ENCHANTED LOVE, VOLUME 2 - Season 9 Episode 58

Peggy glared at Sue furiously. “You wicked girl! What did you do? Are you driving our guest out from the door?”

“Mom! What are you talking about? I can’t make him do anything!” Sue replied defending herself.

Seeing that Sue was getting angry, Anthony turned to Peggy and explained quickly, “Please don’t be mistaken. Sue has nothing to do with it. I have something urgent to deal with, so I really must leave now anyway.”

“Anthony, there’s no need to make excuses for her,” Peggy answered with a bitter smile and sighed. “She’s my daughter and I know her well. She must have said something to you, to make you want to leave?”

“No. Sue didn’t say anything, I promise!” Anthony tried to defend her.

Peggy stared at Anthony and then waved her hand dismissively. “Ignore her. You are my guest today, not hers. Have a seat and enjoy your meal. Come on!”

Peggy virtually dragged him to his seat and then glared at Sue, commanding her to sit down as well.

Sue had no choice but to listen. She couldn’t leave Anthony alone with them. Who knew what could happen?

She knew that Peggy was planning something, but couldn’t quite figure out what it was just yet.

“Anthony, try this.” Peggy plonked a piece of sweet and sour spare rib onto Anthony’s plate, showing off proudly, “I’m not bragging but the rib is my signature dish and it happens to be Sue’s favorite one as well.”

“Really? Sue’s favorite dish?” Anthony smiled and looked up at Sue. He noticed that strangely he was especially mindful whenever he heard of Sue’s likes and hobbies. “Then I must try it.”

Sue opened her mouth in shock. “Mom, are you kidding me? My favorite dish? The person who loves eating the ribs is your son, Allen! As for me, I don’t even know the taste of the meat that you cook, because I have never had the honor of trying it. So how can the ribs be my favorite dish? How ridiculous!” There was sorrow and anger in her tone.

“Don’t mind what she said. Just ignore her,” Peggy explained to Anthony with an embarrassed smile. “She is a spoiled child. It’s my fault.”

“I don’t think so. I think she’s very nice.” Anthony smiled, defending Sue in a firm tone.

“Really?” Peggy said slyly. Then her face lit up and she glanced at Anthony and Sue. “Well, then you must have feelings for my daughter, Sue?”

“Mom! What rubbish are you talking about? Just stop it!” Sue was becoming more and more agitated by the minute. She stood up and turned to Peggy.

“Anthony and I are just friends. There is nothing between us. He cares for Sheryl. Don’t meddle in our affairs!”

“Sheryl?” Peggy murmured in surprise and then glanced at Anthony. “Are you Sheryl’s husband?”

“No, I’m not,” Anthony replied, trying to hide his irritation with a smile. “Sheryl and I were lovers, once.”

“So you are no longer with her?” Peggy openly breathed a sigh of relief. If Anthony was married, then her effort to bring Sue and him together would be in vain. Thank goodness he was still single.

“Yes.” Anthony nodded slightly.

“Then, what about her two kids?”

“They aren’t mine,” Anthony replied.

“Good! That’s good!” Peggy commented as if she was very satisfied with his answer.

“What’s good? Mom?” Sue raised her voice at Peggy impatiently. “I have already told you that we are just friends. What you’re trying to do now is nonsense!”

“It was just small talk. What are you getting so worked up about?” Peggy thought it might be easier to find out more if Sue wasn’t there. “Didn’t you say, that you were going to leave? What are you waiting for? Nobody’s stopping you!”

“You…” Sue was too angry to say anything back to her. After how her mother was acting towards Anthony, she was even more convinced that she needed to stay with Anthony.

Peggy noticed Sue’s unusual reaction and she was even more suspicious about their relationship. ‘They can’t be just friends,’ she thought and smiled.

Then she turned to Anthony. “I have met Sheryl before. She is a good girl, beautiful and sweet. But Anthony, I have to be honest. I don’t think that she is a good choice for you.”

