Two young women are standing next to the open bar and looking at Aiden and Sarah, feeling vexed that he has a female company... and it's not them.
"Hey, Fanni, who is that with Aiden?", young woman looked towards the dance floor.
"How should I know, Paige?", Fanni responded.
"Aren't you on good terms with White family?" Paige asked.
"Yes, so? Why would they tell me about some fling Aiden has?" Fanni shrugged.
"Fling? This is the first time he brought someone... But I don't get how can such an average woman catch his eye." Paige shook her head.
Fanni snorted. "Yeah, you would think that he has a better taste."
"Maybe he is blind... " Paige rolled her eyes. "I can tell that she is no good. She even covered her face."
"She must have scars under that cover, or something even uglier." Fanni squinted her eyes like she wants to see under Sarah's cover.
"I would like to know who she is..." Paige rubbed her chin while gazing towards the dance floor.
"She is my future daughter in law.", stern female voice came from behind them.
Fanni and Paige got startled, and then slowly turned around. They were shocked to see Mrs. White coldly looking at them. They could not help but wonder how much she heard.
Elanor's eyes glared daggers at them, while her aura sent chills all around. She spoke with a tone of a queen who can't be disobeyed. "If you can't be respectful, then you should leave. Remember, whatever you say, someone will hear you." Elanor walked away with steady steps, making it look like her feet are not touching the ground, leaving two young women in utter shock.
Elanor walked to the dance floor and approached Aiden and Sarah.
"Ah, I see you can dance...", Elanor teased Aiden.
Aiden and Sarah stopped and looked at Elanor.
Elanor smiled and looked at them, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I need to borrow Sarah for a bit." She turned to Sarah. "Is that OK?"
She didn't wait for a response. She linked arms with Sarah and started walking while pulling her away. Elanor glanced back at Aiden who just looked at them with a confused expression and she nodded to him to let him know that it's OK. Seeing that he relaxed, Elanor turned to Sarah. "Sorry to intrude, but I want to show you around a bit."
Sarah glanced around and she met several eyes looking at her with obvious bad intentions. "Thank you." Sarah was able to guess that these women don't mean well, and Elanor wants to show that she accepted her, so that these women don't try anything funny.
Sarah removed sheer cloth from her head and wrapped it around her wrist as an accessory. Nana showed her how to do it with one hairpin, back in the styling salon.
Elanor introduced Sarah to several groups of women as Aiden's girlfriend and her future daughter-in-law. Sarah was fine with a title of a girlfriend, but every time she heard 'daughter-in-law' she blushed, and her body stiffened which made Elanor wish to say it even more often. Elanor enjoyed Sarah's shy reactions.
Elanor liked Sara more the more she knew about her. Based on her interaction with Sarah, Elanor could see that Sarah is beautiful and intelligent. She also watched Sarah interact with Nana and observed that Sarah is respectful and kind as well as playful with a good sense of style. When Sarah picked her dress and headpiece with a main concern of not standing out at someone else's party, Elanor could only conclude that Sarah is very considerate and mindful. And lastly, seeing how she looks at Aiden, it can't be denied that she loves him very much. Elanor could not wish any other person for her son. Sarah was perfect. Elanor hoped that it will work out between them, so she decided to plant the idea of 'daughter-in-law' as soon as possible and let it grow in Sarah's mind until it comes to fruition.
After they met with number of women, Elanor led Sarah towards a group of men. She tugged one middle aged man by the sleeve which made Sarah think that they are close.
"Oscar, can we have a minute?", Elanor asked.
Man turned around, looked at Elanor then at Sarah and back to Elanor without a word, and Sarah could not observe any change in his facial expression. He was just... neutral, detached. He is a tall man with a head full of dark brown hair neatly combed back, strong facial features and an intimidating aura.
"This young woman here is Sarah... Aiden's girlfriend.", Elanor said to him.
Man's gaze went back to Sarah. He raised his eyebrows and slightly nodded in acknowledgement.
Elanor smiled. "Sarah, this is Oscar... Aiden's father."
Sarah's body stiffened and her eyes widened. Before she could say anything Elanor pinched her arm. Sarah winced and glanced at her, Elanor only smiled. Sarah looked back at Oscar and said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Sarah." Sarah didn't realize that when Elanor pinched her, she forgot about being nervous, and her greeting came out naturally.
Oscar observed her, and edges of his lips slightly moved upwards. He let out a low grunt. "Nice to meet you." He turned back to Elanor.
Elanor was smiling at him. "Thank you for your time, dear, we will be going now."
He turned back to the group of men without a word.
Sarah was thinking how did this warm and chatty person end up with a cold and near-mute husband? Total opposites.
As they walked away, Elanor looked at Sarah with a cheerful expression. "That went well. He approves of you."
Sarah looked at Elanor in disbelief. "I'm scared to think how he acts towards people he does not approve."
Elanor smiled and lowered her gaze. "He is a good man... with a difficulty to show his emotions. As you get to know each other, he might start opening up."
Sarah only smiled in response while thinking, 'I should not comment on this...' That man was just too scary. Sarah was sure that his father is the reason why Aiden was cautious of bringing her to his home.