Chapter 86
That morning, Alexander joined them for breakfast before heading off to work, leaving Rain behind at the estate. Senior Rock seized the opportunity to gather everyone in the front yard and formally introduce Rain to all the workers.
“I want you all to treat her with the same respect you show me and the rest of the family,” Senior Rock announced, his voice firm. “Rain is now an additional member of our family as Alexander’s wife p>
Rain felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. She offered a slight bow and said, “It’s nice to meet you all.” She had tried to convince her father-in-law that such a formal introduction wasn’t necessary, but he was adamant and wouldn’t budge.
“You need to establish yourself in the Lancaster Estate and assert your authority as Alexander’s wife if you’re truly committed to keeping my son and staying in our family,” his firm words echoed in her mind. He was indeed serious about backing her up.
After the introduction, Senior Rock dismissed everyone and turned to Rain. “What are your plans for the day?” he asked. “I’ll need to leave soon to wrap up a few things. How about you relax for now? Maybe go for a swim or watch some movies p>
Rain smiled, appreciating his concern. “Please don’t worry about me. I’ll find something to do. There’s a lot to consider after reading the notebook you gave me.” She couldn’t help but feel touched by how he worried about her, even in such simple matters.
“Oh, and don’t forget to master Alexander’s favourite dishes! They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” he encouraged, making Rain chuckle.
“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll do my best to win Alexander’s heart,” she replied with determination, meaning every word.
“That’s the spirit. I’ll leave you to it, then,” he said, and Rain walked him outside, watching as he got into the car with Butler Ben by his side. As the car drove away, Rain took a deep breath and headed back inside.
As planned, Rain headed back to the kitchen, determined to try her hand at preparing some of Alexander’s favorite dishes. She’d learned that he was particularly fond of pasta and steak—dishes that seemed straightforward enough. She also noted that Alexander had a peanut allergy and an aversion to pickles, both of which she loved.
“I love pickles, including peanuts,” Rain murmured to herself. Despite her preference for eating over cooking, she was eager to learn for Alexander’s sake.
When she entered the kitchen, those inside greeted her warmly. “Good morning, Ma’am p>
Rain smiled at them. “I’m back. Is it alright if I ask for some help?” She looked around at the bustling kitchen staff. “I’d like to learn how to cook some of Alexander’s favourite dishes p>
Almost immediately, one of the chefs, a middle-aged woman named Sarah, stepped forward. “Let me assist you, Mrs. Lancaster,” she offered politely.
Rain’s lips curled into a calculative smirk as she responded, “Thank you, Chef Sarah. I appreciate it p>
Meanwhile, Eric observed Alexander suspiciously as he sat across from him, waiting for him to finish signing the documents. Unable to shake the feeling that something was different, he nudged Tyron, who was sitting beside him, and whispered, “What’s going on? There’s something different about Xander, but I can’t quite figure it out p>
Tyron glanced at Alexander and then leaned in closer to Eric. “He’s blooming, isn’t he? His face looks fresh and bright, not like his usual dark and brooding self,” Tyron murmured nonchalantly.
Eric’s eyes widened in realization. “That’s it! You’re right! Did something good happen p>
Tyron grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “Just him getting married and now living with his wife at the Lancaster Ancestral Mansion,” he replied, a wide smile spreading across his face. He was particularly happy about this development since it meant he no longer had to deal with the Boss living in the penthouse above him, constantly asking him to come over to cook or help with the dishes.
“What?!” Eric blurted out, shocked.
He then glanced at Alexander, who seemed completely unbothered by their conversation, deeply focused on his work and eager to finish.
“See? He’s even in a hurry to wrap up so he can see his wife,” Tyron whispered, barely containing his amusement. Anyone paying attention could tell that his Boss was becoming fond of his surprise wife.
Tyron had been addressing Rain as Mrs. Lancaster in front of Alexander, and to his surprise, the Boss never bothered to correct him. It was as if, on some subconscious level, he had already accepted Rain as his wife.
“So Uncle Rock accepted her already?” Eric pondered aloud, and Tyron nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm. “He practically loves his daughter-in-law!” Tyron confirmed with a grin.
“But what about Carla?” Eric burst out, his voice tinged with concern, causing Alexander to pause mid-action.
Both Eric and Tyron exchanged nervous glances, realizing they might have crossed a line.
“I’m not paying you two to gossip about my personal life,” Alexander grunted, his tone laced with irritation.
“But doesn’t Carla deserve to know?” Eric pressed on, unable to let it go.
“Why?” Alexander questioned sharply, his brows furrowing. “She broke up with me and left p>
“She had her reasons, didn’t she? And she explained everything to you,” Eric reminded him, trying to make his point. “She wanted to prove that she could make a name for herself without relying on her family’s influence p>
Eric then added, almost cautiously, “Also, you must remember that you agreed to keep this marriage with Rain for only four months. Does Uncle Rock know that this marriage isn’t real in the true sense p>
Tyron couldn’t help but chime in, sensing that his Boss might let the conversation drop. “He does, Attorney Eric. And trust me, Senior Lancaster likes Mrs. Lancaster so much that he’s even willing to help her make the marriage work out p>
Alexander’s expression remained unreadable, but Tyron’s words hung in the air, leaving Eric to mull over the surprising dynamics at play in the Lancaster family.
“I’m dying to meet Rain Clayton in person now. I’m calling Uncle Rock and setting up dinner with you guys!” Eric declared, reaching for his phone with a determined look.
Tyron shook his head, sighing. He knew exactly why Attorney Eric was so invested in this situation—Eric was a close friend of Carla Cartier. Of course, he’d be curious, maybe even protective.
“Absolutely. I want to see for myself what kind of woman managed to become Mrs. Lancaster,” Eric replied, already dialing the number.