Chapter 201 - 199: The Mother-in-law’s Appraisal
"Boyf—"
Jasmine Sterling barely had time to react before she saw her daughter hurrying toward the entryway.
Saul Thorne, dressed in a camel-colored overcoat, still carried the chill of the outside air. He had just slipped off his shoes and put on slippers when he looked up to see Cecilia Sterling standing before him.
His eyes immediately warmed. "Smells good. Did you cook?"
As he spoke, he leaned his handsome face forward, about to go in for a kiss.
But Cecilia Sterling raised a hand and pushed his face aside. Saul Thorne blinked in confusion, then heard Cecilia whisper, "My mom’s here!"
Saul Thorne froze for a second, then his expression turned joyful. "Your mother’s here?"
"Cecilia, why aren’t you letting him in?"
Jasmine Sterling was getting impatient. Her curiosity was piqued, and she craned her neck to peer at the entryway, but her daughter was taking her time bringing the guest in, so she couldn’t help but call out.
Saul Thorne looked at Cecilia Sterling. The initial joy gave way to a calm sobriety. He asked tentatively, "Do you want me to meet her? Or should I leave?"
He remembered what Cecilia Sterling had said: their relationship was between the two of them, and she didn’t want to deal with superfluous social obligations, like his family.
He had always respected Cecilia Sterling’s wishes, which was why he was asking for her opinion directly. Still, as he asked, a clear sense of anticipation and a hint of nervousness lingered in his eyes.
It was rare for Cecilia Sterling to see such an expression on his face, and she couldn’t help but smile. "It’s fine. Come on in."
Her reluctance to meet Saul Thorne’s family was her own choice, a desire he had fully respected.
Now, it was clear that Saul Thorne wanted to meet her mother, and Cecilia Sterling was willing to respect his wishes. Their desires were completely independent of each other, and Cecilia wouldn’t impose her standards on anyone else.
Hearing that Cecilia Sterling was willing to let him meet her mother, Saul Thorne’s eyes lit up. He took her hand and, with a mix of composure and trepidation, walked past the entryway and into the living room, just in time to see Jasmine Sterling rising from her seat in the dining area.
"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Saul Thorne."
"Hello, Ma’am!" The moment Saul Thorne spoke, he felt his face go numb. This completely unexpected meeting with Cecilia Sterling’s mother was also the first time in his life he’d ever met a girlfriend’s parent. He found it hard to contain his inner panic.
But he was tall and well-built, with the upright posture of his profession, and he was exceptionally handsome. Jasmine Sterling’s eyes lit up at the first sight of him.
’What a fine, upstanding young man!’
"Hello, hello," Jasmine Sterling replied warmly. "You’re just in time. I’ve just made a table full of food. Go wash your hands and eat with us."
It was perfect timing. Saul Thorne smiled, nodded, and after a glance at Cecilia Sterling, he took off his overcoat and went to the washroom.
Jasmine Sterling quickly sidled up to her daughter. "Didn’t you say you broke up with your boyfriend? Did you two get back together, or is this a new one?"
Her daughter had previously told her she was dating a classmate from university but that they had broken up before the holiday.
"He’s new. We just started dating not long ago. He’s a police officer," Cecilia Sterling said truthfully.
Jasmine Sterling was even more delighted to hear that. "A police officer, that’s wonderful! He looks so righteous, and he’s handsome too."
Cecilia Sterling was naturally pleased that her mother was lavishing praise on the boyfriend she herself had chosen.
"Of course. You know how high your daughter’s standards are, especially when it comes to looks. I can’t compromise on that."
Hearing this, Jasmine Sterling shot her daughter a reproachful look. "Character is more important. But from the looks of it, he won’t be lacking in that department."
"Ma’am, did you just arrive today? When I video-chatted with Cecilia yesterday, she didn’t mention you were coming," Saul Thorne asked, drying his hands as he came out and trying to sound casual as he looked at Jasmine Sterling.
Cecilia Sterling cut in, "I was only told at the last minute myself. She didn’t call me until after she’d already landed in Lorcain. I had to rush over to pick her up."
Jasmine Sterling smiled sheepishly. "I know how to take the subway, so I didn’t want to bother Cecilia. Come on, sit down and eat before it gets cold."
After they were seated, Cecilia Sterling finally remembered to ask Saul Thorne, "Why did you suddenly come over? I didn’t tell you I was home."
"I didn’t know you were home," Saul Thorne explained. "I was just running an errand nearby and have a long meeting this afternoon, so I thought I’d come over to your place for a nap. But when I opened the door and saw two pairs of shoes by the entrance, I figured you were here."
Cecilia Sterling had given Saul Thorne permission to come over whenever he wanted. She didn’t often stay at this apartment herself, but Saul would drop by occasionally.
"Son, Cecilia said you’re a police officer? Does that mean you went to the police academy?" Jasmine Sterling couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Saul Thorne sat up straight and nodded quickly. "Yes, Ma’am. I graduated from Cathay Public Security University."
Cecilia Sterling added for her mother’s benefit, "It’s the best police academy in our country."
Jasmine Sterling beamed with a satisfied, motherly smile. It was a classic case of a mother-in-law looking at her potential son-in-law, growing fonder by the second.
"So are you a Lorcain local?"
"Yes."
"Oh, then you must have a northern palate. I made all Veridia-style dishes today. I’m not sure if they’ll be to your taste," said Jasmine Sterling.
Hearing this, Saul Thorne glanced at Cecilia Sterling with a slight smile. "Ma’am, I’m not a picky eater. In fact, I love Veridia Cuisine. Everything you’ve made looks delicious. I’ll definitely have seconds."
Not only was he handsome, but he was also a smooth talker. Jasmine Sterling’s first impression of Saul Thorne couldn’t have been better.
Cecilia Sterling shot him a sideways glance. ’He acts so stern and serious at the station,’ she thought, ’but he sure knows how to butter up the older generation.’
Still, if her mother was happy, she was happy. Although she had never planned on introducing her boyfriend to her mother, she wasn’t against this accidental meeting, as long as Saul Thorne was okay with it.
’And from the looks of it, he’s more than okay with it!’
The meal was pleasant and relaxed. Afterward, Saul Thorne insisted on clearing the table and washing the dishes, eager to make a good impression on Jasmine Sterling.
Watching Saul Thorne’s back in the kitchen, Jasmine Sterling was completely satisfied. She couldn’t help but advise her daughter, "He’s a good kid. You treat him well. This trip wasn’t in vain after all; I even got to meet your boyfriend."
As she spoke, she shot her daughter a reproachful glare. "And you, keeping such a tight lip about a new boyfriend? You didn’t let a single word slip!"
Cecilia Sterling gave a helpless smile. "Mom, I wasn’t planning on making a big deal out of dating. It’s not like we’re getting married."
"You still should have let your mother know."
"Well, you know now, don’t you?"
Jasmine Sterling swatted her daughter’s arm, dissatisfied. "Only because I walked in on you! Otherwise, who knows how long you would have kept it from me."
Cecilia Sterling shook her head, speechless. She, too, gazed at Saul Thorne in the distance. Based on his qualities, he was undoubtedly the perfect son-in-law in any parent’s eyes.
But she wasn’t thinking that far ahead. Her mother was already so incredibly pleased with Saul Thorne; she worried that if they were to break up in the future, her mother would be completely blindsided.