Chapter 13 Barrage of Questions

• At the revelation, a collective astonishment swept over the trio gathered in the room.
• "A woman?" Theodore's response was swift, his countenance brimming with excitement. "Thad... could it be the one you spoke of before?"
• "Which one?" Old Mr. Sterling queried after regaining his collectedness, fixing his gaze keenly upon his youngest son.
• Theodore's anticipation surged as he eagerly chimed in. "Undoubtedly, it must be the same lady of whom you spoke earlier, Thad, the prospective bride."
• "Marriage?" Madam Sterling's incredulity spilled forth after a brief pause to collect her thoughts. "You had thoughts of marriage? Thaddeus, who is this prospective bride? What sort of lady is this person? From which family does she come from? What's her age? Is she a fine lady? And, what's her educational background?"
• Thaddeus found himself bombarded with a slew of inquiries, each one adding to his headache.
• "Mom, can we all just take a breath?" Theodore interjected, his voice pleading for some calm.
• "Okay, okay, let's take a breather, but... spill the beans, what's going on?" Madam Sterling's expression was serious, clearly skeptical about her eldest son potentially having a significant other.
• It was a widely acknowledged fact within the family that Thaddeus harbored a general aversion towards women. Historically, he had maintained a noticeable distance from them.
• Madam Sterling had even attempted to arrange blind dates for him, yet he merely went through the motions without genuine interest. Such actions led her to entertain suspicions that her son might be inclined towards men.
• Never did she ever understand that merely a few days after their return from abroad, a woman would unexpectedly emerge in his life.
• Originally reluctant to divulge much, Thaddeus found himself compelled to yield to his parents' fervent curiosity. "Firstly, I never claimed to have a prospective bride; it was merely Theodore's own speculations. And to answer your question, yes, there is indeed a young lady. Ronnie doesn't find her repulsive; in fact, he holds her in high regard, and presently, they are becoming familiar with one another. However, nothing has been definitively settled yet."
• Upon absorbing this information, the two elders experienced a slight sense of disappointment, albeit not enough to dampen their spirits. "And what about your feelings towards her? Do you fancy her?" they inquired.
• Thaddeus' forehead creased, momentarily appearing perplexed by the term "fancy," before cautiously responding, "Well, I don't harbor any dislike towards her."
• "Well, that's practically the same as liking her," Theodore interjected with a grin.
• In the instant following Theodore's remark, he found himself on the receiving end of a sharp glare from his brother.
• Old Mr. Sterling, adopting a more pragmatic approach, posed an important inquiry, "Can the young lady be deemed trustworthy? And how long have you both been on familiar terms?"
• Thaddeus hesitated momentarily before responding, "We've known each other for a few... months."
• Old Mr. Sterling's countenance darkened, his gaze penetrating as he spoke in a commanding tone, "Merely a few months, and you're already entrusting Ronnie to her? What if she harbors ulterior motives? Have you already conveniently forgotten what has happened?! If Ronnie suffers any harm again, I will never see you again!"
• Madam Sterling concurred, her tone solemn, "Indeed, Thad, while I'm happy that you've found a young lady you fancy, we haven't even gotten to know her yet. It's unwise to leave Ronnie in her care. You must promptly get her to come over and arrange for us to meet this young lady."
• Thaddeus felt the pulse throbbing harder in his temples, a mounting ache that mirrored the increasing complexity of the situation.
• He hadn't anticipated that his straightforward explanation would spiral into such intense scrutiny. It seemed that all his efforts to explain the matter were futile, as if his words held no weight at all.
• Observing the tension etched on his brother's features, Theodore recognized the urgency of stepping in to defuse the situation. With a discerning gaze, he interjected, "Mom, Dad, let's take a moment to breathe, alright? Given Thad's astute judgment and adept handling of affairs, can't we place our trust in him? Moreover, if Ronnie truly is at the young lady's residence, he likely has arranged for bodyguards to ensure his safety. There's no need to anticipate the worst..."
• "Furthermore," Theodore pressed on, his voice carrying a note of urgency, "haven't you both been hoping to see Thaddeus settle down? In the past, neither Thad nor Ronnie showed interest in anyone. Now that a woman has emerged whom they both hold in favorable regard let's not drive her away, alright? Do you truly wish to witness him remain single indefinitely, or would you rather he find a male companion?"
• "But..." The hesitation lingered in the air as the two older Sterling members remained apprehensive.
• Theodore interjected firmly, "No more 'buts.' Thaddeus clearly stated that nothing has been finalized. I must have misunderstood him; recalling it now, I'm pretty sure there was no mention of marriage; it was merely conjecture on my part. Ronnie will spend the night outside, and tomorrow Thad and I will retrieve him. It's late now, so let's return and get some rest."
• With a gentle hand, Theodore assisted the two elders to their feet, ushering them towards the door.
• Old Mr. Sterling's irritation flared suddenly. "You impertinent rascal, you've barely spoken, and now you're shooing us away."
• Madam Sterling joined in with a stern glance. "Indeed, we've hardly settled into the sofa."
• "There's no need to linger here. You came to visit your baby grandson, but I'm certain he's tired of seeing you already. Trust me. Head back and get some rest. The driver is waiting outside," Theodore reasoned with gentle firmness.
• With Theodore's guidance, the trio exited the premises, and the elderly couple was tenderly ushered into the waiting car by Theodore before being driven away.
• Once they were gone, Theodore hurried back inside, brimming with anticipation. "Thad, how did I handle that?"
• "Pretty well," Thaddeus praised sincerely.
• Theodore rubbed his hands together, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Considering my stellar performance, care to clue me in on who this mystery woman is? I was up all night with curiosity."
• Thaddeus shot his younger brother a stern glance. His tone was firm. "The study room has documents that need to be looked through. If you're unable to sleep, occupy yourself with those."
• Theodore's smile faltered, his countenance shifting to one of disappointment as he protested, "Why all the secrecy? It wouldn't hurt to confide in me. You'll need my help in the future."
• A wry smile appeared on Thaddeus' lips as he sneered. "Need your help? For what purpose?"
• Theodore lifted his chin proudly, his resolve unyielding. "Consider, for instance, appeasing our parents! Despite their current composure, mark my words; their curiosity about this woman will undoubtedly resurface. They'll likely initiate an investigation, and who knows, they might even intrude on her privacy. When that time comes, it'll fall upon your little brother to smooth things over. So... just tell me who she is."
• Thaddeus listened to Theodore's reasoning but remained unconvinced. "I'm perfectly capable of appeasing them myself. And if not, I can divert their concerns by arranging a marriage for you. By then, our parents probably won't have the time to have any concerns about me."
• "D@mn it!" Theodore erupted, his frustration boiling over as he pointed accusingly at his brother. "Thad, this isn't fair! Do you even consider me as your own brother?"
• "Well, of course we're brothers," Thaddeus replied, a faint, wistful smile gracing his lips as he half-smiled. "Now, are you still curious?"
• Tears welled in Theodore's eyes. "Argh, forget it! I don't want you to tell me. I'll figure it out by myself!"