Chapter 334: I Love Him

As soon as Edie got into the car, Mr. Bayer got out, leaving them alone. Everything was silent for a second, and Edie said, "Hello, Madame..." Her voice was quivering with nervousness. Edie only got two words out before she was interrupted by Madame Yates.

"I’m sure you know why I wanted to see you," Madame said with a frigid tone.

When hearing how she spoke to her, Edie froze and took a few deep breaths. Edie had thought the first time they met would be a little uncomfortable, but she never dreamed that Madame could be so cold and unfeeling. Edie glanced at Madame, but the expression on her face chilled her to the marrow. Edie looks away from her, her shaky hands clasped on her lap, her eyes half-closed, and her lips quivering as she tries to calm herself down.

"I have to be honest with you! I was expecting you to come to the house to meet me. I never expected that you would want to meet with me alone," Edie said softly.

Madame gave Edie a ridiculous smile, then addressed Edie more somberly. "I’ll start first! What do you have to say about being the illegitimate daughter of Stanley Greg?" she asked.

Edie took another deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "Okay! So you know about my past, but what is it that you want from me?" Edie answered her question, as calmly and rationally as she could even though she was trembling all over, from the inside out.

"What did you say?" Madame Yates asked as if she didn’t hear Edie correctly. She raised her head, her eyebrows lifted upwards and she looked deeply into Edie’s eyes. "With your background, why do you think you deserve to be my son’s wife? Stuart is an honorable man, and he doesn’t need his reputation to be ruined by the likes of someone like you."

"What? Ruined?" Edie said loudly and clearly. She was expecting Madame to be like Stuart, but yet she was so ruthless and mean. Her hands clenched into fists, willing herself to be brave. "Yes, Stuart is an amazing and kind man. If for some reason, his reputation is ruined, it is Stuart’s choice."

"What are you saying? You’re still willing to be with him knowing what is at stake? A princess would be willing to marry my son, but instead, he chooses a woman like you. If you have any self-consciousness, you would leave him." Madame’s voice gets louder and louder with each word.

Hearing this Edie’s face becomes pale. She bites her lower lip as she stared up into Madame’s eyes. She sat there the longest time, not speaking, just staring at her. "Our relationship is mutual. We’re in love, and I hope when it comes out that it doesn’t ruin Stuart, but whatever happens, we’re staying together. I’ve listened to your harsh words only because you’re Stuart’s mother, but if you think I will leave him, you are mistaken. I will never leave him nor will he leave me." Edie’s heart begins to beat faster, and she takes a deep breath and says with sincerity in her voice, "I hope you can understand! I’m not leaving him, and I love him!"

Madame Yates blinked. "Stuart may be trying to protect you, but I am also trying to protect Stuart. I’m his mother, and that’s my job. Yes, he’s the CEO of the L. N. Group, but if you think I will welcome you with open arms into our family, you’re deadly mistaken." She said as her voice got even colder.

Edie looked into Madame’s eyes with no fear and said, "Whether you want to admit it or not! I am Stuart’s legal wife, and I know how powerful you are, but no matter what obstacles we are confronted with, Stuart and I will face them together. I believe in my husband as he believes in me."

Madame looked at Edie with a surprised expression. "How can you be so confident! What makes you so sure he’ll stay by your side?"

"Of course, I’m confident," Edie nodded vigorously. "He’s my husband, and we made a vow to one another. That’s all we need!" she answered, sounding defensive.

Madame had listened with an imploring face, with her eyes on Edie and her hands clasped in silent supplication. "If that’s all you have to say, I guess we’re all done discussing this matter for now," she sneered.

Mr. Bates was waiting anxiously in the car. He was debating whether or not he should call Stuart. Just as he pulled out his phone, the door opened, and Edie got in. He took one look at the expression on Edie’s face and knew immediately things didn’t go well. "Edie, what happened? What did Madame say?" he asked with concern in his voice.

Edie watched as Mr. Bayer got into the car and drove away. She wouldn’t take her eyes off the car until it was completely out of her sight. Her mind was spinning with thoughts, "I don’t....it was nothing like I had expected it would be." Edie tried to smile when she looked at Mr. Bates, but her expression was blank. "My mother in law is nothing like I thought she would be!"

Mr. Bates started to worry, he’d never seen Edie like this before. He became even more anxious. "Did Madame Yates do something to you? Tell me! What exactly did she say?"

"She told me that I don’t deserve to be with Stuart. Madame said I’ll ruin Stuart’s reputation if it gets out that we’re married. It can’t be true? Is my past coming back to haunt me?" Edie said as the tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

Mr. Bates sighed heavily. "This is Madame Yates style." He wanted to comfort Edie." Mrs. Yates! You..."

Edie interrupted before he could finish. "And then.." Edie swallowed and took a deep breath. "After she tells me I don’t deserve to be with Stuart, she tells me she’s going to the house to prepare lunch for Stuart and I. I don’t understand? She hates me, or does she like me?" Edie was completely confused.

Mr. Bates’s eyes widened, and he swallowed. He didn’t know at first what to say. "Did Madame say she was personally going to cook dinner for you and Stuart?" he asked.

"Yes, those were her exact words," Edie answered. "It feels like it was a dream! It wasn’t anything like I expected it would be. She was so cold at first. I just don’t understand." Edie said as she kept shaking her head.

Mr. Bates was at a loss for words. He nodded his head and said, "I see!" After a few minutes of silence, he asked, "Do you want me to take you back to the Villa?"

Edie looked out the window at the cars passing them by. She sighed and shook her head. "No! I have to talk to Stuart first. I have to let him know that I’ve talked to his mother."