Chapter 140 - Apprehension
With the last adjustment of his tie, Shawn glanced at his reflection in the mirror, and a satisfied smile made its way to his lips. He brushed back his short brown hair with his fingers and adjusted his long black jacket.
He picked up his watch from the table and clasped it around his wrist, then, with a swift turn, he walked out of his apartment at the hotel and took the elevator downstairs, then stepped out when the door opened.
He stuffed his hands into his pocket and majestically walked out of the hotel building. Today is a happy day for him.
He unlocked his SUV and stepped inside, shutting the door afterward. He inserted the car key and twisted it to the ignition point. The car engine began to run, and with a swift reverse, he drove out of the compound.
His fingers tapped cheerfully on the steering wheel as he drove, and as though recalling something, a wide smile made its way to his lips. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and gazed at the photo of a young girl that he used as a lock screen image. 'I am coming. Just wait. ' He dropped the phone on the seat and focused his eyes on the road ahead of him, a smile still visible on his face.
Finally, after an hour, he arrived at his destination and slowed down the car. He turned the steering wheel and drove closer to the gate of a big mansion. He stopped the car, and after a few seconds, three men clad in black suits arrived at the gate and opened it for him.
He carefully drove into the compound and parked the car, then stepped down and shut the door. The black-dressed men walked up to him and took a slight bow, then one walked forward to speak.
"Mr. Robert, please hold on for a moment, and allow us to make your presence known to our master."
Shawn nodded at them and one left, leaving two to stay with him. A maximum of two minutes passed before one of the two men that left, came back and approved of his entry.
He followed behind them and arrived at the huge white door that led into the mansion. It was pulled open and they walked in.
A vast living room came into view, and the first person Shawn's eyes fell on was Mr. Adolpho, whose attention was focused on the newspaper in his hands.
A wide smile formed on his face, and he walked forward to stand in front of Mr. Adolpho. He gave a slight bow as a sign of respect, and Mr. Adolpho, who had already noticed him, nodded in response to his greeting. "Good to see you again, Shawn."
"Thank you, uncle." Mr. Adolpho glanced at him and half-smiled. Uncle has been a way which Shawn refers to him right from the moment they knew each other. "Have a seat." He gestured to him, and Shawn nodded, then took his seat on the sofa opposite him.
"How was your journey back from New York?" He asked, his eyes still fixed on the newspaper he was reading.
"It was pretty good. Everything went smoothly and I arrived home safely." Shawn replied with a smile on his face, and Mr. Adolpho nodded at him.
"That's good to know." He wrapped up the newspaper and dropped it on the mini glass table near his sofa. He interlocked his hands and crossed his legs, then fixed his gaze on Shawn. "So what brings you her-"
"Dad!" A familiar voice resounded, cutting him off, and he turned his head only to see Amy standing motionless with a fallen jaw and her dilated eyes gaping at Shawn.
"Amy?" A wide smile emerged on Shawn's face, and he stood up from the couch, then walked towards her and pulled her into a friendly hug. "It's been a while. How have you been doing? " He drew back from the hug and gazed at her face.
"I...have been doing fine." Her lashes flickered, and she scrutinized Shawn from head to toe, then came back up to stare at his face. "You... look so different." A cute smile formed on her lips, and she yanked him into another hug.
Shawn's eyes flickered in surprise, and he hugged her back. He pulled back from the hug and, with one last smile, he made his way back to the sofa to take his seat.
Amy hurried to sit beside her father, throwing whatever she came into the living room to say behind her.
Mr. Adolpho shook his head at her and turned to gaze at Shawn. "So... why have you come? I'm sure you're not here just to see us."
An awkward smile emerged on Shawn's face, and he nodded in admittance. "Yes, you're right about that. But before I state my main reason for coming, can I please see Leia first?" Expectation twinkled in his eyes, and when he got no reply from them, the smile on his face slowly began to fade.
"Um, I believe you're here because of the marriage, no?" Mr. Adolpho raised his brow at him, and Shawn slowly nodded. "Yes, that's the reason why I am here. I promised I would marry her once I returned home and am here to fulfill my promise. I love her very much." A loving smile formed on his face, and Mr. Adolpho and Amy's expressions became awkward.
Mr. Adolpho cleared his throat and turned to glance at Amy, who was also staring at him with an awkward utterance on her face.
Shawn's brows crumpled deeply as he noticed the awkwardness in the atmosphere and he gazed intently at them. "Is... something wrong?" He asked, with uneasiness evident in his tone.
Mr. Adolpho and Amy turned at the same time to stare at him, and a deep breath escaped Mr. Adolpho's nose.
"Is everything alright? Why am I not seeing Leia anywhere?" He glanced around, and the apprehension that he was feeling deepened.. "Is she alright?" He stared intently at them, seeking an answer from them.