Billionaire Leader and his Dr Wife

Chapter 22- Knowing the family tradition

Hazel Maria Cooper

“So, all other females of Cooper family belong to these three families.” I asked.

“Yes” Emily replied.

“Sam comes from Hemming family and mom belongs to Sheraton family. Lucy our sister in law is married into Hemming family.” Emily said

“Well Lucy’s husband Jerald is my cousin. He is the eldest son of my eldest uncle and runs the family business of steel. Hemming’s are the leaders in the steel business. Apart from steel Hemming family also owns chains of restaurants throughout the kingdom.” Sam gave a brief description of the Hemming family.

“Okay, so that’s about this family. Now about Uncle Henry’s family Aunt Sophia as I said belongs to Cameroon family just like me. Then Hannah, Abraham’s wife is from Sheraton family Julia, Mark’s wife is from Weasley family. Daisy their sister is also married into the Weasley family. David Weasley married Daisy. Again, Weasley is going to be associated with the Coopers as Mia is engaged to Adam Weasley, son of Alexander Weasley and nephew of David.” Emily stated which caught my breath.

            Even though I heard the news from the kids before I just stood perplexed. It is hard for me to swallow their family tradition. Adding on to my shock Sam continued.

“Emma will also be soon engaged. This time Parkers will be joined again with the Coopers after so long time. Emma would be the bride of one of the sons of Parker brothers.”

“Oh My God she is a baby. She is not even one. How could this happen in this 21st century.” I frowned

“It is common in our family. We were also engaged when we were babies. In fact Mia was engaged when she was in my womb.” Sam said.

“It’s really ridiculous. I wonder how you both have spent your life in such a hell. I would have rather died than living such a life.” I blurted out.

“It’s easy to say Hazel. Ahhm… sorry Ria. It’s seems for you that it’s easy to fight back. No, we have no right over anything. If we raise our voice, they will just disown us. We being basically uneducated will starve to death if we a being disowned. At least we have food and shelter here. We are accustomed to this life. Don’t worry for us Ria.” Emily tried to comfort me.

            I knew that they are not going to protest. But I must do something for them. They are just so warm and loving. How could their husbands treat them like that? I feel really lucky that my Dani is not like his cousins. I should really think about some way to help these women out of this mess.

“Well it’s nearly more than an hour we have come here. Dani might be waiting for us to have dinner. Come let’s go down.” I said

“No Ria. They already had their dinner. It’s another tradition of the family. Women eat only after their husbands have their meal. Even girls can’t have food before that.” Sam explained.

“What? That means even if you are hungry you have to wait for your husband to come home and eat first. What if they are late? You still have to wait for them? I questioned.

“Well yes. We have to wait for them even if they return after midnight.” Sam replied.

“You are the ones who make the food and you don’t even have the right to eat it first. Are you all living in the 21st century?” I wondered.

“Leave it Ria, let’s go down. They would have finished their dinner. Come on now be a good guest and allow us to serve you. We can chat after dinner. All the men will probably be busy having drinks as it is weekend.” Emily said.

“No, I think Dani doesn’t drink. Does he?” I stood confused.

“Don’t worry it’s true that Dani doesn’t drink because Aunt Mary doesn’t like the habit. Well he would be having wine obviously non-alcoholic. You are really lucky Ria. Dani is a perfect man with all the good qualities. Moreover, Aunt Mary had given him such a good upbringing. He knows to respect women.” Sam assured me.

“He is the only male in the family other than Uncle George who gives due respect to women. He always considers us as his family and gives the same respect and love which he gives to our husbands.” Emily said

“Actually, we do love to visit Manchester. Aunt Mary treats us really well. Ria you are just like your mother in law. Like her you also care for others. It’s really a pleasure to meet you” Sam flattered me.

Both of them took their babies with them. Emma is Emily’s daughter and Rupert is Sam’s son. We left the room and went down again through the stairs which lead to the kitchen. On our way back I wanted to know more about them. So, I asked them

“Well what are your hobbies? Don’t tell me that you don’t have one.” Hearing my words, they smiled at me. I could see Emily’s eyes being wet.

“Hey, I am sorry if I hurt you”

“No, you didn’t. Actually, you are the first person to ask me something like that. No one not even my mother ever tried to know me or my liking.” Emily sighed and continued.