Peggy paused, knowing that her frank comment would displease Anthony. “She has two children already and if you were to marry her, you would become the father of her two kids and have responsibilities towards them. If I were your mother, I would never agree to this marriage.”

“You are right about my mom.” Anthony forced a bitter smile on his face. “She was firmly against us being together.

That was the reason why we broke up.” “I can understand her totally. No parent in the world would want their son to marry a divorced woman with kids!” she cruelly stated.

“Yes,” Anthony replied coldly, feeling hurt that Peggy judged Sheryl like that.

Peggy watched Anthony’s reaction and finally turned the topic to Sue. “I’m not putting my daughter on a pedestal but honestly, Sue is a good girl from every aspect. Although, she can be a little stubborn sometimes.”

Peggy looked at Anthony and added, “Anthony, I know you are a good man. To be honest, I think you and my daughter could be a good match for each other. What do you think?”

“Mom! Could you just stop it?” Sue was flushed with embarrassment.

“You should shut up!” Peggy shouted at her angrily. “In our village, girls at your age are already married and have children. Look at you! You don’t even have a boyfriend! You have no idea how much I worry about you. How can I leave you alone like that?”

“So what?” Sue shrugged her shoulders angrily. “Who says women have to get married and have children? I say, it’s just fine to live alone and be single!”

“Rubbish! What are you talking about?” Peggy frowned. She was shocked by her daughter’s remarks. “You stupid girl!

Have you considered your future? When you get old, lying in bed, no one will take care of you except for your own children! Or are you going to die alone without a family by your side?” spat Peggy.

“That’s my business. It has nothing to do with you!” Sue answered angrily, unwilling to continue the conversation. “I’m your mother! Your business is also my business! How dare you say it has nothing to do with me?” Peggy shouted out in fury. Seeing that Sue was unwilling to talk, she turned to Anthony again.

“Anthony! I need an answer from you today. You have to tell me the truth! What do you feel for my daughter?”

“I…” Anthony hesitated. There was a strange feeling in Anthony when he thought about the answer. He glanced at Sue and could read Sue’s loving eyes filled with hope and expectation even though her face remained expressionless.

Anthony didn’t know how to respond as he was put on the spot.

“I don’t know how I feel either.” Anthony smiled awkwardly. He looked at Peggy and said diplomatically, “Sue is a good girl. She will surely have a good husband in the future.”

Peggy was confused. She didn’t expect that sort of response from Anthony. She couldn’t help but question her own sharp judgement. ‘Am I wrong this time?

It can’t be! I am sure that I notice the way he looks at her.’

She was unwilling to accept it and frowned. “Anthony, what do you mean by saying that?

“Mrs. Garcia.” Anthony looked at her anxious face and decided to confess frankly. “Sue and I are just friends. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Even though you are only friends now, you can be something more in the future,” Peggy continued to persuade him. “Sue is a good girl! She will make a good wife, I’m sure.”

“Maybe,” Anthony replied with a polite smile. “Nobody can be sure about the things in the future. All we can be sure about is what is here and now. We can only be friends.”

“I don’t know how I feel either.” Anthony smiled awkwardly. He looked at Peggy and said diplomatically, “Sue is a good girl. She will surely have a good husband in the future.”

Peggy was confused. She didn’t expect that sort of response from Anthony. She couldn’t help but question her own sharp judgement. ‘Am I wrong this time?

It can’t be! I am sure that I notice the way he looks at her.’

She was unwilling to accept it and frowned. “Anthony, what do you mean by saying that?

“Mrs. Garcia.” Anthony looked at her anxious face and decided to confess frankly. “Sue and I are just friends.

Please don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Even though you are only friends now, you can be something more in the future,” Peggy continued to persuade him. “Sue is a good girl! She will make a good wife, I’m sure.”

“Maybe,” Anthony replied with a polite smile. “Nobody can be sure about the things in the future. All we can be sure about is what is here and now. We can only be friends.”