112 New Year’s Eve Invitation
The incident when dealing with Angela was hard for Kalea to forget. Arthur did not ask Kalea about his family at all anymore, and that relieved the girl a bit. Kalea really hoped that the meeting with Arthur’s family yesterday was her first and last meeting. Even though Albern and Aquila were so kind and accepting, still, the little sister of her sugar daddy hated Kalea.
However, it turns out that what Kalea expected actually happened the other way around.
A few days later, Aquila contacted her when Kalea had just returned from campus. Kalea frowned when an unknown number called her.
“Hello?”
[Lea! It’s me, Arthur’s mom! You still remember me, right?]
Kalea’s eyes were rounded perfectly, she covered her mouth in disbelief. She had just thought of Arthur’s family, and now Aquila had contacted her. Damn, Kalea did not know what to do but she already picked up the phone.
“A-ah, of course, I remember you, ma’am. Is there anything I can help?”
[Um, do you have an event on New Year’s Eve? We’re having an event at home, can you come? We can cook together! Don’t you want to know the recipes I use?]
Kalea bit her lower lip and closed her eyes to think of a reason she could use to reject the mother of her sugar daddy.
.....
“Um ... Ma’am, it seems for that new year’s eve ....”
[What is it? Ah, I’m sorry, you must have an event already, huh.]
Aquila’s voice sounded sad and made Kalea feel very guilty. Actually, she had absolutely nothing on the agenda that night.
[Actually, I want Arthur to go home again because it was very difficult to get him to gather with us. You know, Arthur and my husband are always fighting about marriage. I am very sad for making my own child uncomfortable at home. But my husband is very stubborn, every time I forbid him, he still does it again later. What do you think I should do, Lea?]
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKalea suddenly felt dizzy, and now Aquila was confiding in her.
[I love them both very much, and can’t side with just one person. But if my husband continues to force my son into marriage and makes him uncomfortable, would it be better if I divorced Albern? I don’t want to stress Arthur because he’s always being forced like this ....]
“N-no! Please don’t even think about divorce, Ma’am!” Kalea exclaimed quickly after hearing the word divorce. Something that Kalea hated until the end of her life. “Arthur will be very sad when he finds out that it happened. Maybe between Arthur and Mr. Jefferson, there is still a lack of communication. What is the reason that Arthur is still not ready to get married and after that, you can understand each other.”
[... you’re right. All this time, Arthur had never told me the reason-not even to me. He just says he hasn’t found the right woman for him yet. Maybe I, Albern, and Arthur should talk again and this time it should be more serious than before.]
“Good luck, Ma’am.”
[Thank you, dear. So, Lea, you really can’t come? It’s possible that if you come here, it won’t be difficult to get my son to come too ....”
This is where Kalea’s people-pleaser character comes into play. After hearing Aquila’s story, she could feel a little bit how it felt when she longed for someone to be able to enjoy the moment together again. Kalea can not feel it anymore; at least, she does not want Arthur to feel what she has been through all this time.
Because being a child without the love of both parents at once is the most painful thing.
“Okay, I’ll come, ma’am.”
[Really? Yeay! Thank you, Lea! I like you!]
Kalea smiled bitterly, somehow making Aquila happy like this also made her happy. “But I don’t think Arthur will come even if he knows I’m there.”
[Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll come! But, Lea, don’t tell him anything, okay? Let him know when it’s New Year’s Eve. Okay?]
“Ah... okay.”
[Thank you! I’ll tell you again later. I must be interrupting your time, then we’ll end it here.]
“Not at all, Ma’am. I enjoyed talking to you.”
Since there was nothing more to talk about, Aquila ended the call. And after that, Kalea put her phone on the bed, she held her head in frustration.
“What else did I do? Did I really consciously agree to it?” Kalea muttered then ruffled her brunette hair to a mess.
If she came there, it was as if she was challenging Angela, even though she had been warned to stay away from the Jefferson family. However, she is also hard to resist when Aquila tells the story in a voice that wants to cry!
