Chapter 54 Each with Their Own Struggles

Caelan sighed in resignation. "We'll probably never have the freedom to live like this; some things are determined the moment we're born." Luke smiled wryly. "You understand that well, don't you?" Caelan placed the cooked skewers on the table and then returned to the grill. "What can I do? I can't just abandon everything and dump it all on my dad." Luke said, "They're getting older and don't have the energy to manage so much. As sons, we should take on our share of the burden." "Yes, my dad really has worked hard all his life. Only after taking over did I realize how tough his younger years were." The two men finished grilling the seafood before finally sitting down at the table. Luke went inside to fetch two bottles of beer, handing one to Caelan. Caelan took an eager sip. "It's still cold; you prepared well." Sofia chimed in. "Why do you guys get to have beer? I want some too." "I'll bring it all out then. I thought keeping it in the fridge would keep it cool, but it's a hassle to keep fetching it." Caelan stood up. "Stay here. I'll go get it." They continued drinking late into the night, with Charlotte becoming tipsy before retiring. The next morning, they boarded the plane to return home. If not for their work commitments, they would have loved to stay there indefinitely. Once on the plane, Sofia, utterly exhausted from the previous night's revelries with Caelan, put on her eye mask and began to sleep. Sofia was at a loss about how to explain her new relationship to her colleagues, anticipating a stir at the company since it had become public knowledge. She also dreaded facing her parents after returning. The thought of these impending troubles deeply unsettled her. In contrast, Caelan was quite pleased. His parents had always hoped he would bring a girlfriend home, and he had already planned to do so. He intended to take Sofia to his parents' house for a meal as soon as they had time. Hoping to use Sofia as a buffer to avoid further marriage pressure, he looked forward to enjoying a normal relationship, a thought that brought a contented smile to his face. However, their well-laid plans were disrupted upon landing. Having met in advance and chatted amiably, Caelan's and Sofia's parents waited at the airport, regretting not having met sooner. From a distance, Sofia's mother called out to them. To their surprise, six elders were there to greet them. It was unexpected to receive such a welcome after just a two-day trip. Caelan's mother was effusive in her praise of Sofia. She couldn't believe her son had found such an excellent girlfriend, feeling blessed by the match. Sofia appeared well-educated and proper, a good fit for their family status. Plus, she had a strong career drive, which would likely provide common ground with her son. With these thoughts, the elders felt relieved, no longer worrying about their children's marital prospects, hoping for a stable future for the couple. The two main subjects of the gathering, Sofia and Caelan, hadn't anticipated such a rapid development. They had planned to separately introduce each other to their families, but their parents had seemingly grown impatient and taken the initiative. Linda and Andrew hurried forward to take the children from Charlotte, concerned she might be overburdened. Caelan's mother, Emma Wilkinson, approached with concern and asked, "You're with this lad now; he hasn't mistreated you, has he?" Simultaneously, Miya, Sofia's mother, also stepped forward. "My girl hasn't been bullying you, right?" The two mothers, as if on cue, expressed similar worries, clearly understanding their own children's temperaments and concerned about the possibility of their partner feeling aggrieved. Sofia, somewhat exasperated, thought, 'Why would they think he's aggrieved?' and replied, "You're overthinking this. Most people worry about their daughter being mistreated, yet you're concerned about him?" "You're usually so domineering; I had to check," Miya said, looking at Caelan with a satisfied expression. Emma closed in. "He hasn't mistreated you, has he?" Sofia bashfully lowered her head. "No, he's been very kind to me." "That's good to hear. If he ever dares mistreat you, tell me, and my husband and I will set him straight." Caelan, feeling indignant, asked, "Why are you all turning against me? Seems like tough days are ahead for me." In an inconspicuous corner, Lorna stood silently, heart aching as she observed Charlotte and Luke's intimacy, regretting her decision to come. Lorna, deeply uncomfortable, was troubled by Linda and Andrew's affectionate treatment of Charlotte, resembling a close-knit family. Lorna thought that if Linda knew of Charlotte's unseemly past, she wouldn't be so kind, but remembering a previous warning, Lorna dared not speak recklessly. She understood the consequences of her actions; speaking out of turn would surely lead to a severe reprimand from her parents. The elders, having gathered the children, headed to Luke's place. The house was bustling as they spontaneously decided to have dinner there. Andy and Lilya, unaccustomed to so many guests at home, were overjoyed. The elders, charmed by the two young children, passed them around affectionately, hoping that the couple would marry soon and have children just as adorable. "I didn't expect them to arrive so soon," Sofia whispered, slipping into the kitchen to help. Charlotte looked on with envy. "I'm quite jealous; being cherished by your family must be wonderful." "It can be nice, but sometimes I think they overdo it," Sofia said. Charlotte mused about her own mother, imagining a similar scene if she were still alive. "Maybe when you reach their age, you'll feel the same, wanting your children to find a partner. Look at them; they've loved each other all their lives. At their age, their only desire is to see you happy."