Chapter 670 Intending To Propose
Derrick paid Amelia a visit. Amelia put her bag on the chair before taking a seat. She asked smilingly, “Derrick, is something the matter with you asking me out so secretively?”
Derrick passed her the menu. “Order some food first. We’ll talk while we eat.”
Soon after they placed the order, the servers brought them the foods they had ordered. Derrick also asked for a bottle of red wine and poured Amelia a small glass.
Amelia swirled the wine in the glass and chuckled. “Derrick, aren’t you making things too grand? First a meal and now wine. Don’t tell me you’re hiding something from Tiff?”
Instead of responding to her question, Derrick merely lifted and clinked his glass with hers. “Cheers.”
Despite being highly baffled by his behavior, Amelia still took a sip of the wine. Then she picked up her fork and ate a few mouthfuls before she said, “So, will you tell me now?”
“I intend to propose to Tiff tomorrow, and I need your help.”
Hearing that, Amelia almost choked on the food in her mouth. That piece of good news came so abruptly that she could not process it well.
She let out a few coughs before asking, “W-What did you say?”
“I want to propose to Tiff. But why do you seem so surprised?” Derrick looked at Amelia, who rarely lost her composure, in amusement.
Grabbing the napkin to wipe her mouth, she replied, “It’s nothing like that. It just didn’t cross my mind that you’d say that. Of course, I’m delighted to learn that you want to propose to Tiff. Tell me, what am I supposed to do?”
Derrick went ahead to share his plan with her.
Amelia nodded in acknowledgment but brought up the old conversation again. “Have the Hissons agreed to your decision?”
“I’ve talked to my mom. She seems less rigid as compared to the past. Even though she didn’t say it explicitly, I think she has accepted how things are, especially after Crystal’s matter. I know Tiff has suffered too much recently. I want to marry her. Perhaps this celebratory event might wash away all the gloominess.”
Amelia’s heart melted as she listened to his words.
She raised her glass and said, “Let’s have a toast. If you really marry Tiff, I hope you’ll treat her sincerely and never let her get hurt. It hasn’t been easy for her these years. Others might think a freelance novelist like her is an easy job, but you and I both know how she gets no sleep when she gets busy. She not only suffers gastritis as a result, but she even landed in the hospital once because of a spinal condition. She faces so many issues with her body from head to toe. You must watch out for her and shower her with all the love you can give.”
“I will,” Derrick solemnly promised while keeping a serious look.
“Here, cheers. I’ll leave Tiff in your hands from now on. Remember, never let her get bullied. She’s not alone; I’ll always stand by her side.”
“Of course.” The two clinked their glasses again and continued with the meal while discussing his plans for the proposal.
Derrick fixed the date for a meal together at Lakeside Restaurant on Saturday evening at six.
That day, Kate and Finnick arrived together, while Oscar came with one hand holding Amelia and the other carrying Tony. As the hosts, Derrick and Tiffany had arrived earlier than everyone else and had been waiting for the others in a private dining room.
After the two families settled down, they quickly ordered some food. It did not take long for the food to arrive. Finnick lifted his wineglass and said, “Oscar, here’s a toast to you. I’ll have to trouble you to help Derrick out if there’s anything he doesn’t know or any problem he runs into in the future.”
Oscar stood up in reciprocation, lightly knocked his glass against the former, and raised his head to down the contents in one gulp.
“Great! I admire your decisiveness.”
Kate tugged at Finnick’s pants and whispered, “Sit down. Don’t humiliate yourself in front of the younger ones.”
Finnick sat back down.
Subsequently, the two families continued enjoying the dinner, and the atmosphere seemed rather harmonious. Throughout this time, Amelia had been picking foods for Tony to eat.
Almost eating her fill, Kate grabbed the napkin and wiped the corners of her lips. She cleared her throat and uttered, “Derrick, Tiffany, I’ve thought about it. I know I can’t split you two up no matter how I try. Since that’s so, I’ve decided that I’ll agree to your marriage.”
Tiffany froze on the spot and shifted her gaze to look at Kate in disbelief. It was beyond her expectations that this piece of good news would come this quickly.
Kate flashed a smile and continued, “I’ll no longer stand in the way of your marriage again. But I do have some conditions.”
Derrick took a sip of the soup. “Mom, I’ve yet to propose to Tiff. It’s too early for you to say all this.” He did not want his mother to ruin his plan of giving Tiffany a romantic proposal.
“You can do it now. I only want to put forth the conditions I have.” Kate’s gentle voice had a hint of assertiveness. “Listen to what I have to say and feel free to raise your opinions if there’s anything you guys aren’t happy about.”
