Marigold carefully studied her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a knee-length gray dress and a matching blazer. Marigold had to make sure she looked classy because that night she would be attending a dinner invitation from her future father-in-law, a wealthy businessman.
Honestly, Marigold felt a little nervous. This wasn't just an ordinary dinner invitation; it was also a meeting to discuss her wedding plans with Marcello. Ready or not, Marigold had to do everything right. She fixed her hair one more time before answering Marcello's call to let her know he had arrived to pick her up.
"You look very elegant tonight, Marigold," Marcello complimented her once they were inside the car.
"Thank you." Marigold offered him a faint smile.
"You look nervous," Marcello remarked, keeping his eyes on the road.
Marigold nodded. "Yes, a little. Is your father strict?"
Marcello chuckled softly. "No. Don't worry. Everything will go well."
"All right."
They didn't speak again for the rest of the drive. Marcello seemed to want to give Marigold time to calm herself. Since the silence felt awkward, he turned on some music. Soft melodies accompanied them as they drove to Alberto Chandra's magnificent residence.
When they arrived, several servants greeted Marigold and Marcello and escorted them to the dining room. Alberto Chandra was already waiting there. Marigold straightened the hem of her dress even though it wasn't wrinkled, then followed Marcello inside.
"Welcome, Marigold." Alberto Chandra greeted her warmly as soon as she and Marcello entered the dining room.
"Thank you, Uncle. It's nice to meet you." Marigold smiled as she shook her future father-in-law's hand.
Alberto then invited them to sit. The servants had left, leaving just the three of them in the spacious dining room. For a moment, Marigold looked around. The interior design was incredibly luxurious. The marble dining table in front of them was quite long and came with matching chairs.
"There are only three of us at this meeting. Marcello's mother passed away a long time ago," Alberto began.
Marigold nodded to show she understood.
Marcello had already told her about his family. His mother had died when he was still a teenager. His younger sister was married and living abroad. Marigold knew a little about Marcello's younger sister, Rebecca, because she often saw her on television and in social media coverage.
"I don't really follow the celebrity world, but I know you're a very famous actress. You're even more beautiful in person, Marigold," Alberto complimented her. He then turned to Marcello and asked, "Did you choose Marigold because she's so beautiful, Marcello?"
"Of course. But besides that, I also like her personality. She's a dignified, high-quality woman," Marcello replied, gazing at Marigold.
Marcello's answer immediately brought a smile to Marigold's lips. She didn't know whether his compliment was sincere or simply one of his ways of persuading his father to approve of their marriage. Still, Marigold liked what he had said, especially with that deep, captivating gaze accompanying it.
"All right, let's start eating." Alberto gestured for them to begin after the servants had finished serving dinner on the marble table.
For a moment, no one said a word. They began enjoying their respective dishes. The only sound was the soft clinking of silverware. Marigold no longer felt nervous because Alberto's welcome had been so warm. Marcello's attitude also made her feel more confident. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
"What do your parents do, Marigold?" Alberto's voice broke the silence.
"My father died when I was little. My mother passed away later, while I was in college. I'm an only child, so since then I've lived alone," Marigold explained honestly, feeling no need to hide her family background.
"Oh, so is that why you chose to pursue a career as an actress and become as successful and famous as you are today?" Alberto asked to confirm.
"That's right, Uncle. At the time, I thought I had to fight for my life so I could always live comfortably, even after my parents were gone," Marigold explained.
Marigold wasn't exaggerating her answer; that was truly what had happened in her life. She thought Alberto would be impressed by her story. However, all she saw was her future father-in-law nodding repeatedly, looking thoughtful. Did that mean Alberto was considering whether or not to approve Marigold and Marcello's marriage? Marigold now looked uncertain.