Emily’s hands felt as if they were covered in ice, fear creeping into her every nerve fiber. With a pounding heart, she opened the car door and got out with uncertain steps. They were both greeted by the housekeeper upon seeing Daniel. With a warm smile, she invited them both to come in.
“Your grandfather is waiting in the dining room, sir. Your aunt and uncle have also arrived,” the maid said in a soothing voice.
Emily felt her heart racing. Not only was Daniel’s grandfather there, but Daniel’s entire extended family was gathered. She swallowed, which felt like swallowing a stone, as she followed Daniel, who gave her directions to the dining room.
“All your family is here. What should we do?” Emily whispered in a trembling voice.
“Stay calm and remember everything we’ve prepared,” Daniel whispered back, trying to calm things down.
“Can we convince Grandpa?” asked Emily, her eyes searching for reassurance.
“Believe in yourself. We can do it.”
Finally, the two of them arrived at the dining room. At the end of the table sat Daniel’s grandfather, Jake, with his dignity, eating with Daniel’s aunt and uncle. But suddenly, a familiar voice greeted them.
“So our couple is here,” Sean exclaimed, his voice echoing, breaking the silence in the dining room.
‘Sean? How could he be here? Is Sean one of Mr. Daniel’s family too? Emily thought to herself.’
Daniel ignored Sean’s greeting, as did Emily, whose face paled, signs of nervousness clearly etched on her features. Daniel’s grandfather didn’t give them the slightest bit of attention, continuing to eat quietly, as if their presence was nothing more than a passing gust of wind. However, the cynical stares from Daniel’s aunt and uncle were piercing.
Snide looks from his family were already commonplace for Daniel. With steady steps, he took one seat in the dining room. However, it was different with Emily, as this was the first time she had experienced this situation.
“So, you’re referring to this lady?” Daniel’s Aunt Sophia asked.
“It looks like a familiar face,” muttered Daniel’s Uncle Robert, his eyebrows knitted together in consideration.
“Have we met before?” asked Robert.
“Of course you won’t be unfamiliar with this lady, as she is Daniel’s secretary,” Sean replied with a meaningful smile.
“So, this is location love, love between a superior and a subordinate. Wow, how sweet,” Sophia said in a sharp, sarcastic tone.
Sophia’s husband, Sean’s father, gave Sophia a sharp look, asking her to stop giving Daniel sarcasm.
“Your grandfather tried to set you up with a classy lady like Miss Olivia, but you chose to be with your secretary. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Sophia quipped.
Emily was surprised that while her boss was treated with respect in the office, Daniel was treated with disrespect by his own family.
Suddenly, the sound of spoons and forks slamming into plates echoed, making everyone silent. No one spoke anymore.
Jake, Daniel’s grandfather, with a hard look on his face and eyes blazing, looked at Daniel with disappointment. “This time Grandpa is very disappointed in you, Daniel,” he said in a heavy voice. “I had high hopes that you would unite our family with the Walton family through your marriage to Olivia. However, your choice has disappointed me.”
In the other corner, Emily was gathering courage from the responsibility that now rested in her hands because of her soul trapped in Daniel’s body. “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I wish Grandpa could understand and approve of our relationship.”
“You’re really no different from your father. Preferring to marry your ordinary mother,” Sophia quipped.
Silently, Daniel, who was trapped in Emily’s body, felt an unstoppable wave of emotions. Every cynical word thrown at him was like a knife that sliced him slowly. He finally couldn’t keep silent anymore.
“I understand your disappointment, Mr. Winston. I know I was not the woman expected to marry Daniel. But I beg you to judge me in another light. I am not from a business elite family, but I grew up in a loving family. I love your grandson with all my heart and I promise, with everything I have, I will make him happy.”
Sophia was about to open her mouth to interject, but her husband signaled her to remain silent.
Emily took a deep breath and let Daniel’s deep, authoritative voice flow through her.
“Grandpa, I love Emily, and that won’t change, no matter what. So, please bless us.”
After listening to Emily and Daniel’s confession and plea, without a word, Daniel’s grandfather left the dining room but could see from the look on his face that he was deeply disappointed and angry.
“Grandpa trusted you so much and you let him down,” Sophia said sarcastically.
Michael, one of Daniel’s uncles, replied in a dismissive tone. “Love? Oh, Daniel, do you think entrepreneurs like us rely on love to survive?” Michael asked, making everyone in the dining room laugh.
The onslaught of words kept coming, one after another. Every insinuation and slur thrown at Daniel cut into Emily’s heart. She could no longer contain herself. Her emotions exploded. “Are you really his family? How can you be so cruel and heartless?” she shouted, her voice shaking with anger and sadness.
However, before Emily could continue, Daniel gently pulled her hand away, signaling her to stop. “Let’s get out of here,” Daniel said in a firm voice as he pulled Emily’s hand.
After they left Daniel’s grandfather’s house, Emily was still muttering in an unaccepting tone. “Are they really your aunt and uncle? But how could they treat you like that? It’s really scary,” she said.
“We almost got caught if I didn’t pull you out of there,” Daniel said. “Remember, you’re in my body now, and your every action reflects me. You also almost exposed our identity to what you said earlier,” Daniel said.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Emily replied, her voice soft and regretful. “It’s because I couldn’t stop myself from seeing you treated like that,” Emily replied.
Daniel looked at Emily with a complex look, a mosaic of worry and determination. “In the future, use your power to protect yourself, not to defend me,” he said, his voice low but filled with certainty.
“What do you mean?” asked Emily, her confusion clear on her face, but Daniel ignored her question. He strode steadily towards their car, the door already wide open by Daniel’s personal driver, who stood in a respectful manner.
The car in which the two of them were traveling finally drove off slowly, piercing the silence of the night around Daniel’s grandfather’s residence.
“Thank you for today,” Daniel finally said, breaking the silence.
“Oh, it’s fine, sir,” Emily replied in an equally gentle voice.
“Oh yeah, what’s your relationship with Mr. Sean?” asked Emily, curiosity clear on her face.
“He is my aunt’s eldest son,” Daniel replied.
Emily was surprised. Her gaze then focused on the road that lay ahead of them. “Are we going home now?” asked Emily.
“What’s wrong?” asked Daniel, turning to her, his eyes searching for an answer in Emily’s gaze.
“Instead of going straight home, would you mind following me somewhere first?” suggested Emily, her eyes sparkling with excitement.