Lila remained silent.
The takeaway container in her hand suddenly felt heavier than it had a moment ago.
"She doesn't know?" she asked again.
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"I wanted to tell her myself."
"When?"
"Soon."
Lila let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it.
"Soon?"
Adrian looked at her.
"Lila—"
"No. I'm not angry."
"You look angry."
"I am worried."
That was worse.
Adrian moved closer.
"I didn't hide you because I'm ashamed of you."
"I know."
"I just didn't want my family involved until I was certain everything between us was stable."
Lila's expression changed.
"Stable?"
He immediately realized his mistake.
"I didn't mean—"
"You mean because of what happened before."
"Yes."
She looked down.
"That makes sense."
Adrian reached for her hand.
"But this time, I'm not running from my family."
She looked at him.
"Then what are you going to do?"
"Tell them we're getting married."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
Lila's heart skipped.
"Tomorrow?"
He nodded.
"My mother deserves to hear it from me."
The following afternoon, Adrian drove to his mother's house.
Lila stayed beside him the entire journey, unusually quiet.
"You don't have to come in," he told her.
She looked at him.
"I'm your future wife. If I'm going to marry you, I should be able to stand beside you."
His eyes softened.
"I love you."
"I know."
He smiled.
"And you're terrifyingly brave."
"I'm shaking inside."
"That makes two of us."
They both laughed.
But when Adrian opened the front door, the laughter disappeared.
His mother was sitting in the living room.
Elegant.
Composed.
And beside her sat a woman Lila recognized immediately.
Her stomach dropped.
The same woman.
Adrian's former fiancée.
The woman who had once nearly destroyed everything between them.
Lila's fingers slowly loosened from Adrian's.
He turned toward her.
"Lila…"
His mother stood.
Her eyes moved from Adrian to Lila.
Then to their joined hands.
A long silence followed.
Finally, his mother spoke.
"So this is her."
Lila swallowed.
"Yes, ma'am."
The woman beside her stood too.
She smiled.
But there was nothing warm about it.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
Lila didn't answer.
She looked at Adrian instead.
He stepped forward.
"Mum, I came here because there's something I need to tell you."
His mother folded her arms.
"I already know."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"You're planning to marry her."
Silence.
Lila's heart began pounding.
"How did you—"
His mother looked at the woman beside her.
"She told me."
Adrian's face hardened.
"You knew?"
The former fiancée smiled faintly.
"I told her everything."
"Everything about what?"
She looked directly at Lila.
"About us."
Lila's expression remained calm.
But Adrian knew her well enough to see the hurt forming behind her eyes.
His mother spoke again.
"You may have convinced my son that he has forgotten his past."
She paused.
"But I haven't."
Lila felt Adrian's hand reach for hers again.
This time, she held it.
His mother continued.
"And before you marry my son, there is something you need to know."
Lila looked at her.
"What?"
His mother's eyes narrowed.
"Adrian has never told you the real reason his first engagement ended."
Lila froze.
Adrian's face went pale.
"Mum…"
His mother shook her head.
"No."
Then she looked directly at Lila.
"You deserve to know the truth."
And with those words, the room fell completely silent.