Chapter 211 Coming Home to Stay
Midway through the meal, Madison remembered the painting that Grandpa Sterling had given her to bring along. She glanced around and spotted the bag she had brought in with her. Noting her actions, Matthew immediately understood and stood up, walking to the sideboard to retrieve the bag he handed to Madison.
Madison had thought he went to use the restroom, but he had actually picked up her things. Have you ever experienced that sense of understanding just from one look – the feeling that someone gets you? It was a comforting confirmation of their connection.
Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling observed the couple's interaction with delight, finding themselves increasingly fond of their son-in-law. Indeed, just as Dorian had mentioned, he was quite handsome, but more importantly, he seemed mature and steady. From the moment he entered the room, his eyes had hardly left Madison, and during dinner, he was attentively serving food and pouring drinks. They had heard from their son that he was also successful in his career. Being handsome didn't count for much these days, but being devoted, successful, and young was rare.
At first, they worried about their daughter marrying and having children early, especially because her husband came from a wealthy family. Despite their daughter praising him, they feared he might mistreat her or be unfaithful due to his looks and wealth. However, upon meeting him, they found their concerns were unnecessary. Witnessing their daughter marry such a good man relieved their worries.
Madison beamed as she took the bag and pulled out a scroll case. Naturally addressing them as she spoke, she said, "Mom, Dad, this is something Matthew wanted me to bring over for you."
Mr. Sterling took the scroll and unfurled it. He was shocked and visibly excitedly trembled, "This... this is an original! This, you can't just buy with money."
Mr. Sterling had a hobby of collecting such items and was occasionally seen at auction houses. However, artworks by renowned masters like this were seldom put up for auction; most collectors would keep them hidden in their collections.
Mrs. Sterling was at a loss regarding the value of the gift. Hearing her husband explain that even money couldn't buy such an item, she hastily urged him to put it away, "This is too precious; we can't accept it. Sweetheart, you take it back with you and tell Grandpa Sterling that we appreciate the sentiment, but as long as you're happy in their home, that's what matters to us." Mr. Sterling carefully rolled up the scroll and put it away, nodding in agreement, "Yes, we can't accept this gift."
Madison didn't find it odd when her parents called her 'daughter'; it seemed natural, as if that had always been her name.
Matthew stood up, a modest expression on his face, "Dad, Mom, this is a token of appreciation from the elders back home. Please accept it. I don't think the value of a gift should be tied to its price tag. What's important is that you like it. If Dad likes it, then that's all that matters. It's also a collector's item, and its true value is only recognized by those who understand; to others, it's just a painting. Since Dad understands it, that's where its value lies."
"Alright, we'll accept it, Matthew," Mr. Sterling finally decided, watching the scenario unfold. If Matthew had previously scored a 90 in his book, he now broke the scale. Mr. Sterling took the painting and asked Mrs. Sterling to place it carefully while bringing out a watch she had prepared for their son-in-law.
She approached Madison and Matthew, handing them two boxes, "These are a small gift from Matthew's Mom. We weren't with you two on your wedding day. Back in our hometown, there's a tradition of giving a set of watches to the newlyweds. I'm making up for it now."
Madison and Matthew didn't refuse. Since Mom said it was a wedding gift, the couple accepted them. Madison didn't know much about luxury brands, but Matthew did; he noticed the logo on the box, realizing his mother-in-law had spared no expense.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad," Matthew said as he carefully stored the watch.
Mrs. Sterling then produced a jade bracelet, "This was left to me by your grandmother; there was originally a pair. This one I give to you, and the other will be for your brother if he ever gets married – to give to your sister-in-law, Madison." Mrs. Sterling put the bracelet on Madison's wrist herself.
"Thank you, Mom, thank you, Dad," Madison said, her eyes brimming with tears.
"There, there, silly girl," the mother and daughter embraced.
At an awkward moment, Madison's brother Dorian said, "Mom, why don't you just give the other one to Madison too? I'm not planning to get married."
Mrs. Sterling looked sternly at him, "Who are you trying to scare? Do you think I'm relying on you for grandchildren? I've got Quentin and Hannah now; marry or don't marry. That's up to you. You'll accuse me of playing favorites again if I don't say this outright."
"Mom, are you sure I'm really your child?" Dorian was extremely frustrated.
"Probably found you somewhere," she teased.
The room erupted in laughter, and Madison couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her brother. The stark difference in their parents' attitudes toward them made her feel embarrassed. Matthew raised an eyebrow at Dorian, his eyes even carrying a hint of pity. Thankfully, the more a mother-in-law sees her son-in-law, the more satisfied she becomes; being a son can be tough.
*
The dinner was full of laughter and conversation, stretching past 8 o'clock before it concluded. Outside the restaurant, Mrs. Sterling was reluctant to part ways, while Mr. Sterling suggested, "It's getting late. Let's let the kids head back."
"Mom, Dad, stay a few more days in Horizon City; I'll take you around to have some fun," Madison said to her parents with a smile.
"Mom, Dad, have you figured out where you're staying tonight? If not, why don't you stay at our place? It'd be more convenient," Matthew offered, noticing the mother-in-law's reluctance to leave.
Touched by her husband's thoughtfulness, Madison looked at Matthew gratefully. Aurora Heights might be a bit small, and The Old Residence might seem inappropriate for her parents, but the villa was certainly an option. It was well-kept, as someone regularly cleaned it so that they could move in without a problem.
Mrs. Sterling's eyes sparkled at the suggestion, but she asked, "Would that be inconvenient?"
"Not at all, Mom. Matthew is right; we'll go back to the villa. That's where we stayed when we got married. We moved into the city for the kids' school convenience, but we visit the villa occasionally. It's always kept clean. It's actually inconvenient to stay at a hotel. Come on, Mom, let's go home together," Madison said, linking arms with her Mom and ready to leave. Matthew carried his father-in-law's luggage while the kids clutched their grandparents' gifts, holding hands as they walked.
Dorian loudly complained about the unfairness, always having to stay at a hotel whenever he visited, now demanding to stay at the house with everyone else. Everyone seemed to ignore his protests and continued walking. Quentin came up beside him, "Come on, Dorian, we have plenty of room at our house."
Dorian lifted Quentin, "It's Quentin who really cares about Dorian."
"Don't worry, Dorian, we won't leave you behind," Quentin reassured, patting Dorian's shoulder.
Matthew had some drinks, so Madison drove. They couldn't all fit in one car, so Madison took Mr. and Mrs. Sterling and Hannah first. Matthew got a cab. Quentin stayed with Matthew. Dorian went back to the hotel to check out and get his stuff; Madison sent him the address to follow later.
It had been long since the villa saw any hustle and bustle, but that was about to change.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
