He used to cook just to fill his stomach, but now, with Rebecca in his life, Mio found joy in making her happy. A simple breakfast could earn Rebecca’s heartfelt praise, and soon, she became utterly smitten. To her, Mio was simply extraordinary.
“Mio, come to my house tonight. I’ll call my family to let them know,” Rebecca said, turning to glance at him as he drove. How could someone look so handsome even while driving? She finally understood why so many women had fallen so deeply for him in the past. There was a kind of magic about him-an allure that grew stronger the more time you spent with him.
“Tonight? I thought we agreed on a few days later,” Mio replied, his tone calm.
“I want to introduce you to my family as soon as possible. It feels like I’ve found a treasure, and I can’t wait to share it with them.”
“Alright. I’ll pick you up this afternoon, and we’ll go together,” he agreed. After all, it was inevitable. Better to face it sooner rather than later.
Rebecca nodded happily. Later, as Mio dropped her off at work as usual, he began his long day of preparations. Thankfully, he had done his homework weeks ago while trying to secure a business deal. He knew the preferences of every member of the Barnet family.
For a first visit, he couldn’t show up empty-handed. He spent the entire day shopping for gifts. Meanwhile, Rebecca had already informed her family. As soon as the workday ended, she hurriedly left the office-meeting Mio was the part of her day she always looked forward to the most.
“Mio!” she called out as she approached him.
“You’re off work early today?” he asked, smiling.
“I just couldn’t wait to see you,” she said honestly, her personality candid and open. Rebecca never hid her feelings-when she liked something, it showed.
“Alright then, ready to head to your house now?” Mio asked.
“Of course! I’ve already told them you’re coming. Mio, is it just me, or have you gotten even more handsome?” Rebecca’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
Mio, dressed impeccably for his first meeting with her family, couldn’t help but smile. He appeared composed, but his palms were damp with nervous sweat. He had nothing to his name right now and couldn’t stop worrying about whether the Barnet family would accept him.
“Mio, we’re here. What are you daydreaming about?” Rebecca’s voice snapped him back to reality.
“Oh, I’ll grab the stuff from the trunk,” he said quickly.
“Why are you being so formal? You’re practically family already-you don’t need to bring anything,” Rebecca said, her tone teasing yet affectionate. She had already decided he belonged to her, even if her family hadn’t officially approved yet.
“It’s my first visit. It’s only polite,” Mio insisted. He kissed her lightly before heading to the trunk, returning with bags of gifts and a potted orchid in his arms.
“Did you raid a wholesale market? Why so much stuff? And where did you even find this orchid?” Rebecca asked, astonished.
“I dug it up from a friend’s place. I heard your grandfather loves plants,” Mio explained, balancing the orchid carefully while carrying the rest of the bags.
Rebecca was touched by his thoughtfulness. The phrase “love me, love my family” came to mind. The more care Mio showed to her family, the more it proved how much he cherished her.
When they arrived at the house, she thought they’d be early, but to her surprise, everyone else was already there. Aurora was lounging on the couch watching TV while Julian fed her fruit. Rebecca had always thought Barnet men were the most devoted, but now she realized Mio was just as wonderful. Lila was off to the side, sketching, while their parents sat in formal attire, clearly expecting them.
“We’re back,” Rebecca announced.
Aurora, already aware of Rebecca and Mio’s relationship, greeted him warmly with a smile. “Welcome, Mio. Come in.”
It had been a couple of months since Mio last saw Aurora, and her pregnancy was now unmistakable. Her once petite face had grown rounder, and Julian seemed determined to pamper her into becoming even plumper.
“Come in and have some fruit,” Julian said coolly.
Mio, usually eloquent, suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Holding the orchid awkwardly, he stood rooted to the spot.
“You’ve met Julian and Aurora already. This is my sister Lila, and these are my parents,” Rebecca introduced everyone.
“Hello, I’m Mio,” he said, clutching the orchid like a shield.
“Put the plant down; it must be heavy,” Rebecca’s mother said kindly.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mio replied, setting the orchid down. As he did, he noticed everyone’s eyes on him, scrutinizing him. Nervous, he stood stiffly, as if at attention in a military drill.
Rebecca quickly came to his rescue. “Mom, every single one of these gifts was handpicked by Mio. He put so much effort into it.”
“You’re already siding with him, and you’re not even married yet,” her mother teased.
Mio scratched his head shyly. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like them. This one is for Lila,” he said, handing over a gift.
“For me?” Lila exclaimed, setting aside her sketchbook. She opened the beautifully wrapped package to find a limited-edition pink Hello Kitty plush. Her eyes lit up.
“Wow! This is a collector’s item! How did you even get your hands on this?” she asked, delighted.
“I had a friend help me track it down,” Mio admitted. Lila’s instant excitement eased his nerves-one down, a few more to go.
“Mom, Dad, open yours next,” Rebecca urged, curious herself.
Inside their package was a set of matching watches, elegant and understated. The thoughtful gift immediately won them over.
“Look at that! These couple’s watches are perfect. They’ll look great on you two,” Rebecca said happily.
“I’m too old to wear something like this. People will laugh at me,” her mother protested lightly, though the smile on her face betrayed her delight.
Her father, however, wasted no time. “Let me help you put it on,” he said, understanding her sentiment immediately. “It fits perfectly. Thank you, Mio. You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“As long as you like it,” Mio replied, handing the last gift bag to Aurora. “I wasn’t sure what to get you, but I heard you’re expecting twins. So, I had these made.”
Aurora opened the box to find two intricately crafted good-luck charms woven from colorful thread. “I hope your little ones arrive safely and grow up healthy,” Mio said sincerely.
Aurora smiled warmly. “Thank you. These are wonderful.”
Just as everyone was admiring their gifts, an older man descended the stairs. “We have a guest?”
“Grandpa, this is Mio. Come see what he brought for you!” Rebecca said, hurrying to help him down the stairs. “Look! Isn’t this the orchid you’ve been searching for? Mio found it for you. Isn’t he amazing?”
“Well, well, young man. You do know your stuff,” Maxwell said, clearly impressed. Seeing everyone delighted with his gifts, Mio finally relaxed. He had spent the entire day, skipping lunch, to gather these presents.
Maxwell, thrilled with the orchid, pulled Mio outside to help him plant it in the garden. Just like that, the Barnet family accepted him as one of their own.