my head. “It may have looked that way to you because you’ve known her all your life. But she was actually nice in there. She usually doesn’t even look my way unless she has a glare on her face,” I explained, trying to reason with him.
“It’s not good enough,” he snapped.
“Adrian, please. Just for tonight. Be nice,” I requested, looking into his eyes while squeezing his hand reassuringly. “Please?” I added after his glare didn’t flinch.
He sighed after a while. “Fine. But if she does or says one thing that’s out of line, we’re leaving.” He stated firmly, glaring down at me.
I smiled slightly before placing a lingering kiss on his lips. “Thank you,” I murmured, before dragging him back into the room.
“Adrian! I’m getting old. Will you go and fetch me my newspaper from the living room?” Mason whined once we entered the room again.
“Okay,” Adrian said warily, before grabbing a hold of my hand again to pull me out with him.
Adrian’s mother cleared her throat just as Adrian began to drag me along. “Emily. If it is okay with you, I would like to have a word,” she spoke up, making my eyes widen in shock.
Adrian’s jaw clenched as his grip tightened around my hand. “No.”
“Adrian, its fine,” I mumbled softly, trying to sound reassuring.
I began to pull out of his grip and make my way over to where Katherine was standing. “Let me show you around the house while we wait for dinner,” she suggested stiffly.
“Darling, if you’re going to compare bra sizes, I’m sorry to say; but I think Emily will overpower you in that department.” Mason looked at his wife sympathetically. “Plus, I’d very much like to be there when you are comparing them! So wait until after dinner so I can join you.”
“Mason,” Katherine said flatly, humorlessly. “We’re not comparing bra sizes.” She linked her arm with mine, surprising both Adrian and I. We exited the room and began making our way up a grand flight of stairs. It was quiet; Katherine still hadn’t spoken up, making the silence between us slightly awkward.
“You have a lovely home,” I spoke up after a while.
“Thank you,” Katherine replied frostily. “Mason and I designed most of it ourselves.”
I nodded in response just as silence fell upon us once again.
Katherine led me into a small room near the stairs and shut the door behind us. “Sit down, Emily,” she said, motioning toward one of the vintage-styled chairs in the room.
I took the seat closest to the door, and began straightening my dress out in order to avoid any awkward eye contact with the woman sitting across from me.
“I’m sure you know how much my son means to me by now,” she began, making me look up from the deep purple material to meet her eyes. “I only want what is best for him. A successful career, a wealthy background, a comfortable space to live in, a suitable wife. You were not a part of that plan,” she declared bluntly.
I frowned slightly and opened my mouth to respond before she raised a hand in a gesture to stop me from talking. “That is why I have acted the way I have towards you. I thought you were another one of my son’s ‘catch of the day’ girls. I’ve kept up with how many women he’s been with and trust me, I’m not proud of his behaviour. But, I’ve noticed a change in him ever since you came along – a good change. He focuses on the business with a more mature mindset, for one, and isn’t always out partying with multiple women all the time anymore. I know I have you to thank for that.” She nodded in my direction as an act of acknowledgment, and I instantly began blushing.
“I had a girl from London in mind for him to marry, but that clearly won’t happen now. I see the way he looks at you. My son is in love, and you are the object his world revolves around now. I’ve brought you up here to apologise for acting the way I have towards you for the past four months. I hoped that, once Adrian saw my disapproval of you, he’d let you go. He clearly likes you too much to do that.” She smiled at me, and I had to try and control my face from turning into one of shock.
“What you also did tonight – making him hug me – also showed me how kind hearted you