Without a choice, Derrick put down the spoon in his grip and pretended to listen attentively. His mind was in turmoil as he brooded over how he was going to propose to Tiffany later and give her an unforgettable experience.
“Tiffany should stop writing scripts after you guys get married so that she can focus all her attention on nursing herself and bear me a grandchild,” Kate said. “Second, you guys have to move back. As the daughter-in-law of the Hisson family, Tiffany has to fulfill her responsibilities of taking care of the elders. Also, she has to head to the church with me every Monday to Wednesday and pray to God so that she’ll get pregnant. I want at least four to five grandchildren. And finally, she’ll have to learn the various decorum every Thursday to Sunday. We’re a prominent family; as the daughter-in-law of the Hisson family, she has to be familiar with basic etiquettes.”
Amelia was so overwhelmed by those unreasonable requests that she burst into incredulous laughter. She’s one of a kind, huh? She has already agreed to their marriage, yet she annoyingly sets so many rules.
Tiffany, on the other hand, put her fork down.
“Mrs. Hisson, I can agree to giving birth and bearing Derrick’s children, but I’m not a sow, so I intend to have only two kids. Similarly, I have no intentions of giving up being an author and a screenwriter. So I’m afraid I won’t be able to satisfy those conditions you stated,” she earnestly remarked while looking at Kate.
The latter’s expression darkened, an obvious sign that she was displeased.
Amelia broke the silence. “Mrs. Hisson, what Tiff meant was, she’s used to being busy. As for getting pregnant, destiny is the most important factor. If it’s destined to be, bearing ten kids won’t be a problem, let alone five. Besides, given the Hissons’ wealth, I’m sure you won’t mind raising more kids.”
Only then did Kate’s expression ease.
“Mom, we can talk about having kids in the future. Tiff and I want to have some alone time after getting married. We don’t want to have kids so soon,” Derrick chimed in.
At that, the scowl on Kate’s face deepened.
“Dearest, if they get married, they will decide for themselves when they want to have kids. Since you’ve agreed, then don’t be the villain anymore. Besides, Oscar and Amelia are here too; don’t ruin the atmosphere here,” Finnick persuaded.
Those words had helped to calm Kate down.
After dinner and after Derrick sent his parents away, Amelia came up with an excuse that she wanted a companion for shopping and pulled Tiffany along with her. Tony had wanted to follow, but Amelia objected.
“Babe, what clothes are we buying?” Tiffany asked.
Amelia laughed. “Let’s look around. I heard that there’s a performance at Clover Square today. Let’s go catch a glimpse of it together later.”
Tiffany nodded in response although she did not seem to be in the mood for it.
“What is it? Are you mulling over those words Mrs. Hisson said just now?” Amelia was amused.
Tiffany shook her head.
“It’s good if you aren’t. But Mrs. Hisson is clearly trying to make things difficult for you even though she verbally agrees to you marrying Derrick. If you decide to marry into the Hisson family, I’m afraid there’ll only be tougher days ahead. Have you prepared yourself for that?”
Tiffany appeared slightly hesitant. I don’t mind agreeing to any conditions, except giving up on my career. I can’t do it. I don’t want to become a full-time housewife and ask others for money. There’s no way I can give up on my career just like that.
“Are you thinking of backing out now?” Amelia probed.
Tiffany shook her head quickly. “That’s not it. I was just wondering if I’d be able to give up my career after the marriage.”
“If you like it, then there’s no harm in continuing working. But if you don’t, then give up by all means. I believe Mrs. Hisson isn’t that unreasonable either.”
Tiffany heaved a sigh. She was well aware she would not get to enjoy a peaceful life even after marrying Derrick.
“Stop brooding over that anymore. Let’s go shop around.”
Amelia took her hand and casually walked around before making their way toward Clover Square, only to realize there was not even a single soul around. Puzzlement swamped Tiffany. “Babe, didn’t you say there’s a performance here today?”
Amelia smiled. “Maybe it’s not time yet.”
Just as the two walked closer, beams of fireworks shot up into the sky before exploding into a dazzling display of colors and sounds. With the fireworks display as a backdrop, numerous people began walking out from all directions and headed toward Tiffany with a rose in their hands. As they passed the flower to her, they exclaimed, “Tiff, say yes to Derrick!”
The roses in Tiffany’s hands came to a total of ninety-nine, an expression that the man would love the woman until the day he died.
When she lifted her head after the crowd dispersed to one side, coming within her line of vision was Derrick, standing not too far away from her.
Amelia nudged Tiffany’s arm and said, “Tiff, there are no problems that are tough and unsolvable now that you’ve met the love of your life in this world. Don’t ever let go of him.”
Tiffany felt her cheeks beginning to heat up as she gave a slight nod.
