Chapter 232 - 234 Drunk
Getting married definitely calls for a celebration. Originally, Gina Lopez proposed going out to eat, but Jonathan Lopez and his wife felt that dining out wouldn’t be so carefree. In the end, they decided to cook a table full of dishes at home. Although it was just the five of them, the atmosphere was lively, largely because of Emily Lopez, the lively little aunt, who kept teasing James Brown, adding to the joyous atmosphere.
Tonight, Jonathan Lopez and his wife drank quite a bit of alcohol and were extremely happy. Jonathan Lopez patted James Brown on the shoulder and said, "James, I’m entrusting Gina to you now. My daughter is quite temperamental. If there’s anything wrong, feel free to scold or chastise her as necessary. Women need to be pampered, but not overly so."
Gina Lopez immediately protested, "Dad, why aren’t you siding with your daughter?"
Jonathan Lopez laughed and said, "Of course, I dote on my daughter. But once she’s married, she’s starting a new family. Friction is inevitable when two people are together. If you always give in, it will only lead to bigger problems in the end. You are too dominant, and I don’t want James to end up too passive."
James Brown chuckled, "Dad, you don’t have to worry about that." Since they got their marriage certificate, Jonathan Lopez and his wife insisted that James Brown change how he addresses them. It was quite awkward for James at first, but after calling them a few times, it started to feel natural.
What mattered most was that after his parents passed away, James had not felt this sense of family. Staying with Gina’s family gave him that feeling again. Even if it weren’t for the fake marriage with Gina, he felt it was worthwhile to change how he addressed them, considering how well Jonathan Lopez and his wife treated him.
At this point, Mrs. Lopez chimed in, "The most important thing is to have children soon. James, don’t listen to Gina—all this talk about being busy with work and it not being the right time for children are just excuses. Once a woman gets married, she should have children. Human desires are endless. You’ve achieved so much now, and you will always feel there are higher accomplishments to pursue. But by the time you realize what’s important, you’ll be too old. Even if you can still have children, by the time they grow up a bit, you’ll be too old to have the energy to manage them. So, you need to exert effort now, you hear?"
Emily Lopez gave her mother a thumbs-up, "Mom, this is the first time I’ve heard you say something so philosophical."
Mrs. Lopez glared, "Don’t think because I nag, it’s not for your good. As a mother, would I harm my own daughter?"
James Brown humbly responded, "Yes, we will try our best."
Although Gina Lopez felt awkward, she went along with her mother’s words. However, she did not quite agree with them internally, as she had her own plans for her life—to marry at thirty and have children before thirty-five.