Chapter 7 A Second Family

• The cars hooked Angela and Kerry's attention towards them, as the two sisters watched in complete awe.
• Both became overwhelmed when she saw Antonio Montero’s Grandma by name Elizabeth being helped out of the car by a lady dressed in a maid uniform.
• "Who is that?” Liya, one of the twins, asked no one in particular.
• The neighbors gathered to witness the important guest in their neighborhood, it was nothing usual to have this kind of visitor.
• Some stuck out their necks from the window, while others thought it would be better to get a closer view and walked to Angela's place.
• "Is that…no it can't be….she is not her right?” Kerry said in a whisper…too stunned to speak out loud.
• “Oh no, the engagement ring”.
• Angela muttered, she quickly rushed into the house.
• Leaving Kerry more confused.
• “Are you okay?”
• Mrs. Smith asked her after the rush in.
• “I'm perfectly fine”.
• Angela replied immediately and took out the ring from her bag, quickly she put on the engagement ring and rushed back outside.
• Kerry was still on the same spot, Angela walked past her and went to Grandma Elizabeth.
• Jace and the twins watched in amazement.
• The woman hugged Angela like a daughter and kissed her cheeks.
• “May I?”
• Angela said softly and took her by the hand.
• “Thank you, my darling.”
• Mrs. Elizabeth replied, Angela smiled back at her.
• They walked slowly towards the door.
• Mrs. Smith drew the curtain as soon as she saw the two approaching, her heart leaped.
• Quickly, she went through the back door and sent Bryan to the grocery store to get food items for the guests.
• When the door opened, she stood up in respect.
• “I am so happy to meet you Ma'am”.
• “Please call me Elizabeth, you are quite younger than I imagined, and your daughter must have inherited your beautiful genes”.
• Grandma Elizabeth commented.
• Mrs. Smith's face flushed.
• “How I wish I was the lucky woman who gave birth to such a precious angel, she is not my daughter but my late friend’s”.
• “Oh, I…am sorry for that”.
• Grandma Elizabeth said slowly, her voice unsteady due to shock.
• “Please and welcome to our humble home”.
• Mrs. Smith replied.
• “Thank you dearest”.
• Angela helped her to sit on the biggest sofa chair in the small room.
• “Please be patient with me, food will be ready soon” Mrs. Smith said and rushed into the kitchen.
• Grandma Elizabeth’s eyes went to every corner of the room, and then an old picture of baby Angela and her mother caught her attention.
• “The room is comfortable enough, I love the simplicity”.
• “Thanks” Angela was starstruck as she couldn't help smiling while sitting beside this former beauty queen.
• “And that must be your mother”.
• Angela nodded.
• “You got her everything.”
• “Thanks, she died four years after the picture was taken and just a few months after my younger brother Jace was born”.
• “That's awful, I am so sorry”.
• Mrs. Smith came back with a cup of ginger tea and gave it to Grandma Elizabeth, beaming uncontrollably.
• “Bless you honey, but how did you know…”
• "I was a big fan by then, as a crazy teenager, I researched your diets to boost my looks, but you were gifted by nature I must say”.
• Grandma Elizabeth gave her a warm smile, then her face elongated with sadness.
• “It must be really difficult to raise these kids together with your family responsibility”.
• “Oh please, ma'am, I don't deserve such appreciation. I absolutely did nothing but come over a couple of times. It’s all thanks to Angela, after her mother's death, she took the burden of family responsibility at such a young age and carried it all alone”.
• “Bless you Angela for being an angel to your siblings, my grandson definitely made a good choice”.
• Grand Elizabeth smiled softly at Angela.
• Angela noticed her siblings eavesdropping on the conversation; their shadows were visible below the front door.
• “You guys…you can join us”.
• Jace opened the door with an awkward grin and walked into the room followed by the twins then lastly Kerry.
• She looked like she was having a daylight nightmare from the expression on her face.
• “They are all your siblings?”
• Grandma Elizabeth asked.
• “My immediate younger sister Kerry, the twins are my nieces, the man of the house Jace, my youngest sibling”.
• Angela introduced them.
• “Welcome Ma'am”.
• Jace bowed a bit.
• Grandma Elizabeth gave him a welcoming nod.
• “Welcome Grandma”.
• The twins said in chorus, hiding behind their uncle.
• “Ain't they cute”.
• She smiled at them…then her gaze went up to Kerry. She had noticed her lack of interest when she walked into the room but decided not to care about it.
• Furthermore, she turned to Angela.
• “So my precious, tell me how long have you guys been together?”.
• “1 year… I mean 2 years”.
• “2 years or a year?”
• Grandma asked with an eyebrow raised.
• “Well we met two years ago, but I kept turning him down until a year later we started dating.”
• Angela replied nervously.
• “Oh please”.
• Kerry mumbled in annoyance hearing she turned Antonio down, that doesn't even make sense.
• “What a surprise! There is actually a woman who can turn my grandson's request down, that's new. No wonder he chose you, he is that type”.
• Elizabeth said in genuine surprise.
• “How did you keep it off the media, and even us your family sister?” Jace added.
• “I wanted to surprise you all and besides I don't like the spotlights and the show-off, so I made him swear to keep it a secret for, I guess he really cares about me.”
• Angela replied, surprising herself with the confidence in her voice.
• “I must say he is, it's new to me hearing all this about my grandson, I know him very well, and I am so happy he found you…”.
• Grandma Elizabeth replied.
• “So…you are saying, you've been dating Antonio Montero all these while, and you still go on dates with strangers from a dating site?”
• Kerry snapped, her chest heavy.
• The silence in the room after the comment was awkward and intense.
• Angela didn't expect her to go that far but no, what?
• What answer will she give?
• She opened her mouth but not a single word in her mind to say.
• “I understand why”.
• Grandma Elizabeth replied instead.
• “Dating a man like my son can be very hard, considering he is famous for playing games… I don't blame Angela here for having double thoughts and going on dating websites.”
• “You understand me so well Grandma”.
• Angela smiled back at her.
• Kerry rolled her eyes aggressively.
• “Quite unfortunate that Antonio is not here with me, he had a very tight schedule, but I promise he will visit soon, but now I think I had to call him so he can say hello to his future second family”.
• The maid, standing behind her, gave her a phone.
• Angela kept her fingers crossed, hoping this won't be a bad turn out.