Crazy, dealing with the Arthur family can drive her crazy.
“I’ve gone crazy facing Arthur, and now his family ....”
Stupidly, she just remembered that she had given her contact number to Aquila. Again because of her difficult nature to refuse someone’s request, especially to people who are very good to her. One more reason that made Kalea forced to give her contact number to Aquila was because at that time, Arthur was not by her side. As a result, there was nothing to hold her back from giving the woman her contact number.
Kalea sighed in resignation, she would face everything gracefully and once again she had to face Angela. Whatever happened next, she had to go through it.
Arrived on New Year’s Eve. Kalea came there alone at five o’clock in the afternoon, because Arthur was busy spending time with his business colleagues. Arthur spent his spare time doing that expensive hobby with others who shared his interests.
Actually, Kalea had been invited by Arthur, but of course, she refused because she already had an appointment with someone else. That was none other than a promise to Arthur’s family without the man knowing.
Kalea was escorted by the servant to meet Aquila, who was already busy in the kitchen.
“Lea! You’ve come! Come here!” Aquila exclaimed, who was always cheerful while cooking various kinds of food for New Year’s Eve.
Kalea smiled awkwardly, then walked over to the woman. Looking at the messy kitchen without the slightest gap left. Aquila really enjoys cooking, even the chefs do little to help.
“I’ve already made some of the side dishes. Can you help me, Lea?”
“Sure, I’m ready to help you, ma’am,” Kalea replied as she rolled her long arms up to her elbows.
Aquila gave her a black apron with a polka dot ribbon. Kalea accepted it and immediately put on the apron.
“W-what’s wrong, ma’am?” Kalea asked as Aquila looked at her with a smile.
“As expected, you look so cute in that apron!” Aquila praised.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA blush appeared on both of Kalea’s cheeks, she blushed at being praised by the woman. “Th-thank you.”
Kalea started helping Aquila prepare other cooking ingredients, such as slicing salmon, bacon, pouring the cake ingredients that had been collected, putting them in the oven, and so on. Aquila also told her the tips and recipes that she had promised before. Kalea was amazed when Aquila finished her dishes one by one very beautifully.
Now Kalea knows where Arthur’s talent for food plating comes from, apparently from his mother.
“Ma’am, have you ever worked as a chef?” Kalea asked suddenly, she did not even realize she was saying it because she was too amazed by Aquila’s abilities.
“Eh? No, ahaha! I just like to cook like mothers in general, really. As I get older, I don’t have anything else to do except at home. That’s why I spend more time in the kitchen; I’m very happy when people my loved ones enjoy my cooking!” Aquila said with a big smile when she told her that.
Kalea was once again amazed by the woman. Aquila is a really good and great mother. Maybe if her family is still okay, Freya is the same as Aquila. Kalea misses her mother even more; she’s eager to meet Freya soon, of course in better conditions.
“Oh, the dessert is done!” Aquila exclaimed.
“Let me pick it up.”
“Okay~”
Kalea opened the oven and lifted the pans containing the various kinds of cakes one by one. Aquila really cooked a lot of food as if there would be a lot of people coming to the show tonight. Kalea was also given the opportunity to decorate some cupcakes. Well, although it will not be as pretty as the woman makes.
“Did you tell Arthur when you came here?” Aquila asked.
“No, ma’am. As you say.”
Aquila laughed softly, she thought Kalea was really cute and very obedient.
“After this, I’ll tell Arthur if you’re here. I can’t wait to see his reaction, ahaha!”
Kalea could not help but laugh with her, even though her feelings were not calm. After this event was over, Kalea was sure Arthur would scold her. However, it seemed there was something she had forgotten.
“... Mom?”
Kalea stopped laughing. Here it is. This is what she forgot!
“Oh, dear! Are you home, honey?” Aquila said, washing her hands and then approaching her second child.
Kalea’s body seemed to stop moving; she was only looking at the interaction of the mother and child, who was now hugging. Kalea immediately turned her gaze in another direction when Angela stared at her very sharply. Her heart was pounding in fear for her fate after this.