"WHAT?" dad's voice boomed inside the room as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

Mom placed her palm on dad's chest and for a second, it calmed him down. "Okay, since when this happened?" Mom calmly asked while dad was giving Alexander a dark, menacing scowl.

Before I could respond, dad started again. "You were only supposed to drive her, not romance her!" dad growled gruffly at Alex. His face as hard as a stone, lips pressed into a grim line.

"Babe," mom gave dad a warning stare.

"Clara Bell!" Mom called out as she cocked her head, waiting for an answer.

"I'm not sure, mom..." I sighed. "It just happened."

"That's it! I'm calling Stavros, we need to clear this issue. You're marrying my daughter!" dad declared and my eyes almost popped out of its sockets.

When he turned on his heel, my legs quickly move, following him. "You can't do that, dad!" I cried out, hands balled into a fist.

"Please finish all your food, baby." Alex's soft, soothing voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "You're staring into the distance blankly," he commented.

"Huh?" I murmured, a little disoriented.

Alex smiled as he cocked his head towards the food. My eyes dropped to the plate in front of me.

"You barely touch it," Alex said.

The plane is already airborne and we were just having our lunch. The food was great, but I feel so full. I absentmindedly push the plate away and shook my head.

"Are you alright? You were so quiet the whole time," Alex asked, full of concern.

"Y-yeah," I murmured as I gently wiped my mouth with the red table napkin and drank the rest of my wine.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked again, taking my hand.

My eyes met his gaze. "I'm a little queasy about my parents' reaction once they learned about us, especially dad," I confessed and Alex nodded his head.

"We can't avoid it, baby. I'm ready to face his wrath," Alex gave me a reassuring smile as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

I heaved a deep sigh.

I stared at his face and nodded my head involuntarily.

Alex can't keep his hands off me the whole time and I'd love the attention, his sweetness. I never thought he had this side of his.

When we arrived at our mansion, Alex was about to climb out of the car, my palm involuntarily rests on his thigh to stop him.

"Not now, Alex. I want to talk to them first," I begged him and his smile disappeared with his shoulders sagging as he nodded. His face marred with disappointment though he tried to conceal it with a smile.

"Tonight, we are having dinner at your place, I'll see you, okay?" I gave him a comforting smile and he again just nodded his head.

He leaned in and gave me a peck on my lips before urging me to go.

I watched the car left before I decided to get inside. I gave our valet a small smile in acknowledgment before walking through the opened door.

"Clara Bell!" Mom was running towards me from the living room, dad was following her.

"Mom," I smiled and ran into her embrace. She held me for a while, as she complained how long I was gone, where in fact, just a week.

"If only I can rewind the time," she whined and dad chuckled behind her.

"Welcome home, mi princesita!" dad hugged us both and I giggled. Those who don't live with us would never believe that underneath his cold stares were a bear. A soft, soft bear.

"Hi, dad," I smiled at him and pulled myself out of mom's embrace and hugged my father.

"You flew with Alexander? That kid was really responsible," dad commented and I just nodded my head, guiltily.

"Well, we will see them tonight as we are going to have dinner with them, and I'll thank him personally," dad pulled himself away and I couldn't look at his eyes.

"Come on, you need to take a rest before we leave," mom walked next to me as we both head upstairs.

"Did she eat yet? She must be hungry," dad asked from behind us. He was standing at the foot of the stairs, hands in his pockets as he stared at us. Mom turned to look at me, eyes silently asking.

I shook my head and turned to look down at my father. "I'm not hungry, dad. I just want to take a nap."

"Alright. Go sleep," dad smiled and turned to leave.

When we get to my room, mom perched on the edge of my bed. She was just watching me as I placed my purse on top of my vanity desk, then walked towards my walk-in closet and pulled out a pair of comfy pajamas.

"I don't want to meddle with your decision about the man you want to date..." I heard mom said which made me come to a halt. My heart leaped into my throat. My teeth sunk on my bottom lip as I walked out of the closet, with my purple PJs on hand.

I gave mom a tentative smile and walked over to her, placing the sleepwear on the bed, then face her. Her perusing eyes made me uncomfortable.

"Get straight to the point, mom," I said.

Mom smiled. Claire called..." —my hands involuntarily curled into a ball— "and I'm glad I was the one who answered the phone. She told me that you were dating Alex. And then the news where Alex's only in his boxer shorts was seen in front of your building." Mom explained.

I heaved a deep sigh, trying to calm my temper. At this moment, Claire just gained me as her enemy.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I murmured, looking down. I may not feel guilt now than before after I've come to realize that she's a user and a snake, but with my parents who don't know anything about her, I felt like I was a traitor.

Mom took my hands and gently pulled me closer. I sat next to her, still eyes everything but her. "What happened?" she asked in her most gentle voice.

