Alessandro quickly pulled himself up from the water to greet Karmina. However, Karmina was already chatting with Alex and his girlfriend. Somehow, Alessandro doesn't feel like the woman named Rhian wasn't fit to be his father's lover. He doesn't mind the age and she's probably better than a younger future wife.
"Mom," Alessandro called as he stood, picked up the towel, and approached them.
"Hey, darling." Karmina kissed his cheeks and patted his wet cheek. "We only brought your favorite desserts. We are checking out the old house."
"Oh, okay." Alessandro nodded. "I thought you were going to stay until tomorrow."
"No, dear. We are just picking up the gifts that Keira mentioned."
"Hmm, alright."
"Let's have some barbecue or something," Alex said as he approached Henry.
"That's fatty, Dad," Keira said.
"Hey, there are barbecues that aren't fatty."
"Alright, I'll prepare it." Karmina smiled at them. "Would you give me a hand?" She asked Rhian who instantly agreed.
"Do you need help, mom?" Sandro asked.
"Don't mind us, dear. Stay with Keira and your dads."
Alessandro watched as Karmina went to the kitchen with Rhian. Then, he approached his father who was already chatting with Henry.
"So, you don't like your future step-mom?" Henry asked Alessandro.
"Uh, she's fine. I just met her." Sandro said.
"Give her a chance," Keira said. "I mean, we just met her."
"Yeah, fine." Alessandro went to the table as he pulled out the wine from the bucket and poured it into the wine glass. He sipped on wine and watched Keira swim to the stairs. She approached her husband and nudged him.
"Give it a chance. I mean, she's good-looking. She looks rich too."
"Hmm," he said. She creased her brows and moved closer to him. "Is there something that you know that I don't?"
"A lot." He patted her wet head.
"Come on, tell me."
"I will tell all of the gossips later." He grinned at her. Then, she grinned back and smacked his chest hard.
"You have to tell it to me or else forget that we are lovers." She crossed her arms.
"Of course," He pulled her and smooched her lips.
She put her robe on as Alessandro did the same and they sat down with their dads. The two are currently discussing Alex dating Rhian, who was his college classmate. However, Alessandro doesn't like that his father was dating the woman. He didn't care if she was divorced but he was afraid that she might do something like Margarette did because of her background.
"Why won't you ask your son now about your girlfriend?" Henry said.
Alex stared at his son and then he shook his head.
"Now, blurt it out," Alex told him. However, Alessandro shook his head.
"Nope. It's your girlfriend." He raised his hand. "I am out of your life unless it affects me and my wife."
"It won't affect you or Keira," Alex said. "Don't worry. I'll move out." Alex pouted, acting like he's sulking.
"Oh, come on! Don't give me that look. I am not kicking you out. It's your house."
"No." Alex smiled. "It's your house. I won't ruin the memories that you have with your mom here, that's why I sent you away when you were in high school."
"Oh," He shook his head when he remembered that the fake step-mom that his father brought was doing something lewd. He's glad that she wasn't doing it in the house. "Don't mention it."
Shortly, Karmina came with Rhian and the maids who set up the griller.
"You want to grill now?" Alex frowned at Alessandro who stood.
"Why not? I am still starving." He said as Keira laughed.
"He's currently working out his muscles. He said that he wanted to add a few packs of it."
"Oh, please!" Alex shook his head.
"Yeah, he should." Henry nodded his head. "Hey, make sure not to attract too many people, Sandro."
"Dad, I am doing this for a promotion of the new products."
"What products were you selling?" Henry frowned. "Is he selling some abs or what?" He then looked at Keira who was laughing.
"No, hahaha." Keira laughed. "He decided to endorse his product. It's a new organic smoothie. Frozen smoothies."
"Oh, okay." Henry raised his brows as Alex opened his robe to show his sexy body.
"See? Keira can't resist that."
Alex and Keira were laughing so hard after seeing Henry's deadly expression. Alessandro kept it open as he helped Karmina with grilling. Shortly, Karmina and Rhian sat down as Henry smiled at her.
