Chapter 605 - Six Hundred And Five: Wolf In Sheep Clothing
The third point of view:
Note - not edited
It was already sundown by the time they drove into the compound. Pedro told Isabella his paternal side of the family wanted to have dinner and spend time with her before their wedding day.
Even though it was the first of them meeting officially, Isabella was not nervous, if anything, she was calm. Isabella was strangely calm that Pedro had to ask if she was fine.
"I'm fine," Was all she said before getting out of the car. She knew Fernandez's side of the family and they were all wolves in sheep's clothing.
"My mom would not be here tonight," Pedro informed her.
"Why are you telling me that?" Isabella asked him, her gaze boring into his.
.Pedro licked his lips, "I eh... Just so you could relax,"
Isabella and his mother Cecil were not exactly the best of friends right now. Although she was not against his marriage to Isabella, her love for her daughter-in-law has diminished.
Everything started after his mother, Cecil, heard Isabella's plans of not having a baby in their marriage and his agreement to it. Yes, he had been uncomfortable with Isabella's decision at first, he loved Isabella and would do anything for her. So he agreed and got used to it.
Moreover, just because Isabella doesn't want to birth to a child doesn't mean they couldn't adopt. One doesn't have to be family by blood alone.
But Cecil was against it, vehemently. Why would a healthy lady like her decide not to have children? That was her question.
"I want grandchildren. I don't agree with it. If I didn't birth you, she wouldn't have you to marry, I need a grandson. Your lineage cannot just end like this," Cecil insisted.
The both of them argued every time they met because every conversation they had come down to her decision of having no children. But then, his mother let her be for his sake, while hoping Isabella changes her mind in the long run.
"Pedro!" Lucinda came out to welcome him.
"Grandmother," He hugged her.
Yes, he and Lucinda had a messy beginning due to the actions of his late father, Fernandez, Pedro couldn't abandon his grandmother. They had a rough start but became friends over time. After all, there's no permanent friend nor enemy.
However, that couldn't be said for his mother, Cecil, and Lucinda. Even after ten years, the both of them were still sworn enemies and couldn't stand being close - that is why Cecil wasn't in attendance.
Lucinda claims Cecil disgraced and took away her power in the family - she still hasn't forgotten Maggie. Unfortunately, Cecil thinks she's a dark force who would soon corrupt him - Pedro - as well. Thanks to that, his mother made sure she kept him away from the family as far as possible unless it was a responsibility he couldn't avoid. But then, it caused Lucinda to loathe her the more; she was taking her grandson from her. He wondered how his family became this way.
"You look different from the last time we met," she clasped his face and began to examine him, "You look so stressed, what's your fiancée even doing..." the woman trailed off when she noticed movements around the side of the car.
"That fiancée is here," Isabella announced her presence with a blank expression.
Lucinda gulped, for some strange reason, this granddaughter-in-law of hers scared her.
Isabella went on, "You should have asked me directly, I would have given you the answers right away, don't you think so?" She hinted that the woman shouldn't badmouth her behind her back.
Pedro cleared his throat when he sensed how tense the atmosphere became. He laughed awkwardly, trying to salvage what's left of the situation, "Grandmother was just joking, don't take it to heart," he told her.
"Sure," Isabella said, "If I took her comment to heart, she wouldn't be here right now,"
Pedro laughed off her comment but the deed had already been done, Lucinda got the message - this granddaughter of hers was not to be trifled with.
She looked at Pedro's face with terror, what kind of woman was her grandson marrying? She feared for his future.
"By the way, I believe this is the first time of us meeting, my name is Isabella," The girl stretched her hand out for a handshake.
Lucinda took her hand for barely a second before letting go. What had Pedro done, bringing a tiger into their home? She just hoped he had her tamed.
"Pedro," another voice said from behind and they all turned to see Rita, Fernandez's wife.
Isabella's warning instinct kicked in, this was a bigger wolf than Lucinda. She knew her, Fernandez's legal wife who cheated on him with their first son and finally in his death, gave birth to a son that was indeed his.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, if one didn't look carefully, they might think she's Pedro's biological mother due to their similarities - Fernandez's obsession with Cecil drove him to marry a woman with same physical similarities as her.
"Rita," Pedro muttered, straightening his back. The atmosphere became charged once again until a little boy ran past Rita, only to wrap his arms around Pedro's waist.
Isabella didn't fail to notice the way Rita's features distorted, guess someone didn't want affection between the brothers. Isabella pinched the bridge of her nose, she hated dramas between families. It was exhausting.
"Brother Pedro," The boy looked at him with pride.
"Jodah," Pedro picked the boy up notwithstanding his age and weight, "How have you been lately?"
"I'm fine," Jodah said, "By the way, congratulations once again, I heard your business expanded, I saw you on the television again,"
Pedro boomed at him, "Thank you, Jodah. And did you receive the gift I send to you?"
At the mention of the gift, the boy's face changed at once and everyone understood what happened. Pedro turned to Rita, the boy's mother, "What did you do with the gift I sent to him?"