Chapter 16 - 16

Ian was not surprised to bump into some of Jas' relatives on their date.

Bamboo room was one of those places that they would be desperate to eat at. Even if the Ortegas were wealthy, Ian couldn't help but notice how many of them were social climbers.

Some of the Ortegas acted very much unlike most old rich families, they still lacked a certain class to them, and Ian was never shy when it came to pointing it out.

"Auntie Belle, Uncle Marvin." Jas greeted. She was clearly not expecting to see them there today. "I thought you guys weren't able to get a reservation."

"Oh you know how it works, you have a friend who knows someone who can get you cancelled reservations and all that." Jas' Auntie Belle boasted.

"Jas, I thought we told you to stop dating this Lim boy." Her Uncle Marvin scolded as he pointed at Ian.

"Uncle!" Jas said in an annoyed tone.

"You old people do know that I'm sitting right here?" Ian asked as he crossed his arms on his chest.

"Be realistic Ian, you can't provide for her." Auntie Belle said as she glared at Ian. "Your salary is just her gas money."

"Still measuring people based on their financial statements I see, Belle." Ian said, emphasizing that he did not respect her enough to call her auntie.

"At least we have money, unlike you Lims who can't even bring enough money to feed yourselves and pay for electricity." Jas' Auntie Belle spat as she looked at Ian from head to toe.

"Money isn't the only thing that matters in this world." Ian told her. "Did Mr. Abad respond to all of your calls yet? From what I last heard, you are so desperate to get into their group that you are willing to send your daughter to his bed."

"Ian!" Jas scolded.

Ian frowned at Jas' reaction.

"I'm just stating facts." Ian said as he rolled his eyes.

Jas' relatives had been so desperate to have one of their sons become friends with the five princes. They had decided to assume which of the five was the easiest to send their daughter to.

They had made the wrong assumption in thinking that Ramon Abad, heir to the Abad News Network and Light's Entertainment Talent Agency, would be the easiest because of the industry he was involved in.

What they hadn't realized was that Ramon Abad was a complete gentleman and would not be fooled by such easy tricks.

They had sent their drunk daughter to his room half naked. They thought something would happen between the pair.

The Ortegas were shocked when Ramon Abad quickly left his room and called for security and a doctor to escort their daughter out of his room and run a medical check on her.

Many people had heard the rumors that it was an intentional trap set by the family, but there wasn't enough evidence to prove it.

Ian of course, knew the truth. Jas had told him about her aunt's and uncle's plans and was very much frustrated with them that day.

"Does your father know you are still dating him?" Uncle Marvin asked as he pointed at Ian.

"Yes, and he is fine with it." Jas said, defending Ian in her own way.

Ian appreciated it whenever she did this. He understood that it wasn't easy for Jas to stand up to her elders. They would often say she didn't respect them when she answered back, even when she was right.

"I pity your dad for having such a poor prospective son-in-law." Aunt Belle scoffed as she gave Ian a disgusted look.

"Let's go, Belle." Uncle Marvin told his wife as he pulled her away. "It's a waste of time trying to convince her, she's a lost cause."

"See you around Jas dear." Auntie Belle told Jas in a sweet tone as the couple turned and left.

"I really don't like them." Ian groaned as he watched the couple walk away. "Why did we have to bump into them here?" He complained.

"Don't think too much about them, they've left so let's just enjoy the night." Jas said with a wink.

"Thank you for saying something earlier." Ian told Jas with a sad smile. "I know how hard it is for you to stand up to them, I want you to know that I appreciate it."

"I love you, and I want that to be the only thing that matters to my family." Jas said with a shrug.

Despite Jas' words Ian couldn't help but feel sad. He knew that she was simply saying this.

Every time her family had spoken up against them she became quiet. Moments when she would stand up for their relationship were far in between.

Ian couldn't deny that he was in love with Jas, he felt that she was the one. Out of everyone in the world that he had met, she and Damien were the only people that remained constant.

They never looked down at him when they became poor, nor did they judge him when he started doing odd jobs to make ends meet.

One of the reasons why he wanted to get a good job was to prove to the Ortegas that he could bounce back. That he could be someone that was capable of providing for Jas.

"What's bothering you?" Jas asked as she reached out and held Ian's hand. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Ian said as he lifted Jas' hand to his lips and planted a gentle kiss. "I was just thinking about us."

"Thinking about good things I hope." Jas said with a laugh as she pulled her hand away and continued to eat her desert.

"It's always good things with you, Jas." Ian said with a smile. "You know that this job will actually give me enough income to provide for you, for us."

"I know, but I don't want you to take that job just because you want to prove yourself." Jas said with a frown.

"Jasmine Ortega, you've known me for more than two decades now do you really think that I would work this hard just for one goal?" Ian asked with a raised eyebrow.

Of course Ian took the job for more reasons than just money, it was the first step for him to put his family back on the pedestal they had fallen from.