The Return Of The Secret Billionaire

Chapter 8.

Nathan purposely played dumb in front of the Castiels, but told his wife how to place the bid. He told her to trust him, announcing to her that he found a job at the same company her brother had been talking about, and that he has inside information.

That Monday morning, Nathan had hurried straight to work, and entrusted Doris to place the bid. Of course she didn't understand anything, but she would have to trust her husband. She trusted Nathan with her life.

She was not sure about Nathan's instruction, but having decided to trust him at last, she placed the bid for her family without noticing the others.

✩★✩

Thirty minutes later after Nathan had left work, he was already home. To his surprise, Doris hadn't been the only one at home.

"Mother?" The word shockingly emitted from his lips as a soft whisper as soon as he opened the door to catch her view. She was scolding Doris, as usual. And her bodyguard—and son!—Owen, had been standing beside her. Doris's eyes were meeting with the floor, as she listened to all her mother was saying, then she heard her husband step in.

"You're back." Her forlorn liked face suddenly shone to a more brightened one as she walked over to assist her husband by taking his bag off his shoulder.

Nathan leaned in to offer a kiss on her cheeks, then used the opportunity to ask what the strange guests were doing at their house.

"They know already," was the only thing Doris could manage before Evelyn strode forward and snatched her hands from Nathan's.

They know what? Thought Nathan.

"How long do you think you can hide it from us, huh?" She pulled Doris away from her side, just to be able to stand face to face with Nathan, her head tilted up to meet his eyes. He was tall, many inches higher from her, so he didn't have to stress much. He only observed, eyes meeting hers.

Nathan watched her yell insults and he only stared quietly and calmly. When Doris couldn't take it again, she stepped forward to break off her comments.

"Why don't we sit like the well mannered humans we are, mother?" She wasn't really asking, because instantly, she grabbed Nathan's hand and dragged him down to the sofa in the living room. "You came here to our house, the least you can do is show us some respect. Besides, Nathan's been out all day. He deserves rest,"

Evelyn frowned, not believing her eyes, but she went ahead to take a seat. So did Owen.

"I'll go get us some tea and snacks, huh?" Doris said, getting up from the chair, but a menacing gaze so frightening stopped her.

"We're not here for tea and biscuit, my dear." Said Evelyn. "We found out about what you've done, Doris. How dare you waste such effort on the bidding? And money too!"

"Mother, calm down will you?" Owen frowned, but it hardly stayed two seconds before it disappeared again. "You placed a bid didn't you, Dor?" He asked, his tone was rather gentle and calm.

"I did." Doris replied instantly. It had already been only three days and they'd suddenly found out already. Though she wasn't hoping to keep it a secret forever.

Evelyn scoffed. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it? Not even your own mother!"

Nathan heaved in a deep sigh, "because I asked her not to." Both his mother-in-law and brother-in-law turned to exchange perplexed glances. Doris sat with her husband, and Owen, with Evelyn. The two sofas faced each other in the medium sized living room, so all eyes were able to glare at each other all they wanted.

Evelyn's face hardened, "I don't think I hear you well," she managed to say, squinting her eyes in disbelief. "You told Doris to place the bid?"

Nathan nodded.

"How dare this son of a bitch!" Yelled Evelyn, unable to contain her anger. Then the pithy insults continued raining down on him, and she spewed out a lot of things she shouldn't have. The episode of crazy Evelyn continued for a long while, with no one daring to say anything until Nathan couldn't take it any longer.

"Will you just hear me out, Evelyn?"

There was a loud gasp, and it wasn't from only Evelyn.

"How dare you call mother by her name?" Owen spat out with a simmering rage.

"She clearly said not to call her 'mother', what would he have said?" Doris stood up for her husband, though she too was slightly surprised to hear him call her by her name. There was something about his manner of tone that hinted at anger. Sure, her mother had said a lot of frustrating things that she shouldn't have, but it wasn't the first time she spoke to him with such a manner of disdain. Nathan had never spoken to her in that manner before.

"How dare you speak to your own mother like that--" Owen was still saying until he was abruptly interrupted by Nathan.

"Owen, you should listen too." If he ever felt regret in his tone of manner that evening, he didn't show it. Alas, there was silence. "I have a bet, and you will have to adhere to it because I promise you all," he paused, enjoying the awkwardness in the air. Even his wife stopped to listen, probably wondering where the tone of confidence had suddenly come from. "It is quite an interesting one."

All ears tuned in to his voice, patiently and quietly listening, waiting for his interesting dare. And he was glad for the attention.

He finally said blankly, staring at the two faces opposite him, "mother, Owen," then brought his face to meet his wife's, "and my lovely wife, Doris,"

"We don't have all day," added Owen, impatiently. Though he'd been entirely curious to what Nathan had to say.

"I have decided to say this, and I will completely respect your decisions in the end. No matter what happens. And you all should respect mine as well." He chose his words carefully. True, Nathan hated Evelyn for everything she and her family—his wife excluded—had put him through, but he wasn't going to show it. At least not now. He had to be careful now.