"I… I'm not…"
"Evelyn!" my mom scolds sharply from across the table. I force a smile.
She glares at me, probably reading my mind and knowing exactly what I was about to say.
"Can we speak in private, darling?" she asks—though it's more of a demand—rising from her seat.
I nod, and we head into the kitchen.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snaps the moment the door closes. "I won't let you destroy everything I've sacrificed. Do you know how long it took me to arrange this meeting? He feels the bond, Evelyn—he's sure you're his mate!"
"But my bracelet… it's not glowing," I say quietly.
"That silly legend your grandmother made up? Stop believing in fairy tales—you're not a child anymore. Now, go back in there and pretend you're in love with him. You're marrying him next week, as we already agreed."
"I don't feel the bond," I whisper. "I mean… I feel interested. He seems sweet. But what if—"
"What if, what if… grow up! This is our last chance to save the family, and Kale is a good man. You need to behave and do what needs to be done. Understood?"
I sigh and roll my eyes. "Alright."
Back at the table, I sit down and force my voice to be steady.
"Where were we?"
"I was asking if you feel this strong bond too," Kale says gently. "Because I've never felt like this before. I can't wait to spend more time with you and really get to know you, Evelyn."
I glance at my mother, who's frowning at me again.
Clearing my throat, I force a smile. "Yes… of course I do."
Kale's fingers brush against mine, and he softly caresses my cheek.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"We have a large estate in Ireland," his mother, Layla, chimes in. "Perhaps Evelyn could visit and stay with Kale. It would give them time to get to know each other better before the wedding."
My mother nods quickly. "Sounds perfect to me."
Kale, still looking at me, smiles warmly. "Perfect to me too."
The waiter brings out the cake. We finish lunch discussing politics, family, and our respective upbringings. Our mothers do most of the talking. Kale and I exchange shy smiles and occasional giggles.
Once dinner ends, Kale and I decide to take a walk for some privacy.
"Your mom seems… strict," he notes.
"You have no idea," I laugh.
He chuckles. "I mean, she's probably been through a lot. After what happened with your dad… it must've been hard."
"It was. We knew he had a gambling problem, but my mom thought she could control it. He hid it from us. Then one day… we woke up, and everything was gone. Our fortune, our properties, our land. We had to sell everything. People turned their backs on us. We weren't invited to events anymore—we became the subject of gossip instead."
I sigh, the weight of it still pressing on my heart.
"My mom used to be the life of every party. She loved being in the spotlight. Then, overnight, she became the city's favorite punchline."
Kale places a gentle hand on my back. "If it's too much, we can talk about something else."
"No… it's fine," I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I've carried this alone for so long. It actually feels… good to let it out."
"I'm here for you, Eve."
"My parents started fighting constantly. One day, he just left… took our last savings and vanished."
"God, I'm so sorry."
He brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm sure he thought about you before he left."
"Sometimes I wonder."
"Well, even if he didn't… I will. I'll take care of you."
His words wrap around me like a blanket, warming a part of me I didn't know was cold. Maybe my mom was right. Maybe the bracelet didn't have to glow. Maybe… this was how love began.
"You have a beautiful smile," Kale says, his eyes lingering on my lips. "Don't even think about hiding it."
I giggle as he steps closer, his eyes locked with mine. His hands cup my cheeks, warm and gentle. My breath hitches as he leans in. His lips hover close, barely an inch away from mine.
I close my eyes, bracing for the kiss.