"So, how long have you been dating my friend?" Alex asked.
"Two months now. We met in Subic from some seminar."
"Dad, you are still attending seminars?" Keira asked Alex.
"Yeah," He shrugged. "I was bored while my son was busy managing the business."
"Hey, I thought that you want to live like a real bachelor and spend a lot of money," Alessandro said that made the man laugh.
"I was living at the same time." He chuckled. "I was a guest in that seminar." He said and shrugged. "Lots of young female business people were asking about you."
"Ohh," Keira said with a surprised expression. "Really?"
Alex nodded.
"Tss!" Sandro scoffed. "I am sure that they are into you." He said.
"Why not you?" Keira asked him. "There were a lot of women who gawked at you." She smirked at him.
"Yeah, I know." He rolled his eyes.
"You are very humble," Karmina said and laughed.
"He is, indeed," Henry said sardonically.
They had a barbecue party, with wine, cheese, and a pool. Mostly, Keira and Alessandro were the ones who swam and played in the pool like little children, while the mid-age couples were chatting about business and all. The couple was tired of talking about business since they work every day in different companies.
Alessandro hugged his wife who had her arms crossed over the side of the pool. He kissed her cheeks and then her ears.
"You are sexy in your bikini." He whispered. "But you bought that string underwear that only covers your nipples, why didn't you wear it?"
"Are you stupid? I can't wear it with other people!" She glared at him.
"So, are you going to wear it later?" He chuckled. She flushed, bright red, and nudged him. "Please?" He kissed her neck.
"Fine."
Back at the table, Henry was glaring at Alessandro.
"I swear, if they weren't married I already smack your son for stealing my daughter," Henry grumbled. Alex laughed so loud and smacked his arm.
"Hey, my son loves your daughter. Don't be harsh on my boy."
Karmina smiled as she reached her husband's hand under the table. Henry quickly intertwined his hands with her.
"They look so adorable," Rhian commented as Karmina nodded.
"Indeed. Fana and I used to admire those two when they were little. Henry doesn't like it whenever Sandro would tell Henry that he's going to marry Keira. He's just five years old." She laughed.
"And he indeed stole my daughter away from us." He said grumpily.
"I don't think that Alessandro remembers that." Alex laughed.
Rhian watches the couple and she somehow feels warmed seeing young couples so in love together. She knew that Alex had a great family even before his wife died. She had met them a couple of times and Fana was a great person.
"So, when are they going to plan for kids?" Rhian asked.
"They plan to have it next year, probably after a formal wedding," Alex said.
"They can't have kids yet because your son elopes with my daughter. Your son literally scammed my daughter for that." He shook his head in disapproval. Karmina giggled and squeezed her husband's hand.
"Alessandro asked for my permission, dear. I agreed to it too, since Keira also promised to marry him."
"They are too young." Henry shook his head. "She couldn't even have a bridal shower…"
"There is a lot of time for that," Alex said.
"Yes, but your son already took 'it'. You know what I mean."
Alex was silent. It was awkward every time Henry scolded him for the things that his son did.
"Hey, they were married when that happened!" Alex chuckled nervously.
"Are you still fighting over it?" Karmina asked. "They have been married for months now. Look how happy they are!"
"Yeah," Henry shook his head. "He better not choose to cheat."
"Hey, don't say that." Karmina leaned over his shoulder. "Look at how possessive he was."
"My son won't do that. Don't say negative things! It might happen." Alex scolded him.
Rhian smiled and yet he noticed that Henry couldn't get over that his daughter was married. It seemed like he couldn't accept it.
"Why can't you accept it?" Rhian asked. "Sorry about my question, Henry."
"No. It's fine." Henry shook his head. "I still couldn't get over that my daughter is at the right age…"
Karmina and Alex knew well why Henry couldn't let go of his daughter. He wasn't with her when Keira was in her lowest and darkest days. Keira was supposed to have a perfect college life where she could spend a lot of money and buy things she wanted, but she matured right away and worked to earn money and got bullied.. That is why he still works in the company behind Keira so she could do things she wanted to do.