Ember stood frozen, her heart pounding in disbelief. She never imagined meeting Dylan's parents like this—so suddenly, so unprepared. The words had poured out of her earlier, far more than she had intended. Now, she felt bare, vulnerable.
Dylan stepped closer, his presence a balm to her nerves. He handed her the drink he had brought, his fingers brushing against hers. Without thinking, Ember drank it in one go, as if it might steady the storm inside her.
"See? You've scared her speechless," Dylan teased gently, wrapping an arm around Ember's back and lacing his fingers through hers. The warmth of his touch grounded her, even as her mind spun.
"We didn't do anything to her. And what's with that tone, talking to your parents like that, you brat?" Alora said, arching a brow at her son.
"Mom, look at her—she's in shock," Dylan replied, a soft note of concern in his voice.
Alora's eyes turned to Ember, her expression softening. "Ember, are you alright?"
Ember mustered the best smile she could, her cheeks burning under the weight of so many eyes. "Yeah! I'm alright, ma'am."
Alora chuckled gently. "What's with the 'ma'am'? You can call me 'aunty.' Really, I'd be more than happy if you did."
Ember's eyes flicked uncertainly to Dylan, silently seeking his approval.
"I think you should call her Mom," he said, his voice low and reassuring, "just like I do."
Ember's breath caught. Mom? The word felt foreign on her tongue, yet warm in her chest. Her gaze fell to the floor, emotions swirling inside her. Disbelief. Hope. Fear.
Then Alora's voice broke through, teasing yet touched with curiosity. "Sweetie… don't tell me the boyfriend you mentioned is Dylan?"
Ember's eyes met hers, wide and vulnerable. She gave a small nod, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Yes."
Alora's eyes widened, a mix of shock and dawning realization washing over her. "When you said he was hiding something from you, I never imagined you were actually with him."
Dylan looked at Ember, disappointment flickering in his eyes. The weight of it made her heart sink. She tried to speak, to explain, to soften the moment.
"Dylan… it's just that…" Her voice faltered as her gaze met his. The moment stretched between them, heavy and fragile. She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie to you."
He sighed, his expression softening as he reached out to pat her shoulder gently. "It's okay," he murmured, his hand lingering with quiet reassurance.
Then Dylan turned toward his parents, his tone shifting to something more composed, proud even. "I'm really sorry for not telling you sooner," he said, his voice firm yet warm. He reached for Ember's hand, entwining his fingers with hers as he pulled her gently to his side. "But now it's time for a proper introduction. This is Ember. She's from Country I, and she's not just my girlfriend… she's the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with."
As he looked into her eyes, Ember felt her cheeks flush a deep crimson. His words hit her like a slow, burning fire—tender, raw, and utterly consuming. Her heart skipped, then raced.
Alora placed a hand over her chest, her eyes widening in awe. "I don't know how you managed to get such a beautiful girl to fall for you, but I'm so happy… Ember, I'm overjoyed you're going to be my daughter-in-law."
Daughter-in-law. The words hit Ember like a wave, and she started hiccupping in surprise. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with panic.
"Ember, here—drink some water," Dylan said quickly, grabbing a glass and holding it to her lips with gentle care. "Slowly… that's it."
She took a few sips, the hiccups subsiding as her nerves settled slightly under his attentive gaze. He smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're scaring her again," he said with a smirk, glancing at his mother.
"Why am I scaring her? Don't tell me you're not planning on marriage—am I wrong, honey?" Alora replied, turning toward her husband with a sly smile.
Arzhel cleared his throat. "Ahem… you're right. If you two are serious, it's only natural to think about the future."
Dylan groaned, rolling his eyes with a laugh. "Dad, not you too…"
Ember could only listen, wide-eyed and quiet, her heart beating faster with every word exchanged.
"What?" Arzhel said with a chuckle. "Your mother has a point. We've never seen you with any girl before. It's honestly a miracle Ember agreed to be your girlfriend at all. You'd better marry her soon—before she realizes what she's gotten into and runs off."
