Behind The Spotlight Chapter 297
Thanksgiving Day.
"... Collin, do I look okay?" Lila asked Collin for the nth time.
"Babe, you look beautiful as always. You don't have to worry. My family is made up of good people, they won't do anything bad," Collin assured Lila. Driving along, he glanced over at Lila's modest yet gorgeous dress.
"Hmm." Lila nodded nervously. She was worried that Collin's mother and sister wouldn't like her. They hailed from the same hometown, and Lila was terrified they might recognize her... Lila quickly shook her head to push the thought away.
She had navigated countless high-stakes business deals that were far more intense, yet meeting Collin's family felt like the most terrifying hurdle of her life. She loved Collin so deeply that the thought of what his family might think of her made her anxious.
"We're here," Collin announced, causing Lila's nerves to spike all over again.
He stepped out, opened the passenger door for Lila, and held her hand as they walked up to the house. Beverly Hills was quite lively today given the holiday, with families gathering everywhere.
This year, the East family had decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on their own. Their broader family reunion was scheduled for Christmas, when they would travel to New York to visit their uncle and grandmother.
"Babe, no matter what happens, I'll always love you." Sensing her tension, Collin offered a reassuring squeeze and kissed her forehead.
"Hmm, I love you too."
Collin rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, Aida pulled the door open to greet him, only for her jaw to drop as she spotted a stunning woman standing right beside Collin, holding his hand.
"Hey, Collin—M-Ma! Brother's here!" Aida was so caught off guard she didn't know how to react, immediately bolting toward the kitchen to alert Evelyn that Collin had actually brought his girlfriend! Even Evelyn was stunned, hurrying out to welcome the couple.
"C-Come inside! My son is truly lucky to have met someone like you!" Evelyn was both shocked and overjoyed, her lips curving into an excited smile as she greeted Lila.
'Oh my gosh, she's an absolute goddess!' Evelyn thought. She then glared at Collin for not telling that his girlfriend would actually show up.
"H-Hello, Mrs. East."
Lila felt flustered, yet she greeted Evelyn with polite grace. Based on their brief exchange, Evelyn already had a wonderful impression of her.
The couple stepped inside.
"Let me help you with the turkey, Mom." Collin offered a hand, but Evelyn immediately waved him off.
"No, no, stay with Lila and keep her company. Why don't you give her a tour of the house?"
"All right," Collin replied with a shrug.
"Babe, let's head out to the garden. My mom loves gardening, and she's got some really unique plants out there." Collin guided Lila along, though she remained somewhat stiff and nervous inside the house.
As the couple stepped outside, Aida and Evelyn exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Mom, am I seeing things right? Collin actually brought a girlfriend! I thought he was making it up the whole time!" Aida exclaimed in disbelief.
Collin had previously mentioned that he was dating someone, though Aida had assumed he was just fabricating a story so they wouldn't worry about him.
"Hey, don't sell your brother short. You kids inherited the best traits from your dad and me."
"I know Collin is handsome, I just figured he'd stay single forever. What happened back then really messed him up."
"I don't want you breathing a word about that while his girlfriend is here." Evelyn shot Aida a sharp glare, and her daughter immediately realized she had spoken out of turn.
"Don't worry, Mom, I won't ever bring it up again."
The past had taken a heavy toll on their entire family. Collin had fallen into a deep depression, no matter how hard he tried to mask it. Worse still, their father had received his diagnosis right around the same time, compounding their misery. It had been a dark chapter in their lives.
"Mom, his girlfriend is gorgeous. And judging by the way she carries herself, she's no ordinary woman. I bet she comes from a wealthy background."
"Hmm." Even Evelyn could pick up on that. Everything about Lila's poise radiated quiet sophistication and affluence.
"They look wonderful together." Both mother and daughter silently agreed.
"... I'm gonna go spy on them in the garden," Aida whispered, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Hey, leave them alone and let them have their moment." Evelyn stopped Aida from intruding. She was just as curious, of course, but she refused to embarrass her son.
"Come on, Mom, aren't you even a little curious?"
"Of course I am, and that's where it ends. Now get over here and help me stuff the turkey."
"Eh? I thought you had it covered on your own! Collin offered to help and you turned him down."
"That's completely different, unless you'd prefer I interrogate you about your own love life instead?"
"All right, all right, I'll help." Aida preferred to keep her personal life strictly private. She knew how protective her family could be and didn't want to give them any reason to fret.
As for a boyfriend, well, there was a coworker she had grown fairly close to, though nothing was official yet.
"Your family is wonderful." While Aida and Evelyn worked away in the kitchen, Lila and Collin strolled through the lush garden Evelyn had spent years cultivating.
"They really are."
"Collin, thank you." She offered a soft smile and adjusted her glasses.
"For what?"
"Nothing in particular."
The couple sat side by side, letting the afternoon drift by as they chatted about everything under the sun.
When Aida eventually came out to fetch them, she was mildly surprised to catch Collin and Lila looking so openly affectionate.
"Um, Mom says dinner is ready."
Lila blushed faintly and rose to her feet.
"C-Collin, let's go."
Their Thanksgiving dinner was relatively modest, yet Lila deeply cherished the genuine warmth radiating from the East family. It was clear they wholeheartedly approved of her relationship with Collin, which finally put her nerves to rest. If there was one highlight that made the evening truly unforgettable, it was when Evelyn pulled out Collin's childhood photo albums for Lila to browse.
Lila covered her mouth in delight as she flipped through the adorable pictures. Collin had been an outrageously cute baby.
Her spirits soared even higher when Evelyn insisted on gifting her one of Collin's baby photos to keep. Hands down, it was the greatest gift she had received all year.
...
...
...
Elijah Edward stepped out of his office. Even though today was Thanksgiving, Elijah had postponed his own family gathering due to his crushing workload.
"What's left on my schedule for today?" he asked his secretary.
"That wraps up your final task for the evening, sir."
"I see... What time is it?"
"It's 9:00 PM."
[Thank you for reading this novel.]