"No, Auntie, I still have to go to work in the office this afternoon," Mia Foster said while declining and glanced at Felix Shaw, who had no reaction.
"You don’t need to look at him—the auntie here makes the calls!" Melody Zachary pulled Mia Foster back, "It’s happily decided," then let go of Mia Foster and bent down to pick up a shopping bag from next to the coffee table, placing it on her lap and taking out the items one by one.
"Mia, Auntie won quite a bit from playing cards today, and I just bought a set of cosmetics; this is for you, keep it for yourself."
"No need, Auntie, I already have my own," Mia Foster quickly declined, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with her future mother-in-law’s enthusiasm.
"Just take it if I’m giving it to you, we’re all family here, what’s there to be polite about?" Melody Zachary said with a stern face which made Mia Foster even more awkward. She was used to a specific brand of skincare, so she didn’t use other brands, and she looked to Felix Shaw for help, "Felix..."
"Mom, better put these treasures away. Mia doesn’t need them; she doesn’t like this brand."
"She doesn’t like this brand? Then which one does she like?" Melody Zachary looked puzzled at her son while holding a bottle of makeup remover, then turned toward Mia Foster, "Mia, tell Auntie which brand you like, and I’ll buy it for you next time."
Mia Foster smiled and was just about to refuse when her arm was tightened—Felix Shaw had already pulled her up and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Mom, I’ll buy for Mia. Keep the money you won for yourself."
"This child." Melody Zachary chided again helplessly, put the cosmetics back, and then stood up holding a few other shopping bags, "You two talk first; I’ll take these back to the room."
As her future mother-in-law’s silhouette disappeared up the stairs, Mia Foster spoke softly, "Felix, I’m going to head back first."
Felix Shaw looked at her with a half-smile, "You want to go back dressed like this?"
Mia Foster pursed her lips and stopped insisting.
Talking with Melody Zachary was quite relaxing, as it was all woman to woman, and besides, Melody Zachary’s topics of conversation were about clothes, handbags, and skincare products. When she got excited, she even dragged Mia Foster into her walk-in closet, which was filled with clothes, bags, and shoes placed on specially made frames, looking even more dazzling than a department store display.
As it was getting close to dinner time, Melody Zachary instructed her son to chat with Mia Foster while she went to the kitchen. Watching her future mother-in-law enter the kitchen, Mia Foster said, "Felix, please let Auntie know that I’m going to head back first."
Having changed back into her own clothes since she didn’t greet her father when leaving in the morning and still had unfinished work, she planned to continue when she got home in the evening.
"Stay and eat with us before going back," the mother had already gone to prepare dinner, and inviting Mia Foster to stay for the meal was also a gesture of polite hospitality.
"No thanks, I still have unfinished work," Mia Foster grabbed her bag, and just as Felix Shaw was about to nod in agreement, at the doorway, Oliver Shaw had already come back from work early.
The Auntie took off her shoes and placed them on the floor tiles, and upon seeing Oliver Shaw coming in, Mia Foster’s facial expression clearly changed for a moment, then she smiled and greeted, "Uncle Shaw finished work?"
Hearing Mia Foster’s voice, Oliver Shaw was also slightly startled, and while taking off his leather shoes, he smiled and said, "Hmm, Mia is here."
Felix Shaw watched everything without a word, taking Mia Foster’s wrist and pulling her bag down, "Mom is already preparing dinner; she’d be disappointed if you don’t eat."
After saying so, he looked towards the doorway, "Dad, how come you’re home so early today?"
Oliver Shaw talked while placing his briefcase on the cabinet by the door and came in. Mia Foster took her shoulder bag back from Felix Shaw’s hand, "Felix, I really should be going back now,"