"I never want to date Alex, mom," I shook my head as I looked down on my lap. "He's so persistent, and then I just found myself falling for him. He's very different than the guy I knew, the Alex I grew up with. He's very gentle, caring, thoughtful—"

"I know. We saw it, you were just too blinded by your hatred towards him," mom chuckled.

My head swirled and met mom's cerulean eyes. She doesn't look disapproving after my admission, she seemed relaxed. "Claire had never been honest with him..." I explained.

Mom nodded. She took my hand and gave a gentle, understanding squeeze. "I already sense it when I first met her, honey. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings because I saw that you were happy with her company, but we were watching," mom smiled and then pulled me and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"Thanks, mom," I said, relieved. Then I remember dad. "Does dad know about us yet?" I asked pulling away from her embrace.

Mom lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know. He seemed unaware of it," mom replied, a little hesitation in her tone. "If he knew about it, I'm not surprised," she added after.

A small sigh escaped my lips.

Mom got up to her feet. "Alright, I'll leave you alone. I'll talk to your dad, so he won't be surprised in case Alex was a doting boyfriend tonight," mom chuckled and my heart race again upon thinking about it.

Dad can be irrational sometimes especially when it comes to his family.

I quickly changed into my pajamas as soon as mom left, then hit the bed.

.

.

The night came, the ride to the Demakis' mansion was really unnerving. Dad had been staring at me since I got into the limo, though he never said anything, I could tell, he wasn't pleased.

I looked at him again and there he was, staring at me like I did something so unforgiving. Irritation starting to bubble up my system.

I looked away. A few minutes later, my eyes met his again and the same expression. I rolled my eyes. "Spill it, dad! I hissed.

I was sitting opposite them. Sid is sitting next to me and he was busy on his phone.

"I'm going to kill him!" dad growled which gotten Sid's attention.

"Who, dad?" he asked. I could feel Sid's eyes on me too.

Great!

"Alexander," dad answered without looking at Sid.

"What did he do?" Sid asked.

My eyelid slammed shut as I tried to calm myself.

"He had betrayed my trust," dad explained and without looking at him, I could feel his fierce eyes staring at me.

Opening my eyes, I gave mom a pleading look. Mom looked at dad and swat his thigh, too hard.

"Fuck!" dad growled loudly and gave mom a questioning look. His palm rubbed the area where mom's palm landed.

"Stop messing with your daughter!" mom glared at him and dad just shook his head.

"So Alexander is flirting with you?" Sid asked. His voice was flat and cold. Dad's blood was too strong, all my brothers had to look like him.

"He's not flirting with me!" I hissed at him and he glared at me.

"He bedded almost all of your friends!" Sid reminded me, but then he doesn't know if it's all true, if it's only just rumors.

"You have no strong evidence if he did!" I shot back.

"Your sister is right, Sid. Let's not judge him for what we just heard," mom snapped at my brother and Sid just gave mom an incredulous look.

"Seriously, mom?" Sid frowned.

Mom rolled her eyes. "I know that you and your brother had a fair share of women. I didn't judge you nor your sister did. So please, don't try to be the righteous here..." mom said.

"I'm not, mom!" he hissed.

"I know darling. Now let your sister enjoy her night. If Alex hurt her, then I won't stop you if you guys beat him into pulp. I might even encourage you to kill him," mom chuckled and my brother just shook his head.

I gave him a mocking smile and he just snickered at me.

Mom was right. Dad seemed to have taken what mom's said and he didn't say anything either.

As soon as the limo stopped right in front of the Demakis' front porch, their valet promptly came to help. He greeted us stiffly as he held the door open.

My heart cavorted when I saw Alex standing next to his mom and dad. My eyes darted to his parents who was smiling brightly as they came down and greeted us.

"Valiente!" Alex's dad said in a loud voice as he pulled my dad into a hug. All eyes shifted to them as the two exchanged greetings. Dad doesn't look happy at all while uncle Stavros was beaming brightly. "Soon, we are family!" he declared a little too cheerfully which caused my face to heat up awfully. He rested his shoulder on my dad's as he led him inside.

"Tatiana," I heard Aunt Ali said and I watched the two shared hugs too, not noticing Sid stopping Alex before he reached me.

"Are you okay?" I heard Alex's soothing voice next to me and that's when my whole attention shifted to him.

"Not really," I replied dragging my eyes to him. He dropped me a kiss on my forehead. My eyes swiftly searched around and felt a little relieved when I saw Sid's back following mom and Aunt Ali.

I met Alex's eyes again and sighed. "This is not going to end well," I said as I shook my head.

Alex let out a low chuckle. I frowned at him. He finds this situation amusing?

"I'm sorry," he quickly apologized. "Before I could even say anything, mom and dad already knew. I had to warn my driver to keep discreet next time," he explained.

"Well, let get this night over with," I said, letting him lead me inside.

......

Sorry guys, it was short. I apologize too for the very long wait.

Thank you and I hope this short chapter had entertained you somehow.