Mich.e.l.le's parents, especially her mother, was quite conservative.

"Min-hee...you...you're living in the same roof?!" Margie Park's legs wobbled and she almost fainted.

Johnny Park hurriedly supported his wife. He seemed calm. "How long have you been together?"

Mich.e.l.le could not find the words to answer again.

"Six months." Riley lied. Realizing that it was a big deal for them, he could not disclose that they had been dating for less than three months. "We've decided to live together just recently."

However, this did not appease Mich.e.l.le's mother. "You've known each other for only six months and you decided to move in with him?" Her eyes were like accusing Mich.e.l.le of a crime.

Riley had run out of ideas. He thought that six months of being together would suffice and justify their living arrangements. It seems that her parents were more conservative than he thought.

"Ah! Eomma, that's not it. We've known each other for a few years now, but we just got together...like really together, six months ago!" Her tone was too eager to be a reality. However, this was partially true. They had met about two years ago, in a convention that their bosses attended with them. It was just meeting though, not even exchange of contacts happened.

"So, when are you getting married?" Margie Park will not allow her daughter to live with a man unless he becomes her husband.

"Uhm...soon! We're already planning the wedding!" Mich.e.l.le had cold sweat.

Riley gulped while frowning. Never did they talk about getting married. It's too soon!

_________________________

"How could you be so stupid!" Aoi Xiu glared at her daughter, who was still protecting her lower abdomen which still looks flat. She turned to Dan. "You! Is it not enough that you have a fiancée?! You got my daughter pregnant?! You just guaranteed her being labeled as a mistress!"

Xiu Jin pulled back his wife before her fingers dig into the young man's face. Though he was also upset, he is not into violence. "Aoi, calm down." he whispered.

"You're telling me to calm down?! Really now?!" It seemed like she diverted her anger.

Without letting go of his wife, Xiu Jin looked at Dan and his daughter. "Explain yourselves." His tone was authoritative.

Dan had a protective stance towards his wife. "Aunty, please don't hurt Midori."

Before he could continue, Aoi Xiu screamed, "I will kill you!"

Xiu Jin tightened his hold on his wife. He strongly believed that she will do as she says.

"Mom, Dad...we're married!" Midori could not help but blurt out.

The statement made her parents stand frozen, with mouths gaping.

"What did you..." Xiu Jin was even amazed that he could utter words himself.

"Midori is my wife." Dan declared. "The engagement was fake." he continued.

His in-laws were still dumbfounded.

"Midori will never be known as a mistress, because she is already my wife, and she is with my child." He looked at them intently, while securing his wife in his arms.

"Why do you have a fake engagement?" Xiu Jin was still processing the new information.

"It's to protect my wife." Dan took a deep breath. "Uncle, it was to divert the attention of those who might harm her. I know that her security is better here in City T, so even if it pains me, I sent her back and agreed to my mother's arranged marriage."

"What about your fiancée? Are you using her?" Xiu Jin did not like the idea of sacrificing a person to gain anything. He had learned his hard lesson with Su Linyu.

"She knows everything. She even attended our wedding." Dan was determined to face all their questions. Gone were his jitters in meeting them.

"You had a wedding?" Somehow, like her thought bubble popped, Aoi Xiu picked up 'wedding' from the statements.

"Hai, Okaasan." Midori held her hand up, showing the engagement and wedding rings on her finger.

As if not fully convinced, Aoi looked at Dan. "You married her..." It sounded like it was half a question, half a realization.

Xiu Jin managed to make his wife sit back on the tatami mat, rubbing her back to calm her down. He looked at his daughter. "Why tell us now?"

Dan answered for her. "Because we need your help. We just confirmed her pregnancy yesterday. Disclosing this to you will a.s.sure us that she and the baby will be well taken care of."

"Does Masaichi know?"

On hearing this, Aoi Xiu was almost back to normal, antic.i.p.ating their answer.

Midori shook her head and pursed her lips. It was hard to predict how Masaichi will react, considering he was so protective of her.

"The less people with the secret, the better. It would be easier to keep it." Dan answered.

"But he's your brother!" Aoi tried to protest. Xiu Jin held her down.

"Alright...but she can't continue living in her condo unit." Xiu Jin turned to his daughter. "Midori, move back into the old house."

"Yes, Dad. Thank you, Dad." She had a smile on her face.

"You should frequently visit your wife." He looked at Dan sternly.

"I will, Uncle." Dan bowed.

"Why are you still calling me 'uncle'?"

Dan was pleasantly surprised, shyly uttering, "Yes, Dad."

Xiu Jin smiled and felt a.s.sured. Then he remembered. "What about Mantarou?"

Midori giggled. "Dan had promised him a playmate and he was looking forward to it."

"You told the kid but not his father?" Xiu Jin chuckled.

"We needed a ring bearer." Dan flashed his smile.

"Fine. You can send the dowry into our account within the day. Midori has the details."

As Aoi Xiu's voice rang with the demand, there was a second of silence, followed by a chorus of laughter.