MARRIED BY ACCIDENT

Chapter 6

Katherine

"Is this my daughter-in-law? Very beautiful and elegant." Axel's mother happily hugged me when they entered the house.

"Hello, Mom. Dad. I'm Katherine Harret. Axel's wife," I greeted Phil's parents with a smile.

It was obvious that they were excited to have a daughter-in-law, so they were very happy when they saw me. His mother was talkative while his father was quiet. Axel could hardly speak because his mother did all the talking. I just nodded and smiled. But I wasn't bored even though she was the only one talking more. Her energy and happiness were contagious.

Axel’s mother is beautiful and has smooth skin, while his father is handsome and dresses neatly. They look younger than their real age. They were elegant and don’t seem poor at all. Even Axel doesn’t look like he grew up in a poor family. But maybe they just know how to dress well and keep themselves clean, so they look rich.

“Please be patient with your Mom, Katherine. She’s just excited to have a daughter-in-law. We’ve been telling Axel for a long time to settle down but he still doesn’t want to,” Axel’s father apologized shyly.

“It’s okay, Dad. It’s actually good that Mom is talkative because it’s easy to get along with her,” I answered Axel’s father with a smile. But my smile suddenly disappeared from my lips when I realized the term I used to refer to his mother. “I mean, someone who tells a lot of stories and—”

"Don't explain, Katherine. I wasn't offended because I admit that I'm really talkative," my mother-in-law said with a laugh.

I breathed a sigh of relief because she wasn't offended by what I said. I thought that on the first day we met, I would already make a bad impression on her. Blame ut on my mouth. I don't know why sometimes I can't stop myself from saying what's on my mind. But wait, why am I suddenly worried about making a bad impression on Axel's parents? We're just in a contractual relationship. We're not a real couple.

"Why are you living in such a small house, Axel? Why didn't you bring her to your big house?" my mother-in-law suddenly asked Axel. I looked at Axel and frowned. What does his mom mean? Does Axel have another house that's bigger than this one?

"Dad. Take Mom to the kitchen so she can cook our dinner. Let her daughter-in-law taste her delicious specialty," Axel said to his father instead of answering what his mother said.

"Alright. I'll be the one to cook our dinner tonight. I need to impress my daughter-in-law." Axel's mother stood up smiling and walked towards the kitchen.

"Don't mind what my mom said, Katherine. It's her dream to live in a big house and she also loves watching movies where all the characters are rich

She brings what she watches in movies into reality," Axel explained when his parents were gone.

"Ah. I got it." I smiled slightly. I understand Axel's mother because I used to be like that too. Even though I grew up in the big house of the Harrets's family, I often dreamed that I lived in a big house that I owned myself. Not just staying as a guest.

"Whatever my mom says about her wealth or anything related to money, just ignore it. You know how it feels when you're poor. You often imagine having a lot of money. That's how my mom is."

Smiling, I held Axel's hand. "Don't worry. I understand your mom." I suddenly let go of Axel's hand when I saw him looking at my hand holding his. "Ahm. I'll help Mom cook food. You and Dad could talk and catch up."

I quickly stood up and ran to the kitchen. I helped my mother-in-law prepare our dinner while Axel and his father talking in the living room.

"Call your father and husband so we can start to eat," my mother-in-law told me.

I nodded at her before walking to the living room. I stopped approaching them when I saw that they were having a serious conversation. I wonder what they were talking about? I couldn't help but smile as I looked at them. No one would doubt that they are not father and son because both of them are serious and dress neatly aside that Axel looks like his father's younger version.

"My husband has beautiful genes," I whispered with a smile.

"That's how they talk when it's just the two of them. Serious and all about business. Both are business-minded." I was startled when I heard my mother-in-law's voice from behind me. "Axel is my only child. I always urge him to get married so that before his father and I leave this world, we can at least see our grandchildren from him."

I felt a pang of envy in my chest. I could clearly see the love in my mother-in-law's eyes for her husband and son. If only my father had loved my mom and I, maybe she wouldn't have died so early. Maybe we would be living happily now as a complete family.

"Don't worry, Mom. I am sure that before you leave this world, you will still see and hug your grandchildren from Axel."

My mother-in-law's smile widened when she heard what I said. "I will count on you, Katherine." Suddenly, hope appeared on her face. I wanted to take back what I said to her. What I meant was that Axel would have a child with his future wife after we get divorced and he finds a woman he truly loves and marries. Not that I would be the one to give Axel a child.

I just didn't contradict what my mother-in-law said because I didn't want to spoil the happiness she was feeling. She approached her husband and son and told them it's time to eat.

Our conversation was happy while we were eating. After we finished eating, we helped each other clean up the table. I volunteered to wash the dishes and let my in-laws rest because I knew they were still tired from their trip. Axel said that his parents came from a far province.

"Why don't you have a maid, Axel? Katherine shouldn't be the one doing the housework. I don't want my daughter-in-law to get tired," my mother-in-law suddenly said to Axel. I looked at Axel, who just shrugged his shoulders at me.

"Mom. I want to have my wife all to myself at home. If we have maids, they’ll just disturb us," Axel answered his mother with a smile. My face suddenly turned red because of what he wanted to imply to his mother. "Don’t you want to have a grandchild? What if we want to make your grandchild in the kitchen or maybe in the living room?" Axel added, making my cheeks even redder.

"You're so vulgar, Axel. Look at your wife's face. She's blushing from embarrassment," my mother-in-law scolded her son, but she was smiling. "Make sure you give me grandchildren soon, okay?"

My mother-in-law smiled and lightly tapped my shoulder before walking toward the room where she and her husband would sleep.

"I'm sorry about that, Katherine. She insists on getting what she wants if I don't say that," Axel said apologetically when his mom was gone. "Don't worry. When I get promoted at work, we'll hire a maid so you won't have a hard time with the housework."

I quickly shook my head at him. "You don't have to hire a maid. I'm used to doing housework." If Axel hires a maid, we will lose our freedom to move around the house because there will be another person in the house. And it's better that it's just the two of us in the house because my secret is safer.

"Ahh. I thought the reason you didn't want us to hire a maid was because you were considering what I told my mom," Axel replied in a joking tone. He was flirting with me.