It had been freezing when they stepped out of the car earlier, but inside the mansion, it was surprisingly warm.
As the maid stepped toward Ashley, Michael signaled her to stop.
He moved closer and helped her remove her coat as if it were the most natural thing between them.
Michael was surprisingly good with the details!
Amelia raised a brow and whispered so only they could hear, "Possessive much over removing her clothes, aren't we?"
Ashley knew it was a facade but she couldn't help the small blush that crept up her face. Though, it was from embarrassement- she was not used to it.
Michael tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before gently holding her hands again.
His actions were so tender, as if she were someone meant to be cherished.
Ashley kept looking into his eyes before she finally looked away.
However the moment they walked further into the living room, her breath hitched. Her grip unknowingly tightened around his hand.
And it didn't take her long to realize how wrong she'd been for thinking it would be easy.
A massive couch set filled the area, and every seat was taken. If she were to count, there were at least thirty people present, excluding the maids on the side.
What in the... world!
For a moment, Ashley lost her composure as she absorbed the expressions on so many unfamiliar faces.
The document Steve provided hadn't included details of all these people. He had mentioned it would be at most fifteen.
Then where did the rest come from?
She immediately tugged on the sleeves of Michael, hidden from all and whispered. "Who are these people?"
"My family." He stated quietly.
"All of them?" Ashley was hit with a sudden urge to turn around and run away.
Despite the inner turmoil she was experiencing, Ashley didn't let it show on her face. From outside, she appeared naturally calm.
Michael took a few steps forward with her, "Everyone, this is Ashley, my soon-to-be-wife."
That's it.
He did not mention 'fiancée'.
Ashley noted the way it was more like a stated fact with an end to no more discussion than a introduction.
He did not even bother adding formalities!
"Well, if we disapprove, you can not get married." A sweet voice with a very sharp command stated.
And there they went.
It was his mother. She did not even try to hide her distaste against her.
Sofia Jones, once a top-grade actress of the country and now a mother of her two children.
Despite retiring from the entertainment industry, she was currently running a fashion brand which was extremely popular amongst youngsters.
Ashley hadn't known what kind of temperament to expect—Steve's report hadn't included much—but looking at her now, it was clear: if it had been up to Sofia, she wouldn't have even let Ashley enter this mansion.
She looked at her with something that was close to detest.
What a warm welcome!
"Well, I am pretty much fixed on my decision too. I can marry whoever I love."
"How romantic!"
Ashley stood there motionless. She had sensed that it might not really be good but worst to this extent? She could never have imagined!
"I don't believe anyone got the right to select the person I love." Michael was speaking all of this as if he was reading the morning news.
How could he be so composed when his mother was slapping her dislike on his face right in front of all?
For God's sake! Ashley had long gone blank.
She could hear the thudding of her heart loud and clear yet it all felt numb.
"That's enough." A voice filled with authority rang in the room just then. "Let them sit first."
Ever since Ashley entered, she could feel many piercing gazes at her but there was this one gaze that was too intimidating.
A while back her eyes got in the contact with his and surprisingly, it was not filled with hate or any other such emotion.
It was unexpectedly calm.
Jeremy Clark, his grandfather did not seem to dislike Ashley. It was what she perceived from the way his expressions did not harden after staring at her.
His wife had died long ago but it had been a widely known fact that he adored her a lot.
When she was still alive, they were blessed with three children.
The eldest was William Clark and further had two children with his wife: Michael and James.
The second born was a daughter, Laura Clark. She was divorced and had three children.
One thing that was written clearly in the report was to stay away from not just her but even her two daughters.
And the way her two daughters were glaring at her, Ashley would have stayed away from them anyways.
There was nothing much mentioned about her son except for that he was currently handling business in some other country.
And the youngest child of Jeremy Clark was also the son, Jonathan Clark.
He was married to Sally Clark and had only one child, Amelia Clark. They were a sweet family however the strained relations between Sofia and Sally were not hidden even from the media.
To sum it up, it was all complicated between the family.
One sweep of look and she recognized half of them but the way their eyes analysed her up and down, she could tell it was going to be an exhausting day.
At least, for her.
"Anyways it doesn't make any sense that one day you wake up and announce your marriage out of nowhere."
Michael brought her hand, still in his grip, over his left thigh. "It wasn't just out of nowhere. We have been secretly seeing each other for months."
Sofia chuckled in disbelief. "Don't tell me you knocked her up!"