Chapter 23 Meeting Her Parents-in-Law
The shopping lasted two hours.
Hubert had been used to driving cars. Although he worked out often, he still felt exhausted after going around the grocery store and carrying the ingredients.
He would rather do paperwork and have meetings than go shopping with a woman.
The car was parked. Before getting off, Teresa received a call from Madam Donovan.
"Teresa, are you guys at home? We're downstairs."
Teresa smiled, "Grandma, we just came back from the grocery store. We'll be there in a minute."
"Hubert and you went shopping together?"
The old lady was delighted to hear that. She couldn't believe that her lofty grandson forwent his ego and went shopping with Teresa.
Since he pretended to be poor, it was not bad for him to experience the life of an ordinary person.
"Yeah, we went to buy some ingredients."
"Hubert is a busy man and has never been to any grocery store before. It's good that you take him to go around. Teresa, let him help carry the things. He's strong, and you don't have to tire yourself out."
Hubert groaned in his heart. 'Grandma, I am your grandchild, remember?'
After getting out of the car, Teresa held the phone with one hand and opened the door to the backseat with her other hand. She leaned in, took out a foldable trolley, and signaled Hubert to set it.
"Don't worry, Grandma, I won't wear myself out."
The trolley was not big enough to carry all the vegetables and fruits she had bought. The rest was carried by Hubert. Her hands were empty the entire time. She was not tired at all.
"Grandma, we'll be there in a minute."
"Okay, I'll see you later."
The old lady hung up the phone.
Teresa put her phone back into her pants pocket. While pushing the trolley, she said to Hubert, who had gotten his hands full. "Mr. Donovan, let's go. Grandma and others are waiting for us downstairs."
While walking alongside her, Hubert reminded her in a low voice, "Call me Hubert instead of Mr. Donovan in front of my grandma and others."
"Okay."
It was just an appellation. She would not dwell on it.
Soon, the old lady and others saw the returning couple.
Teresa was pushing a trolley, in which there was a pile of vegetables, drinks, and fruits she had bought. The most outstanding man of the Donovan family was walking alongside her with bags big and small in his hands. It was quite a sweet scene.
"Ha..."
Ernest, the ninth young master of the Donovan family, was 15 years younger than Hubert. Amused to see his cousin like that, the high school student laughed out.
Since he could remember things, he had feared Hubert the most. His cousin was always showing a stern expression and was strict with him. In his impression, Hubert was always proud and lofty. In Hubert's mind, they were all mortals.
He had never expected to see Hubert become a mortal one day.
"Ernest!"
Madam Donovan called out to him, but she was smiling herself. In her view, it was not a bad idea that Hubert had concealed his identity to examine Teresa's character. At the very least, they saw a different side of him.
"Grandma, I can't help it. Let me laugh for a moment."
Ernest grinned and said, "She should have let my cousin carry a baby on his back."
The others were stunned.
They couldn't imagine that scene.
"Remember not to reveal our identities. Teresa is in the dark. Son, if she asks, you'll say that your wife and you don't have a pension. You grow vegetables and flowers at home and make little money."
"We agreed on this before coming here. Be sure not to let the cats out of the bag, or Hubert will come after you. I can't help you."
The old lady now found his grandson's plan interesting and did her best to pretend to be poor along with him.
She firmly believed that Teresa was a good girl. There was no way she was coveting their money. She had lived for ages and had a sharp eye for people.
"Got it."
The others responded in low voices. They were not strangers to Teresa. When Teresa saved the old lady back then, it was her son and daughter-in-law who thanked Teresa for her rescue.
Hubert's mother didn't talk much. She was not in favor of Madam Donovan letting her son marry Teresa. She couldn't prevent it from happening since the old lady had convinced her proud son.
She was grateful that Teresa saved Madam Donovan. The entire family thanked Teresa and proposed to reward her, but Teresa declined. To everyone's surprise, Madam Donovan liked Teresa so much and regarded her as a virtuous girl.
The old lady had done her best to make a match between Hubert and Teresa. In the end, her efforts paid off.
Luckily, Hubert claimed that he had just got the marriage license and that he would observe Teresa for some time until he was convinced that she was as good as his grandmother said. Only then would he acknowledge their marriage.
Mrs. Donovan hoped that her son would peacefully break up with Teresa in the end. They were not a match in every aspect.
For Madam Donovan's sake, she would let nature take its course instead of stepping in.
"Grandma."
The young couple came up.
Teresa greeted the old lady with a smile.
Then she bowed and said hello to Madam Donovan's three sons and their wives. She had met them once but did not have much impression.
As for those cute boys, she had never met them before but could tell that they were Hubert's brothers and cousins.
"Teresa, you should call Roger dad and Nora mom now."
The old lady reminded Teresa with a smile.
Hubert's mother was named Nora Baker Donovan.
Roger looked at his daughter-in-law gently. He believed in his mother's judgment. Besides, this was his son's privacy. He had granted his children enough freedom. He was quite open-minded.
Although Nora was unwilling to accept her daughter-in-law, she was cultured and showed a gentle smile on her well-maintained face.
Teresa naturally called them dad and mom.
"Grandma, let's go upstairs. It's hot outside."
Hubert proposed in a deep voice.
The old lady called out to Randal Donovan, who immediately went over to help Teresa push the trolley. Even though she was hale and healthy, the old lady insisted on asking Teresa to help her go upstairs.
Soon, they were in the house.
Teresa invited everyone to take their seat. Then she went to make coffee, pour water, and prepare fruit for them.
"Teresa, come here. Hubert will introduce everyone to you."
The old lady looked around the house. It was small but well-decorated. Without a doubt, it was Teresa's credit. She stopped Teresa from going to get the snacks, glared at Hubert, and urged him to introduce his brothers and cousins to Teresa.
Hubert said blandly, "You guys can go ahead and introduce yourself."
His eight brothers and cousins then respectfully said hello to Teresa.