27:
1225 Words
A heated scene was unfolding in front of the Fuentebella mansion. Maria’s gaze toward the visitors was disdainful. However, Theresa wasn’t about to back down. She knew the Fuentebella family had a snobbish attitude, even though they weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouths. They were born into poverty.
“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what I said? Why are people like you, the poor, here at my home?” Maria continued with her brow still raised.
Theresa and Eduard exchanged glances. Marky didn’t want the conversation to drag on, so he stepped in. He didn’t like that they were being disrespected, especially his parents.
“Good day, Mrs. Fuentebella. We’re not here to exchange insults with you. I have a lot of respect for those older than me, and I want that to remain with you. But if you continue to disrespect my parents in front of me, I can’t guarantee that I won’t respond in kind…” Marky started sharply.
The Fuentebella couple didn’t even bother to greet them or invite them into their yard. But what else could they expect? They knew the Fuentebella family had a bad attitude. They were aware of that long ago.
Maria’s eyes widened in surprise at the response from Veronica’s brother. “How dare you—” But her husband stopped her.
“Maria, stop. Let’s listen to what they have to say,” he said.
“But—”
Eugene Fuentebella only gave his wife a disapproving look. The older woman’s eyes widened, but she fell silent.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Fuentebella. It seems your wife is in a bad mood today. Anyway, we won’t be here long. We just have a few questions,” Marky said politely.
The Fuentebella couple exchanged meaningful glances. They already had an idea about the purpose of Veronica’s family’s visit. And they had a prepared script for it.
The older man nodded. “Alright, what is it?”
“It’s about our daughter, Eugene. You might know where Veronica is now. The last news we had of her was during her wedding to Angelo. After that, we tried calling her, but her phone was off. We’re worried,” Eduard Albert answered the question.
Maria acted as if she was annoyed. “What? Is that all you came here for? You traveled all this way just to ask that?”
“Which means our concern is serious and we’re worried about Veronica,” Theresa responded with emphasis.
Eugene pretended to sigh to calm both sides. “Maria, stop talking. If you don’t have anything useful to say, just go inside.” He turned his attention back to them and continued. “I don’t know why you’re looking for your daughter here. We haven’t heard anything about them either. We just assume they’re enjoying their newlywed status. They might be making the most of their honeymoon.”
Eduard nodded. “We’ve thought about that. But we know our daughter. Even if there was an accident, she wouldn’t allow herself not to update us.”
Maria smirked at them. “Your daughter is all grown up, yet you treat her as if she were still a toddler. So, what are you trying to imply? That we are somehow responsible for why Veronica hasn’t updated you?”
The Albert family was running out of patience. They didn’t want to engage with Maria, fearing it might worsen the situation. “We’re not implying anything, Maria. We’re here hoping that our daughter or even Angelo left you a message. If we find out they are okay, we won’t bother you further,” Theresa answered diplomatically.
Eugene shook his head. “We’re sorry, but we don’t have any updates for you either. Since the wedding, our son hasn’t updated us. Rest assured, if we receive any news about them, we will inform you immediately.”
Eugene Fuentebella’s words did little to ease their concern. Something felt off. They couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Michelle took the initiative to join the conversation. “Are you sure? I know Angelo; he would even update his mother about changing his underwear…” she blurted out, unable to stop herself.
Marky wanted to laugh at her clumsiness. However, the Albert couple gave Michelle a worried look.
Maria clenched her fists. She had hit a nerve that irritated her. It seemed no one could deny that Angelo was a “mama’s boy.” The snobbish old woman couldn’t react immediately. She was at a loss for words, unable to come up with a rebuttal that could counter the malicious meddler’s comment.
Fortunately, her ally arrived. Anne strutted over to the commotion with an air of arrogance. “What’s this I’m smelling? Oh my God, I smell poverty!” she exclaimed, gasping and placing her hand over her mouth.
“Mom, dad? What’s happening?” she asked, pretending to be clueless, even though they had planned this scene.
They were like actors with Angelo as the director of their show. “I don’t know about them. They came here, looking for their daughter. They say she hasn’t been updating them,” Maria replied.
Anne pouted. “Oh, why are they looking for her here? We’re not the ones to search for missing people.”
Michelle raised an eyebrow at Angelo’s intimidating sister. “Oh really, where do you want us to search? Our neighbor’s house? Your neighbor’s house? Most likely, it should be your family since your brother is Veronica’s husband. Hello? Where’s your common sense?”
Anne clenched her fists in anger. Like Veronica, she was extremely irritated by this woman. They were pests in their lives. “We’re too busy with our lives to focus on pointless matters. We’re busy working and making money. Now, as for where Veronica is and why she hasn’t updated you, we don’t know. Maybe once she experienced the comfort with my brother, she no longer wanted to return to the dirt she came from?”
The expected annoyance and anger on the Albert family's faces did not materialize. Instead, they simply laughed while coolly staring back at them. “You’re mistaken, Miss Anne. We raised Veronica to be a well-mannered and respectable woman, a person who knows where she came from,” Eduard Albert said with a smile.
“My husband is right; our daughter is not ungrateful. Even before the wedding, she was busier than Angelo with work and building her career,” Veronica’s mother added.
Marky shrugged casually, not willing to let the spiteful Anne belittle his only sister. “Wow, Miss Anne. We lived a modest, average life. We had decent housing, clothes, and food. You’re being too exaggerated. And oh, I almost forgot, isn’t that a bit applicable to you? Seems like you’re the ones who came from the dirt… oops.” He winced while his finger pointed at his chin.
It seemed the Fuentebella family was triggered by Marky’s comment. Their eyes were blazing with anger, but they were trying to hold back their fury.
“Did I hit a nerve? Sorry!” he said without any concern.
As they were in the middle of this heated exchange, they suddenly heard a voice. “What’s all this commotion about?”
Their mouths dropped open; they couldn’t be mistaken—the voice belonged to Angelo!
- Writer