“I always wanted to become a mother who stands for her kids. But I couldn’t. I just feel miserable whenever I see my daughter. I want to save her. I want to stand beside her and help her fulfill all her dreams. I don’t want my daughter to sacrifice all her dreams just for the sake of the family tradition. When I was a kid, I loved to watch the dresses that brides wear. I wanted to design a wedding gown and I did. I was so happy on that day that I wore that dress and went to show it to my mother. But when my mother saw it, she just went crazy and put it in the fire. She said that I am forbidden to do anything against the family values. That day all my dreams were also buried.” Emily left a deep sigh.

            I just placed my hand on her shoulder and tried to comfort her. I promised her in my heart that one day she will fulfill her dream and for that I will go to any extent.

“Then what’s your dream Sam” I looked towards Sam who was walking besides us silently. She gave a smile filled with sadness.

“I loved to decorate anything and everything. I always feel to design my own room. But I can’t because I have no right to do that. Whenever I see a place my mind automatically imagines a design but erases it in the next second because I have no right to do that. Just to overcome our sadness we both draw our heart in paper and that too when we are alone.”

“Wow, so you are an interior designer and Emi you are a dress designer probably in the near future. Well don’t ever give up. Who knows when you will need your skills” I said and both laughed at my words. I know they are not taking me seriously, but I promise I will make my words true and that to in near future. I don’t know how but I am determined, and I will achieve my goal as I always do.

            When we reached down men already had their dinner and Aunt Patricia was waiting for us in the kitchen. She took me to the dining room. I could see all the dishes being served on the table. Every dish looked really nice and smell was mouth-watering. A seven-course dinner lay in front of me. There were from starters to dessert. We all sat together and ate happily. Each dish was just amazing. I couldn’t stop praising them for such a tasty treat. They definitely had the talent of cooking. I do cook but just some simple dishes like sandwiches and omelet. Well Dani would never get something this delicious from my hands.

            After dinner we went back to their room. I wanted to see what they have drawn. They had kept their work hidden in the rooms where they live during their menstruation days. Both the rooms were kept really clean. It was just a simple room with a single bed, a table and chair and a small cupboard. Compared to the rooms at the front corridor these rooms were small. It’s the rooms they have for themselves as no one comes here, not even the maids. They clean the room themselves.

            Sam’s room looked different. The walls of the rooms were beautiful. Wonderful scenery of sunrise is painted on one of the walls. Trees, birds and flowers all seemed real. It felt as if I am standing in a garden and watching the sun rising. The colors used were just realistic. No one could say that it’s done by a non-professional.

“Wow, Sam it’s just mind blowing. You have such a great talent and you are hiding it. I am telling you I want one of your masterpieces in a canvas when I see you next time. Well not one, make it two as I want one each for my bedroom and for my office.”

“No, Ria I can’t. You know no one knows this. How could I?” Sam refused.

“Well no one will know. I promise. Just keep it ready for me. Okay” I said, and she nodded in agreement.

            Then she showed her drawing most of which were of rooms and spaces beautifully designed. She really had a good taste in interior designing. One day she will do this in real and I would make sure of that. Flipping through the pages I found a beautiful portrait of Harry smiling at me. It was like Harry is standing in front of me. When I carefully studied the drawing, I could see a reflection of a women probably Sam in Harry’s eyes. How sad it is when I think that this book contains the dream of this woman who loves her husband so much that she wishes to see him smile when he sees her. Why these men can’t see how much their wives love them even when they don’t receive anything back. I took the pictures of every page and also of the wall using my phone. Then we went to Emily’s room.

This room was just simple. She showed her drawing. There were not just wedding dresses instead it had wonderful designs of all sorts of dress from formal to part wears. She had drawn and colored it just as a professional. One of the designs just took my heart. It was a blue full-length gown with one hand and a butterfly is embedded on the shoulder. The lower part of it is studded with stones and it had a high cut slit on one side.

“Emi, whenever you make this dress it’s for me. No, you are going to make this for me. Okay.” I said

“Ria, you know that’s not possible. I need materials for that, and we are not allowed to go out alone. If I got the materials, I could hand knit it for you.” Emi stated.

“What? Are you sure you can hand knit it” I asked

“Actually, I already have. I have knitted something for my baby girl.” Emi said and opened the cupboard. She took a pink and a red dress out of it. The pink one is a Cinderella dress and the red one is a knee length dress which has beautiful golden flowers embroidered on it.

“Well actually I have cut two of my dresses which I haven’t used ever to make this. I have brought those dresses from my home, so no one knows I have those. I could make Emma wear this when we mother daughter duo is alone.” Emi wiped out her tears.

I couldn’t comfort but could help her out someday. So, I took the photos of the designs and of the dresses. Emi took the designs away and kept it safely in cupboard.

“Come Ria let me show you my room.” Sam said and we stepped out and moved to their rooms.