Dylan pulled Ember a little closer, wrapping his arm protectively around her waist. "She's not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and teasing near her ear. "Not if I can help it."
And Ember… Ember didn't think she wanted to run at all.
Alora leaned forward with a playful yet serious glint in her eyes. "Yeah, Ember, I know this son of mine has a terrible temper sometimes. Thank you for putting up with him. If he ever does anything wrong, you tell us—we'll teach him a lesson."
Ember blinked in surprise, then quickly shook her head, her voice soft but sincere. "Aunty, he's been really good to me… truly. He's a nice guy—the best I've known so far."
Alora beamed at her, her smile glowing with affection. "You're just too cute, sweetie. So, do you plan to get married to him someday?"
At that question, Ember's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes instinctively drifted to Dylan, searching his face for some kind of answer. But Dylan was already looking at her, his expression unreadable for a moment—then soft, gentle.
Before Ember could respond, he stepped in with that smooth, calm voice of his, laced with both protectiveness and a teasing edge. "Mom, Ember's only eighteen and in her first year of college. We've got time to think about marriage. I don't want to rush her or make her feel pressured."
He gently squeezed Ember's hand, sending a quiet message just for her: I'm here, and I'll wait for you.
Alora nodded knowingly, her tone still half-joking. "I figured that might be the case. But Ember, listen to me—if he ever treats you badly while you're dating, come straight to me. I'll introduce you to someone better."
Dylan groaned dramatically, stepping in front of Ember like a human shield. "Mom! Are you seriously trying to replace me in front of her?"
"I'm just saying," Alora replied with a shrug and a smirk. "She's such a good child—I won't stand by and let you mess things up. So make sure you treat her right."
Dylan wrapped an arm around Ember's waist, pulling her close with a sly grin. "Don't worry, Mom. I know exactly how lucky I am. And I plan to spend the rest of my life making sure Ember knows it too."
Ember's heart fluttered at his words. Safe in the warmth of his arms, she didn't need to say anything at all—her blush said everything for her.
Adrien stepped into the space where everyone was gathered, his confident voice cutting through the gentle hum of conversation. "Hello, Aunty. Uncle."
Alora turned, pleasantly surprised. "Oh! Hello, Adrien. You're here too?" she said with a warm smile.
Arzhel greeted him with a firm handshake, polite and steady.
But Dylan? He didn't say a word.
He just stood there, cold and silent, not bothering to acknowledge Adrien's presence. Ember could feel it—the tension crackling in the air between the two men, sharp and undeniable. It made her heart race, not out of fear, but because she knew exactly what it meant.
Alora turned to Ember and smiled. "Ember, this is the one I was telling you about—his name is Adrien. He's a doctor."
"Mom," Dylan said under his breath, his voice tight with warning.
Adrien gave a polite smile, but his words were laced with subtle challenge. "Aunty, I don't think you know… Ember's rejected me more than ten times. And all because of him. She really likes Dylan."
Ember looked down, cheeks flushed, unsure of what to say. The silence was loud.
Alora raised her brows in amused shock and then grinned wide. "Oh, my Ember… really? Then I'm really happy. In that case, I can call you my daughter-in-law without hesitation. No more formalities—just call me 'Mom' from now on."
Ember's heart skipped as she smiled softly, shyly. "Okay, Mom."
Alora's eyes sparkled. "Hearing you say 'Mom'—so sweet." She pulled Ember into a warm, affectionate hug. "Would you like to eat something, sweetie? Come on, let's get you something nice."
With that, she hooked her arm through Ember's and practically whisked her away, leaving the three men behind.
Back near the seating area, Dylan and Adrien found themselves side by side—tense, unspeaking, the air thick between them.
Arzhel cleared his throat, cutting through the silence. "I know things aren't exactly friendly between you two," he said firmly. "I don't know what happened—and maybe I don't need to—but I do know that your mothers are close. I don't want their friendship damaged because of something between you."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"So when you're around them, try to act civil. If there's a chance to work this out—talk, sort it before the New Year celebration. Don't let pride ruin what can be fixed."
