I adjusted my dress nervously. Eden held the door open, giving me one of those quiet, reassuring smiles that somehow made me feel… safe, despite the overwhelming grandeur of the house.
"Are you sure about this?" I whispered as we walked into the dining room, the table set like something out of a magazine. Crystal glasses, polished silverware, and candles flickering like little stars.
Eden squeezed my hand. "It's just dinner. You'll be fine."
Meeting Eden's ParentsHis parents sat at the head of the table. They were… intimidating. Elegant, cold, sharp-eyed. I felt like I was walking into a storm.
"Eden's told us a lot about you," his mother said smoothly, but her eyes… they searched me, like she was trying to see everything at once.
I swallowed hard. "I… I'm honored."
His father, tall and silent, gave me a nod. "Welcome." His voice was calm, but there was an edge I couldn't ignore.
The Conversation TurnsDinner started politely. Small talk about school, my parents, hobbies. But then… somehow, the topic of family legacies came up.
"Eden told us about your family," his father said casually, but his tone held weight. "About your uncle."
My heart stopped. I forced a smile. "Yes… I loved my uncle. He… he used to get things for me. He always made me feel special."
Eden's parents exchanged a glance, brief but sharp. His mother's voice became colder. "And his full name…?"
I hesitated. "Uh… Michael Williams."
A pause. Too long. Too heavy.
"That name," Eden's father said, leaning back, "it's… significant. Dangerous."
I froze. Something clicked in my head. Michael Williams… the uncle who had always seemed untouchable… the one I'd idolized. My stomach dropped.
The RevelationEden looked worried, but his father continued.
"Eden… you can't date her. She's connected to him. To that family. And you know what that means."
Eden's eyes widened. "I… I didn't… I didn't think—"
"You can't. It's too risky. For you, for her. It ends here," his mother said firmly.
My heart ached. Everything… the gifts, the love, the memories I'd had with my uncle… it all felt like it had led me here, to this moment of silence and cold judgment.
Eden's voice was tense. "We can… we can talk about this later. Aisha, maybe another time—"
Aisha Hears the TruthI forced myself to stand. "I… I'll go," I said softly, bowing slightly. Pretending to leave, I walked toward the door, my steps quiet.
Once outside, I crouched behind a pillar in the hall, straining to hear.
Eden's parents were speaking softly now, their words chilling:
"She doesn't know… the uncle we took care of."
Eden responded, trying to argue gently. "I didn't think she'd know yet…"
And just like that, everything clicked. Michael Williams… my uncle… the man who had given me so much… the one I had loved and admired… the one who was gone… was the same man Eden's family had dealt with, killed because of rivalry, power, and secrets.
My hands shook. My heart ached. Tears threatened, but I stayed quiet, listening, understanding… and knowing I couldn't let Eden or anyone know I had overheard everything yet.