After the funeral, Andrew told Stephanie to go with Fulbeth because he had an emergency at the office and he was leaving. Stephanie agreed; she was already going to pick the children up from Arthur's mansion.
Fulbeth also decided to go there since it had been a long time since the last time he visited.
When they arrived at the Arthur mansion, Fulbeth's younger sister, Precious, was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed. She was busy braiding Arya's hair and tying them with small silver hair strings. "Hey guys," Stephanie greeted while Fulbeth went forward and kissed her hair. "Hey sis." "Welcome mommy and uncle." "Where is your brother?" Stephanie asked. Arya answered, "He is in the library with the old man." "Arya, stop calling your grandpa old. He is not," Mrs. Stella, Fulbeth's mother who just came out of the kitchen, spoke. "But grandpa said it himself that he is old." "That doesn't mean you should call him that." "Good evening, mom." Fulbeth went and hugged his mom by her side. "Good evening, aunty," Stephanie also greeted. "But grandma, he is not..." "Arya, stop arguing with your grandma... it doesn't show respect," Stephanie told her daughter. "Mommy..." "Apologize to your grandma." "But Mom—" "Now." "Sis, don't scold my beloved niece like that," Precious said. "Mom has just run out of people to argue with, and now she is picking one with my dear angel. Don't mind her, and don't feel bad, my beloved. It is just a sign of growing old." Precious emphasized the word "old," making Stella's face crumble.
"I'm sorry, Grandma," Arya apologized. "Fulbeth, did you hear what your sister said? She is saying I am growing old," Mrs. Stella complained.
Fulbeth sighed at his mother's complaint. "Mom, honestly, you have grown..." He intentionally left out the word "old." "...but that doesn't change the fact that you are beautiful and, of course, the best mom."
Mrs. Stella's frowning face suddenly brightened up at her son's words. "I will go and greet Dad," Fulbeth cooed. "Oh, let me go with you," Stephanie said.
As Stephanie was about to follow him, her phone started to ring. She stopped and answered it. "Hello?" she asked.Eric's voice came from the other end. "Hi, Steph. Can you come to Anster immediately? Andy is very angry, and I fear he might do something silly." She frowned and sighed. "Okay, I am on my way," she said before hanging up the call.
"I need to go to Anster. I will be back before supper," Stephanie cooed. "Is something wrong?" Fulbeth asked. "I think so. Eric said Andy is worked up." Fulbeth nodded his head. "Mommy, are you going to see daddy? Can I come with you?" Arya asked. "Yes, baby. I am going to see daddy, but you can't come with me. But I promise daddy and I will come back before supper, okay?" "Okay, mommy." "Here, take my car." Fulbeth handed her his car key. "Thank you, cuz." She immediately went to Anster with Fulbeth's car.
When she got there, Eric was waiting for her at the parking lot. He led her straight to Andrew's office. Stephanie could hear the loud voice of Andrew as he scolded someone. "I will leave you here. Good luck," Eric left her at the door. She took in a deep breath before entering the room. "Bullshit!!" He threw the files on the floor. "You are fired, Janusz, and you too!" He pointed at Steph. "Before you leave, make sure she doesn't get a job anywhere!" Janusz gulped. He had never seen his boss this angry ever since he started working for him five years ago. He was so angry that he didn't even see the person who had just walked in a while ago.
"I am not your employee, but there is one thing I am sure you can fire me from, and that is being your girlfriend... so tell me, do you want us to break up?"
Andrew felt a lump in his throat. He was definitely going to fire someone today, but he had to first clear up the mess and chaos that had cost him.
"Li... Lily... you are here."
"Yes, so tell me, who made you this angry?"
Andrew gulped. "Why don't you sit down first?"
Stephanie nodded and went to sit on the couch.
"Leave here, and tell Sally to bring a glass of orange juice," Andrew ordered, and Janusz quickly went out of the room, wanting to escape Andrew's gaze as soon as possible.
When Janusz closed the door behind him, Stephanie turned her attention back to Andrew, waiting for him to answer her question.
Andrew took a deep breath. "Lily, you shouldn't worry about it. They made a mistake, and it has caused a little misfortune, that's all. You know I don't right like carelessness. That's why I am so worked up."
"Andy, you know I don't like it when you..."
The knock on the door interrupted Stephanie.
"Good evening sir, ma'am."
"Evening," Stephanie responded, while Andrew just nodded.
"Please, here is the orange juice you asked for."
"Place it on the table," Andrew instructed, pointing at the table in front of Stephanie. Sally did as she was told before excusing herself. She was about to walk out when she remembered something.