Dylan's eyes remained on Adrien for a long moment, then flicked away with a quiet scoff.
But inside, Ember wasn't far from his thoughts—and there was no way he was going to let anyone come close to stealing her away.
On the other side , Ember and Alora were browsing through the dishes at the buffet table, chatting softly as they picked their favorites.
"So, what's your major, Ember?" Alora asked with a curious smile.
Ember looked up politely, her tone sweet and sincere. "I'm pursuing a BBA, with a focus on Human Resources."
"That's a good field," Alora nodded approvingly. "Dylan mentioned you're from Country I. How did you two meet?"
Ember hesitated for a brief moment, her fingers pausing over a serving spoon. For a second, she almost slipped into the real version of their story—the one too strange and magical to explain. But instead, she offered the version they'd agreed on.
"We met online at first. Then I came here to study, and we just… met again. Coincidentally. He offered to let me stay with him since I didn't know anyone here, and I said yes." She gave a shy smile. "That's how it started."
Alora smiled knowingly. "That's sweet. Well, if you've picked what you want, shall we head back?"
"Okay."
As they began to walk back, Ember noticed someone waving at her energetically from the other side . It was Leora. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message.
"Ember, I'm here. Can we meet? Please."
Ember glanced up and saw her—Leora, standing near the far end, waiting. Alora followed her gaze and raised a brow.
"Do you know her?"
Ember nodded. "Yes, I met her three days ago. She's a fan of Dylan. At first, she just asked for his autograph. But then we started bumping into each other almost every day since. And now… here she is again."
Alora tilted her head, intrigued. "You've met her that many times? That's quite the coincidence."
"Yeah, she even helped me once," Ember added with a small smile. "We exchanged contact info after that. If it's okay… could I go meet her for just a little while?"
Alora smiled gently, a hint of motherly concern in her eyes. "Alright, sweetie. Just be careful of your surroundings, okay? And come back soon—I'll be waiting for you on the couch where we were sitting before."
"Thank you. Oh—and could you tell Dylan too? If I don't come back with you, he'll definitely get worried."
"Of course. I'll let him know," Alora said with a chuckle as she turned and made her way back.
Ember tucked her phone away and was just about to call out to Leora when a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder from behind, making her jump.
She spun around—only to find Leora standing there, smiling.
They greeted each other warmly, smiles exchanged like old friends meeting again under unexpected skies.
"I didn't think we'd run into each other here too," Ember said, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Leora chuckled. "Me neither. I actually got a pass from a friend. Total last-minute thing."
"Oh, that's nice," Ember replied, polite but distracted by the slight knot forming in her stomach.
Leora's eyes sparkled as she took a better look at her. "Ember, you look amazing tonight. Let's take a picture together!"
Ember's lips curved into a shy smile. "You look really beautiful in that red dress. Sure, let's take one."
They stood close, posing for a few cheerful selfies under the soft event lighting. Leora then reached over and grabbed two drinks from a passing waiter, offering one to Ember.
Ember held her hand up gently. "I don't drink alcohol."
"Oh! I didn't know," Leora said quickly. "Wait—let me get something else."
She turned and fetched a pineapple mocktail, handing it to Ember with a bright smile.
"Thanks," Ember said softly, sipping it as she tried to relax.
Leora looked over the rim of her glass and asked, "So… is your boyfriend here too?"
Ember's grip on the glass tightened just slightly.
"No, he's not. He had some work, so I came here with Dylan," she answered carefully. Then quickly, she added, "Do you want to meet him? You could take a picture with him if you want."
She said it to change the subject, but instantly regretted it.
Leora's eyes lit up. "Yeah? Can I?"
Ember forced a smile. "Sure… "
Leora say ,"can we go to the ladies' room first? I want to freshen up a little before we find him."
"Okay, let's go," ember agreed.
As they walked into the restroom, Ember glanced over and watched Leora reapply her lipstick, adjust her dress, and fluff her hair with meticulous care. Something sank in Ember's chest.
She hadn't meant to offer her this meeting. And now, watching her get ready, Ember couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just made a huge mistake.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
A message from Dylan.
