"Quit your nonsense! Do you have any idea what you're talking about? They aren't even distant relatives! There's a world of difference between their statuses!" Tabitha slapped his hand away and stormed out of the room.
Benjamin frowned, thinking to himself that Cedrick was in deep trouble.
He had anticipated this day, but it came sooner than expected.
He hoped Cedrick's love for Jessica was strong enough to weather this storm.
But Benjamin was in a tough spot. On one side was his beloved elder brother, and on the other, his respected mother. Who should he side with? It was a dilemma.
After brushing his teeth and getting dressed, Benjamin went downstairs. Tabitha was sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast with a sullen expression.
"Mom, have you seen Cedrick?" Benjamin quickly took a seat and started eating.
"I went to find him last night and ran into Jessica. She must have been upset by what I said and left in a huff. If she can't handle a little criticism now, how will she cope in the future?"
Tabitha sighed, clearly disapproving of Jessica's reaction.
"Maybe she was just shy, Mom. Don't be so hard on her," Benjamin tried to soothe his mother.
"Living with Cedrick and still acting shy? Please." Tabitha snorted.
Benjamin knew his mother's straightforward and dominant nature. If Jessica couldn't meet her standards for a daughter-in-law, things would be complicated.
"Mom, could you tell me specifically what you don't like about her? I'll pass it on to Cedrick." Benjamin wanted to mediate and find a solution that satisfied everyone.
"Humph! I don't like anything about her." Tabitha snorted.
Benjamin's face froze for a moment, then he shrugged. "I think she's quite nice—sweet and sensible. I believe her personality complements Cedrick's. One's steady and experienced, the other's innocent and lively. Together, they can create a life full of surprises."
"Are you even my son? Why are you always defending her? Can't you see I'm furious?"
Tabitha, already upset, felt even more choked up hearing her younger son praise Jessica.
"Alright, Mom, don't get upset. Your health is what matters most. Cedrick and I would be heartbroken if anything happened to you," Benjamin said sweetly.
From a young age, his silver tongue had won him favor with elders, even if he lacked seriousness when it came to important matters.
Tabitha actually smiled at his words, playfully tapping his forehead. "You're all about the sweet talk. Cedrick's as stubborn as a mule, always irritating me. By the way, how are things with Eda? Has she been working at the company? She must take care of herself, especially now that she's pregnant."
Benjamin had already introduced Eda to the Lawrence family elders and mentioned the pregnancy, so Tabitha was very concerned about Eda.
"Mom, don't worry. She's transferring her work to her brother. But with so much going on at the company, it's not something that can be wrapped up in a day or two. Give her more time," Benjamin said gently, advocating for his partner.
"I'm just worried she'll overexert herself. Pregnancy can be exhausting," Tabitha softened her tone.
"I'm visiting her every day to help out. How about we have lunch together today?" Benjamin suggested with a smile.
"That sounds lovely. I've been wanting to see her," Tabitha agreed, her face lighting up.
Seeing his mother's mood shift, Benjamin let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"By the way, invite Cedrick too. I still need to have a word with him," Tabitha suddenly brought up Cedrick again.
Benjamin's shoulders slumped. It seemed escaping the topic wasn't so easy.
"Sure thing. I'll give him a call. But Mom, please try not to argue with him in public. It's not good for your image," Benjamin advised with a grin.
"I won't argue. I just need to know where he stands," Tabitha said, her face etched with worry.
"It might be a bit early to ask for his stance. I think he really cares for Jessica," Benjamin added, somewhat surprised.
Early in the morning, Cedrick arrived at Jessica's doorstep to pick her up. Veronica invited him in for breakfast.
The breakfast table was filled with tension. No one spoke, but it was clear everyone was preoccupied with their thoughts.
Veronica glanced between the two and asked, "What's going on? You're both unusually quiet today."
A flicker of anxiety crossed Cedrick's face, while Jessica suddenly murmured, "Mom, I'm full. We'll head out first."
With that, Jessica tugged Cedrick's arm, urging him out of the living room.
Cedrick, who had little appetite anyway, was more than happy to leave when Jessica decided it was time to go.
Veronica watched their hasty departure with surprise and sighed in frustration, "What was that all about?"