Leap OF Fate

The hour and a half drive to the Rain mansion felt like an eternity for Serene. The roads ahead of them stretched to forever. She tried to close her eyes to calm herself, but she felt more anxious as the image of Chairman Rain flashed through her mind. Justin observed how she shifted in her seat and looked outside the window. She looked as if she had done something wrong and expected to receive punishment when she returned home.

He blew a sigh and drew her closer to him, kissing the top of her head. "Relax, Babe," he whispered while he rubbed her back. Serene nuzzled on his neck, inhaling his fresh scent. It somehow calmed her nerves and made her breathing even. Her eyelids felt heavy and in no time she dozed off in his arms.

Serene woke up feeling gentle kisses on her mouth. "Hmmmm..." she said burying her head on his neck making him chuckle.

"Kitty, we're here," he said while he tucked away a lock of her hair to the back of her ear. Serene buried her head in his chest and kept her eyes closed. Justin chuckled and said, "Did you want me to tell Mom and Dad, that you're too sleepy to attend their party?"

At the mention of his parents, Serene felt like a glass of cold water got splashed on her face, waking her up instantly. She sat up straight, fixed her hair and checked her appearance from her mirror. Her unsteady eyes told Justin that she's still fretting. Of course, he understood how she felt because he was in her shoes weeks ago when she brought her home to her parents.

Justin gave her lips a gentle peck and traced the contour of her face before saying, "You'd be fine. Don't think too much. The only voice that matters in our relationship is ours, the rest are arbitrary."

His words tugged her heart. Her glassy eyes looked up at him. He once again pecked on her lips before getting out of the car. She followed him and held on to his waiting arm as soon as she got out.

The Rain family mansion stood imposing in front of them. A balding man in a black suit greeted them when they approached the main door. "Good evening, Carl," Justin responded to him. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

"Chairman Rain and Madam Elaina are waiting for you in the living room, Sir," Carl politely responded. She and Justin gave him a smile and went to the location he mentioned.

"Mom, Dad" Justin called the attention of the middle-aged couple as soon as they entered the spacious living room.

Chairman Rain still looked imposing as before. He still grabbed the attention of the room, doing nothing. After Justin hugged his father and kissed her mother, he pulled her closer to him, taking her away from the comfort of his back's shadow. "Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Serene Ellis. Serene, you already know my Dad, Nicholas Rain," he said gesturing his hand towards his father.

Serene extended her hand and gave a polite smile, "Chairman Rain." The older gentleman shook her offered hand but said nothing, not even a smile left his lips.

"And this is my Mom, Elaina Vanderbilt." Serene's eyes were wide in disbelief that Justin's mother was one of the modern art scene's icons. Serene recalled that she would sit in one of her classes when she taught Fine Arts in the university.

She recalled that Elaina scolded her in class for missing a major exam. After keeping her head bowed the entire time, feeling embarrassed, she approached Professor Vanderbilt after the class to explain to her she was just sitting in, but she was majoring in Economics. "Professor V.," Serene offered her hand to Elaina.

"Oh, I remember you," Elaina held her hand with both of hers and examined her face carefully taking in her features. "Ms. Econ major, is that right?"

Serene blushed but nodded her head in response. Meanwhile, the two men both looked at them with curiosity.

Elaina let go of Serene's hand and faced the questioning looks of Nick and Justin.

"Remember, I taught fine arts for a while? Well, this lady right here," she said pointing to Serene, "was always in my class. I thought she was among my students."

"So when I did not see her in one of the main exams, it surprised and disappointed me. She did so well in class, but she missed an exam."

"That's why at our next meeting, I scolded her in class for missing the test. I remember you were teary-eyed then," she looked at Serene with tenderness in her eyes.

"Then after my class she approached me and explained she was just sitting in but was actually from the college of economics."

"Honestly, I was shocked because she did all the drawings I gave as assignments... And she did each one of them excellently, mind you," she winked at Justin. "I actually look forward to seeing you in my class," she looked at Serene once again and gave her a smile. "When I did not see you during the exam period, I got frustrated and thought you were irresponsible for missing a major requirement."

"But alas, how wrong I was!" Elaina explained lightly slapping her forehead.

Justin's eyes went from his mom to Serene, then to his father. He realized each member of his family had some prior connection with her, except for him.

She had worked for Rain International before her father retired; she had attended her mother's art class, and Chester got involved with Bryan, who was her ex. He felt that somehow, Fate had drawn them together a long time ago. It just took them a while for their paths to

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