Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Andria's Apartment.

Andria took a deep breath as she stepped out of her closet, spreading her arms as she took in the awed reaction of her friends, all except for Sophia who was smiling at her phone.

Bianca and Sana noticed it too and turned to face her and Sophia must have felt the pressure of their stare because she slowly dragged her face from her phone and flinched when she met the hard gazes of Bianca and Sana.

Sophia laughed nervously, making a show of dropping the phone. "I won't pick this up anymore, I promise".

Bianca rolled her eyes. "I give you one minute top".

Sana laughed. "Make that half a minute"

Andria cleared her throat and they turned to face her. Sophia gasped, her eyes widening.

"Wow, that is such a pretty dress. How come I've never seen you wear it".

Andria smiled, her anxiety lessening. "Well there was never an occasion for me to wear it. I just really want to impress Jonathan's parents. I don't want them to hate me".

"They'll be crazy to hate you. You truly love Jonathan and you're willing to support him. They should be kissing your feet girl".

"You clearly have never met an over protective mother who thinks all ladies in the world are out to steal her son's money," Bianca said, shrugging.

"But!" Sana emphasized, giving Bianca a warning glare. "Jonathan's parents are going to love Andria because they'll see that they're practically soul mates".

Bianca smiled. "And you are right about that. Right Sophia" she asked turning to face her, but groaned when she saw her giggling at her phone again. "This is so ugh" she yelled in frustration, making Sophia jump as she quickly dropped the phone.

"I won't anymore. I promise".

Andria laughed, knowing Sophia would once they stopped looking at her.

"Have fun tonight ok. Don't stress about anything" Sophia said, then stood up to embrace her. Andria relaxed into it, not realizing she had needed a hug until that very moment.

Sophia made to pull away and she tightened her hold. "A minute more. This is really comforting" she murmured and Sophia happily obliged, then Bianca and Sana were joining in.

"There's no way I'll be left out of this" Sana said as she snuggled into the hug. Andria squeezed harder at Sophia, her anxiety lessening.

*******

Andria stared at the gorgeous gigantic house and felt her heart rate increase, her breath hitching in her throat every time she tried to take in air. Jonathan squeezed her hands, drawing her attention and she looked up at him.

"You're trembling. Are you alright?" He asked, his voice worried.

Andria shook her head. "I'm fine"

"You just shook your head instead of nodding, so that tells me you're not fine at all," he said, and Andria inhaled deeply before letting out a harsh puff of air.

"I'm freaking out... I don't know if they'll like me... What if... What if..."

"Shhh, they'll love you, I promise" he assured and Andria took another deep breath, then forced a smile.

"Are you sure?"

He smiled at her with his eyes. "One hundred percent. I told them so much about you that my Mom thinks she's met you already".

"That's... I'm not sure how to feel about that but let's do it." She said, squeezing his hand as she stepped towards the building that screamed luxury.

The interior of the building was even more daunting and breathtaking and Andria felt underdressed as her gaze landed on the sophisticated charismatic woman who stood with a smile beside her handsome husband. The woman waved them over and she managed to be so graceful about it that Andria's gut tightened.

Jonathan's hand on the small of her back gave her the courage to approach the two intimidating figures. Jonathan was beaming tho and Andria wished she could share his enthusiasm.

"Mom, Dad, meet Andria Franco, the girl I've been telling you about, the love of my life," he said and Andria could hear some of the maids giggling as she stepped forward to greet his parents.

The woman stared at her, her eyes slowly sweeping over her frame and Andria steeled herself for the rejection she knew was coming.

The woman grabbed her hand all of a sudden and Andria's gaze snapped to her smiling one.

"She's so beautiful... It's just like you said, Jonathan. I'm Sandra, and I'm really glad to have you here at our house. I hope Jonathan has been a perfect gentleman to you" she asked, narrowing her eyes at Jonathan who groaned in his throat.

Andria cleared her throat still reeling from the shock of the woman being nice to her. "Yes, he's been. It's really awesome to meet you and you too Sir" she got out and curtsied wobbly.

The man laughed. "Don't be so formal dear. We are happy to have you here with us. I must say my son here has eyes for good women just like his father".

"You'll never stop will you" Sandra smiled, and tugged on Andria's hand. "I made a lot of your favorite food, so let's go dig in before it gets cold".

Andria nodded, her gaze slipping towards Jonathan who just grinned at her.

****

Andria stared at the different dishes on the dining table, and she felt so much smaller and inadequate In the setting. What could she offer Lennox? Were his parents being nice just because he was there? Would she receive a visit from his mother later on?

"Andria. Child, are you ok. You look so pale. I hope Jonathan here hasn't been feeding you rumors that I'm an ogre because I promise you I'm not"

"Uhun" her husband murmured in his throat and Sandra glared at him before turning to face her.

Andria felt her face warm. "No, nothing like that at all".

"Look, all I want is a nice girl for my son, someone who truly loves him and is willing to support him just like I did with his father. When I look at you, I can almost see myself, Andria, I almost remember how it felt meeting Jose's parents and then feeling like I was not enough as I let everything I saw overwhelm me, but I was enough. I had something to offer and look at us now, we are leaving a happy beautiful life in our little corner, so I want you to stop questioning yourself, and just enjoy this moment ok. Jonathan loves you and you love him too right" she asked.

"Yes, I do. I love him a lot" Andria got out of her clogged throat noticing the smile on Jonathan's face getting wider.

"And that's all that matters, Andria. You're part of our family now and I'd love it if you referred to me as Mom, cause I've been dying to have a daughter-in-law. I hope you're ok with that" Sandra enthused and Andria nodded as she fought the tears that stung her eyes.

"Yes, Mom. I'm very ok with that" she said, smiling and Sandra beamed at her.