She opened it quietly.
"Honey, I'm missing you. Mom told me you're with someone… Who is she? Are you okay?"
Ember's heart skipped a beat.
His words made her smile—but not just from affection. It was the way he called her honey, the way he was always keeping an eye out for her, always protective. Even when he wasn't in the room, he was wrapped around her like a shield.
She looked up at Leora, who was still perfecting her appearance in the mirror, and suddenly, all Ember wanted was to be back beside Dylan—where she belonged.
Ember leaned against the tiled wall of the washroom, her heart beating just a little too fast. She stared down at her phone and quickly typed a message, her fingers moving with urgency.
"I'm coming back, just wait a little more," she texted Dylan first, trying to keep it casual.
Then she paused… and added another message.
"I'm in the washroom. That fan girl of yours—Leora—she's with me. I told you about her, remember? I even asked her if she wanted to take a picture with you… and now I'm seriously regretting it."
The reply came almost instantly.
"Why are you regretting it now?"
Ember stared at the screen, biting her lip, unsure of how to explain the uncomfortable feeling crawling under her skin.
"I don't know," she typed after a moment, "but promise me you're not going to smile in that picture, alright?"
"Okay, I won't," Dylan replied, followed by a smirking emoji.
Ember narrowed her eyes and typed again.
"I want a pinky promise."
He didn't hesitate.
"Okay. Pinky promise. Happy now, honey?"
A slow smile spread across Ember's lips. She felt her cheeks warm, but there was a flutter in her chest that only he could create.
"That's good," she texted back, fingers trembling slightly with a mix of nervousness and adoration.
Then his next message came in, as flirty as ever.
"Then why don't you give me a reward for listening to you? You know what I want."
Ember's eyes widened, her breath catching at the boldness of his words. Her cheeks flushed instantly. She glanced around to make sure no one was looking before slowly typing a response. Then she hesitated, smiled shyly to herself, and sent a single kiss emoji followed by:
"I'll give you the real one when we go back."
There was a pause before the screen lit up again.
"Okay. Can I call you?"
Before Ember could answer, Leora emerged from the stall and tilted her head curiously.
"Who are you talking to?"
Ember quickly locked her phone, masking her expression with a casual shrug.
"No one… just scrolling Insta," she said, her voice light, but her heart still echoing with Dylan's last words.
Inside, she was already counting the seconds until she could see him again.
Leora suddenly began counting under her breath.
"Ten... nine... eight... seven..."
Ember blinked at her, confused. "Why are you counting?" she asked quietly, a chill creeping up her spine.
But Leora didn't respond. Her soft voice continued its eerie rhythm.
"Five... four..."
Before Ember could question her again, her phone buzzed loudly in her hand. Dylan's name flashed across the screen. Relief surged through her—just hearing from him felt like a lifeline.
She reached to answer, but suddenly, her vision blurred. The world tilted beneath her feet. Her fingers fumbled, her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor with a hollow thud. The room spun violently.
Then—darkness.
Ember collapsed.
Her head struck the hard tiles with a sickening crack. A thin stream of blood trailed from her forehead, pooling slowly beneath her. She lay still, breath shallow, eyelashes fluttering against pale skin.
Leora knelt beside her, eyes void of empathy. She tilted her head and spoke as if scolding a child.
"So sad, Ember... This is what happens when you lie to someone." Her voice was sweet—but laced with venom. "You said you were just friends with him. But you weren't, were you? You lied... and now, you have to be punished."
She leaned closer, grinning like a predator.
"Oh no, look at that... blood." She giggled softly. "Poor Ember. There's blood coming from your head. Oh! I almost forgot—you can't see it right now, can you?"
Her smile widened.
Then she pulled out her phone and made a quick call. Within moments, two men appeared in the doorway. Their faces were blank, their movements practiced.
"Take her," Leora said calmly. "Make sure no one sees."
They lifted Ember's unconscious body and disappeared into the shadows—leaving only a forgotten phone, buzzing again with a call...
Dylan's name still glowing on the screen.