered. Thomas Lee was still in London but he kept his records with what’s happening in the Lee group and in Grey Empire. He also made a thorough investigation on Vincent Grey’s private life and business ethics. Why didn’t he want to attend his cousin’s engagement party? Nobody knew the reason but only him. Despite this the Lee family trusted him that he knew what he was doing. “Take a rest my child and tomorrow the next chapter of your life begins”, Old Madam Mei Lin heartily talked to her granddaughter. “Yes, grandma. Don’t worry, with you all by my side, I feel safe and secured. Take care of yourselves, too grandma, grandpa. Don’t forget to take your vitamins”, Marielle lovingly replied. May was just looking at them. “Sigh, if only Nick was here. How he missed his little darling so much”.