Carlos' words had a hint of menace in the way he said it, a low growl underlying his words. Sheffield trembled slightly, immediately forming an imagination of what his life would be as his future son-in-law. Taking Evelyn's hand in his, Sheffield whispered in her ear, "Please tell me you're going to save me when the time comes?"
Evelyn giggled, gently nudging him on the shoulder and said, "Don't tell me you're going to let him push you around?"
As far as she could remember, Sheffield's quick-wittedness and cunning use of guile saw him through any obstacle Carlos threw at him in the past. In fact, even though Carlos would never admit it to it, his failure to deal with Sheffield made him even angrier, so much so that he wanted to punch Sheffield's smug face every time he saw him.
"I mean...that was all in the past. Everything is going to change when I become his son-in-law," Sheffield said, his face turning pale with each word. Sheffield had a valid point, because at the end of the day once he and Evelyn were married, Carlos would become his father-in-law. Even he knew well that the father was always going to be the boss of family!
Sheffield never thought Carlos would let him marry his daughter so easily.
When he walked out of the manor, he caught sight of Gifford leisurely smoking a cigarette. "Did you get what I asked you to?"
Gifford tilted his head, gesturing towards his car and said, "It's inside the glove compartment. You've spent two years looking for it. Is it a gift for Uncle Carlos?"
"Yes!" Sheffield admitted without hesitation.
Gifford patted him on the shoulder and said, "Bro, I have to admit, I have a lot to learn from you."
Not only did Sheffield treat Evelyn with deep affection, but he also cared for his future parents-in-law.
After all, how could he not be good to Carlos and Debbie? "They've raised and cared for Evelyn for thirty years and now I'm just going to take her away from them. Buying them gifts isn't nearly enough to show my gratitude towards them for giving me their daughter's hand in marriage."
"What about Gwyn? Don't you think leaving her alone in that manor is a bit harsh?" Gifford asked.
"You think I don't know that? She is my daughter. How could any father bear to be away from his child?" Sheffield's lips broke into a cunning grin and he continued, "This will become my home too after we get married. I'll bring back Evelyn every day." In that case, it didn't matter where Gwyn lived because Sheffield could see her at any time he wanted.
Gifford admired Sheffield's perseverance and his devotion towards Evelyn. "Sounds like you're planning on becoming a living-in son-in-law!"
"So what? At least Evelyn will be happy. Not all women in the world can live with their parents after getting married. This is a pretty big deal for her. I want Evelyn to be happy without any regrets," Sheffield argued. Moreover, he was strongly opposed to the notion that frequent visitations to the Huo family manor would make him a living-in son-in-law. He had bought a new apartment in the neighborhood in case they wanted to spend some time alone. It would be his and Evelyn's new home; a place just for the two of them. Besides, the Huo family manor was just a few minutes away if they wanted to see their daughter. It seemed as though Sheffield had planned everything down to the smallest detail.
Gifford shook his head in disbelief, utterly impressed by Sheffield's resolve. "You used to be a womanizer. Who would have thought you'd be such a faithful and thoughtful partner? I don't know what to say; I couldn't hold a candle to you. But, hey, what if your father disagrees?"
"Well, it's not up to him anymore. It's my decision and he will have to accept it. If he is nice to Gwyn, I will let him see her occasionally. But he's only going to get one chance with my daughter...so I hope he doesn't screw it up. Anyway, I don't think he will do that. When he gets old, I will support him so he won't have to worry about anything."
"That makes sense. Well then, if that's all. Don't forget to let me know as soon as you and Evelyn set a date for the wedding."
"Sure! I'm hoping for you and Joshua to be my best men. Be prepared."
"Okay, I'll prepare my red envelope!"
"It'll be a big one. I need to buy a car, a house, and..."
"Dream on! You're not getting more than a dollar!"
Sheffield retorted with disdain, "You're such a cheapskate. Don't ever tell anyone that you know me."
"Sure. Do you want one?" Gifford took out another cigarette and offered it to him.
Sheffield refused, "No, thanks. Let's go inside." He didn't want to appear as a heavy smoker to the members of the Huo family.
