The Pineda family placed a lot of importance on family rituals.
Though they came from generations of wealth, Andre Pineda and Reagan Pineda disliked being waited upon. They usually had their live-in housekeeper prepare meals, but for family banquets, they would always do it themselves.
Even Curtis would lend a hand.
Dakota, who usually kept her hands clean, had intended to go in and help to maintain the appearance of a loving couple.
But Curtis, meticulously removing bones from chicken wings and smirking, bent close to her ear and whispered, "The kitchen in the Pineda's household is always a man's domain."
"Go play or have some fruit."
Curtis tossed the deboned wings into a bowl carelessly, "Just wait for dinner."
Thus, Dakota was led to the living room by Aunt Mary.
The sounds of cheerful chatter and gossip buzzed incessantly in her ears—
"I heard that Kota personally designed their marital home!"
"Really? That kid Curtis has always been wild, he needs a good wife like Kota."
"I didn't believe it before, but seeing them now, it seems Kota and Curtis are genuinely close."
"You're behind the times, aren't you surfing the net? Kota and Curtis were photographed by paparazzi a while ago!"
"Oh! Flirting drunk and spending the night together?"
"Is Kota really not...?"
"That means there'll be little ones soon!"
"..."
Dakota forced a polite smile, awkwardly, finding herself unable to refute the gossip this time.
She could only feign bashfulness, "Please don't tease me about this, Uncle Kaleb and Aunt Mary..."
Curtis couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Peeling garlic, hearing the noise from the living room, he rarely saw this little swan Dakota in such an awkward position, clearly unwilling to admit the scandal but too timid to deny it.
Andre glanced at him, "How's married life?"
"Fine." Curtis smiled, seemingly amused by Dakota's predicament, not noticing his father's expression.
"Really?" Andre was skeptical, "Then why can't I see any sign that Kota likes you?"
Curtis's smile faltered.
He slowly shifted his gaze to Andre, forcing a light laugh, "How could that be?"
He couldn't help but get reeled in every time Dakota looked at him.
One look and he was lost.
But Andre seemed to see through everything, "If you think it's fine, then it's fine. After all, she's your wife, not mine."
And even if it comes to being conquered, it will be his son who falls first, at least the daughter-in-law won't suffer any losses, so it doesn't matter.
Curtis: "..."
He squinted and turned to look at his father.
But Andre didn't intend to elaborate further, turning to leave the kitchen with a dish of stir-fried liver:
"Reagan, call Kota and the others to eat."
Reagan was coaxing Dakota and the others to eat fruit, and upon hearing Andre's voice, gathered everyone to the dining room.
The Pineda family was very harmonious.
Andre and Reagan got along well with her family too.
So the atmosphere during the meal was warm and friendly.
Dakota didn't feel restrained eating at the Pineda's house. Everyone took care of her and didn't pressure her to drink, although Andre was continuously toasting his brothers-in-law.
This was the first time Dakota had interacted with so many of his family members.
She turned to Curtis, "I didn't expect that a weekday dinner at your house could be so lively."
"Lively?" Curtis was a bit surprised.
He had originally worried that Dakota might find it too noisy, but didn't expect that her first impression would be this positive.
However, the Gardner family was indeed very different from the Pineda family.
Dakota was a single-parent child, taking her mother's surname.
Her father, who had married into the Gardner family, had an affair when she was three years old and was kicked out by Greta, required to leave everything behind. Dakota was raised by her grandmother.
Greta was so busy managing the family business that she was almost never home.
Even during important holidays like New Year, it was usually just Dakota and her grandmother at home.
But now, her grandmother had passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage three years ago.
Dakota picked up her teacup, sipping gently, her eyes lowered, listening to the elders chatting merrily at the dinner table, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.
"Our house is even livelier during festivals."
Curtis leaned back in his rosewood mandarin hat chair, turning to Dakota, "From now on, I'll bring you home for them."
Dakota, holding her teacup, was momentarily stunned.
She met Curtis's eyes with a daze, but quickly looked away with a mix of pride and disdain, "Who wants to go home with you for the holidays..."
Curtis raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything else.
Dakota leaned closer and whispered, "Leaving soon?"
"Yeah." Curtis nodded, "It's not appropriate to leave now, I'll find an opportunity to tell them later."
Dakota nodded.
But then, Reagan suddenly looked up at Dakota, "Kota, why don't you stay over tonight?"
Dakota, who had just been discussing leaving, was unexpectedly called out and looked up in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Reagan looked at her with a gentle gaze, "You don't want to sleep over at mom's house?" "Not really..." Dakota denied instinctively.
Actually, Dakota had been spoiled since childhood. With Greta, who seldom cared for her, she knew that throwing tantrums or acting petulant could gain attention.
But facing Reagan's gentleness and concern, she suddenly felt at a loss.
Reagan smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling, "Then stay over tonight. I've specially aired out the bedding for you and Curtis and changed the sheets and pillowcases."
Curtis frowned.
He crossed his legs nonchalantly, "Mom, I'm taking Kota back to our place to sleep, we don't have any of her clothes here to change into."
"How come?"
Reagan looked at him reproachfully, "I specifically cleared out space in your wardrobe by getting rid of clothes you don't wear often and bought new clothes for Kota to put in there, including outerwear, undergarments, pajamas, and bathrobes."
"Kota, isn't that nice?"
Curtis: "..."
He clicked his tongue, trying to find another excuse, but suddenly heard a soft "Okay" beside him.
Curtis: ...?
He slowly turned his head to look at Dakota, his dark pupils narrowing slightly as he met her gaze.
But Dakota didn't dare to meet his gaze.
She was usually good at starting arguments but couldn't handle kindness, so she couldn't refuse Reagan's warmth and goodwill, not wanting to disappoint her.
Dakota pursed her lips, then looked up at Reagan, "Mom, I'll stay over tonight."
Curtis rubbed the bridge of his nose twice.
Reagan smiled broadly, and the relatives gave the newlyweds a teasing glance full of gossip.
The meal ended quickly.
The leftovers and dishes were left for the housekeeper to clear up later.
Reagan asked Curtis to take Dakota back to rest in their room, and the relatives dispersed to return home. Some of Reagan's family members who had come from southern to stay in J City for a short period were accommodated in a guesthouse.
Before leaving, a young aunt slipped something into Dakota's hand, winking mysteriously, "Hold onto this. Your mother-in-law probably didn't prepare this for you."
Dakota's expression turned incredulous.
She looked down at the small package in her hand and immediately blushed furiously!
