Aiden Shaw's mother, Marian Miller, was holding a thermos, looking incredibly eager.
She had called her son last night, but a girl had answered the phone.
And what's more, the girl had called her "Mom" right away.
Even more importantly, the girl said she and her son were about to go to sleep.
No wonder that brat of hers had insisted on moving out. It turned out he had a girlfriend, which made living at home inconvenient.
She had even started to wonder if her son might have issues with his orientation. It seemed she'd been worrying for nothing.
He was perfectly normal, after all.
"This girl must be my daughter-in-law, right?"
Marian Miller hastily set the thermos on the table, excitedly grabbing Laura Lowell's hands and giving her a thorough once-over, from the tips of her hair to her toes.
'Uh... Daughter-in-law?'
Laura Lowell stared blankly at the enthusiastic middle-aged woman before her, completely at a loss. She then turned her head to look at Aiden Shaw.
Her eyes were pleading for help.
Aiden Shaw, of course, noticed the girl's anxious, tense expression. With his hands shoved in his pockets, he said in a lazy tone tinged with nonchalance, "She's not your daughter-in-law."
"Don't you dare try to fool me. When I called you last night, your little girlfriend here called me 'Mom' herself. She even said you two were about to go to sleep."
Laura Lowell nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
'So that was how she'd creatively dug her own grave last night.'
"No, no, no… It's not what you think… It was a misunderstanding."
Laura Lowell had no choice but to bite the bullet and try to explain. Who could she blame for this mess but herself?
"Sweetie, don't be shy. Mom brought some restorative soup for you two. You must have been exhausted last night."
Marian Miller pulled Laura Lowell toward the dining table, repeatedly referring to herself as "Mom."
Still barefoot, Laura Lowell was pushed down into a chair by Marian Miller.
'She really wished she could just faint and get it over with.'
'Exhausted last night?'
'Sigh, what kind of mess was this?'
"Um, Ma'am… you've really misunderstood. I was drunk last night, so I have no idea what kind of nonsense I was spouting. Please, don't take any of it to heart."
Laura Lowell felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Aiden Shaw, still maintaining his pose with his hands in his pockets, let out a low chuckle.
'He didn't even know the girl had pulled a stunt like that last night.'
"I don't care whether you two admit it or not. In any case, I've accepted you as my daughter-in-law. The Shaw Family has very strict rules. Since this boy of mine has had relations with you, the Shaw Family will absolutely see this through and take responsibility."
This son of hers had never even been in a relationship, let alone brought a girl home.
Now that she had finally caught one, there was no way she was letting go.
Besides, she had just taken a good look at the girl—she was pretty, had a good disposition, and a pleasant voice.
All in all, she was very satisfied.
To this moment, Laura Lowell still didn't know whether or not she had actually slept with this handsome guy.
What he'd said just now… had been very ambiguous.
'If something really had happened, shouldn't there have been… blood?'
Laura Lowell's eyes, as clear as spring water, fell upon Aiden Shaw once more, questioning him.
'Please, handsome guy, I'm begging you.'
'Did we sleep together or not?! Ahhhhhh…'
Laura Lowell's heart was in turmoil, her thoughts as tangled as a ball of yarn that had unraveled across the floor.
Meeting the girl's gaze, Aiden Shaw's lips curved into a subtle smile. A clear, cool voice escaped his lips, "Mom, she slept in the guest room last night. Nothing happened between us."
Hearing the handsome guy's words, Laura Lowell let out a long breath. Her heart, which felt like it had been floating at ten thousand feet, finally came back down to earth.