The two men waltzed into the living room with the gift Sheffield had prepared for Carlos.
Sheffield gave the box to Carlos, who was talking with Wesley, and said, "Uncle Carlos, I have a gift for you."
He gently opened the box and revealed a bocarro teapot safely placed inside.
Carlos raised his widened eyes to look at him. Without a word, he took out the bocarro teapot and examined it carefully.
The teapot had a dark reddish color with a tinge of cyan. Wesley looked at it and said, "Carlos, your future son-in-law is a thoughtful man indeed. He gave you an azure mud ashtray last time, and now an azure mud teapot. Well done, kid."
Wesley knew that an item as rare as that wasn't easy to obtain. After all, the materials required to make them were historically scarce.
Carlos finally curled his lips and said, "How else was I going to test his determination to marry my daughter?"
Wesley agreed to his point with a simple nod. His temples throbbed painfully as he glanced at his daughter, who was playing video games. "I hope I can find a good husband for my Rika. I am so desperate I wouldn't mind throwing in an azure mud teapot if I can find someone to marry my daughter," Wesley sighed. All he wanted was a good man for his daughter; something every father wanted.
When she heard her name, Erica put down her phone and sat up, rolling her eyes at her father. "Dad, is that all I am to you?"
"It's not like that, honey. I was just feeling sorry for my future son-in-law, but I hope he will show up soon and take you away from my hands." Wesley couldn't wait for that day to come because then he wouldn't have to worry about her every day. That responsibility would then be transferred to Erica's husband.
"Son-in-law? Dad, I'm just fifteen! Don't you think you're rushing things a bit?"
"So what if you're fifteen? Once you reach the legal age, I will immediately marry you off!" Wesley's younger daughter was the source of his headache and receding hairline. Alas! If only she could learn from Yvette. Wesley's elder daughter was the apple of his eye, mainly because she would obey him without question.
"Humph! If the queue of bridal cars is not long enough, I won't marry; if he is not rich enough, I won't marry; if he is not handsome enough, I won't marry; if he is not tall enough, I won't marry!"
"Huh! Do you think you are good enough to be making such demands? Be realistic!" Wesley almost immediately despaired, dreading the possibility that no man would want to marry Erica.
Erica asked innocently, "Father, do you think I am being demanding? Considering our family's position and my brother's influence in A country, I don't think I'm raising my standards too high at all. Marriage is about two people with the same social status and family backgrounds coming together. Matthew, am I right?"
Matthew's attention, however, was focused on watching Gwyn playing. Everyone wondered whether he had heard what Erica had said, as he answered perfunctorily, "Yes, I think Erica is right."
"See? Dad, even Matthew thinks I'm right!" Erica cocked her head to one side with a sly smile, like a toddler coaxing a treat from a grownup.
Wesley cast a sullen stare at Matthew, who had long turned back to Gwyn. He snorted irritably towards Erica and said, "Two people with the same social status and family backgrounds? No problem. I'll just find a young man from a military family for you. That will be a good match."
"Please don't do that, Dad. Military men are seldom around their family. I'm afraid I might do something wrong if he doesn't return home for a long time!" Erica blurted out the words without even thinking, but everyone understood what she meant by the words "something wrong."
Wesley stood up at once and drew his hand back to deliver an open-handed reckoning.
Blair and Debbie had gone upstairs to have a private talk and Terilynn wasn't there at the moment. The only people sitting around the living room were Carlos, Evelyn, Matthew, Sheffield, Wesley, Erica and Gifford.
Gifford had seen this play before. When it came to Erica, Wesley's bark was always worse than his bite. Although he had raised his hand, he would never actually hit her. Even on the off chance that he did, he would never hit her hard enough to hurt.
However, the other people in the room had no idea about that.
Evelyn jumped up from her seat in a hurry and insisted, "Uncle Wesley, don't be angry. I think Erica was just kidding."
Carlos put down the teapot, stood up and grabbed Wesley's wrist. "What are you doing? She is just a kid. A good scolding would do the job. Why would you raise your hand?"