"Sir, please, your father has been calling numerous times. I have told him you don't want to—"
"Sally, please leave us." The threat in Andrew's voice was obvious as he interrupted her. Sally quickly exited the office.
"Are you going to continue hiding things from me?"
"No... it's not like that. Dad bought shares in Anster without my knowledge. Since he did that behind my back, I don't see why I should talk to him now," Andrew lamented.
Stephanie sighed. "Come and sit." She tapped the seat beside her. Andrew walked over and sat down. "Hand over your phone."
"Lily..."
"Hurry up," Stephanie insisted, stretching out her hand.
Andrew hesitantly pulled his phone from his pocket and gave it to her. She unlocked it and opened his contacts. She swiped until she saw "Dad" in the contact list. Andrew gulped.
"Lily... please don't do this," he pleaded, but Stephanie paid no heed. After just two rings, Mr. Gray answered the phone. "Son... son... son..." Stephanie gave the phone to Andrew. He went and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window before responding to his father's call.
"Dad."
"God, son, how can you do this to us? No matter what we did wrong, we are still your parents and we only want the best for you."
Andrew licked his lips in annoyance, but he didn't dare voice it in front of Stephanie. "That's what Mom also said, and Lily is backing you guys up. All the things you did—calling it 'the best for me'—only brought me torment. I lost six whole years with my children and Lily, and you deny doing anything wrong," he voiced.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. It lasted for about five seconds before Mr. Gray said, "I am sorry, okay? You know you are all that we have, and we didn't want you to lack anything. Stephanie was poor, and we feared she and her family would be a burden on you. But now we don't have to worry anymore. You shouldn't drag this out. Your mother came back and she hasn't been well at all. She was even taken to the hospital. She was discharged three days ago, yet she refuses to take care of herself and I fear she might end up in the hospital again. You are the reason she's behaving this way. If you can talk to her, I am sure she will behave well."
Andrew sighed. "Are you with her?"
"No... I had to rush to the office because of something about the shares I bought in Anster. I only did that to help you, so stop trying to take them back."
Andrew ignored his explanation. "Call me when you get home." He took the phone away from his ear and hung up. When he turned to Stephanie, she smiled at him. Andrew went and sat back on the couch."You did well."
"Hmm... Mom is sick, and she is not taking care of herself. I will go in the evening and talk to her."
Stephanie smiled again. "Come on, I promised your daughter I will bring you to Arthur's mansion for supper."
"Let me pack my things."
When Stephanie left, Fulbeth proceeded to the library. When he got there, the old man was busy explaining some business tricks to Obed, who was sitting in the chair with his forearms and chin on the office table.
"Good evening, Dad... Hello, champ," he greeted.
"Evening, son."
"Hello, Uncle."He went and sat on the chair beside Obed. Mr. Arthur looked at his son's face and smirked. With Fulbeth's facial expression, one could easily tell he was in a dilemma. "What is wrong?" Mr. Arthur asked. "Hmm..." Fulbeth only sighed at his father's question. "Obed... give us some space, okay?" The boy quickly nodded and walked out. "It is about Edna, right? You truly deserve it. How could you reject such a woman?" Mr. Arthur scolded. Fulbeth didn't deny even once what his father said. "You are right, Dad, and I understand it now when they say you won't know who is important to you until you lose them." Mr. Arthur continuously nodded his head. His son had finally gotten some sense. Indeed, experience is the best teacher. "So... what have you been doing to try and win her heart?" "I've been apologizing and telling her what I feel about her." "Tsk... tsk... tsk..." "You didn't take after me at all. You are such a snail." "In what way, Dad?" "Have you kissed her before?" "Two or three times, I think." "Did she pull away?" "No..." Mr. Arthur sighed, disappointed in his son. "Seriously, Fulbeth, she didn't pull away after you kissed her and you didn't take the chance. Son, let me tell you, it is not always that you have to be gentle; sometimes you need to be shameless."
She knows people can be deceived by what they hear. Let her feel what you feel for her. Make her feel your love through action. You know "actions speak louder than words." Fulbeth sat still in his chair, processing his father's advice. "Come on. Leave, and call me my grandson.
"Stephanie and Andrew arrived at the Arthur mansion in different cars. While Andrew drove his own car, Stephanie drove Fulbeth's car. When they went inside, it was already thirty minutes past dinner, and the family was waiting for their arrival. "Finally," Precious breathed. The couple went to the kitchen and washed their hands before making their way to the dining table, where everyone was settled after their arrival.