chapter 10: Meeting the in-law...............and him?

Growing up these last ten years? Absolute hell. Jasmine made sure of that. If it weren't for Aunt Maya sticking around for two years, I probably would've combusted from sheer frustration.

Graduating high school at sixteen didn't stop Jasmine from treating me like a disposable maid. Neither did earning my college degree at twenty. But at least I've spent the last year working, reclaiming the confidence she tried to shatter. I finally put her in her place—she doesn't dare treat me like a servant anymore. Now, she only has my father wrapped around her perfectly manicured, manipulative little fingers.

But here's one thing I know: If no one else is going to love me, I will love myself. And my love? It's enough.

Even if I am currently an hour late.

Well... that, and the fact that I look way too good to be in a bad mood today.

Standing in front of the mirror, I take in my reflection with a smirk. A high-waisted, sky-blue denim skirt that stops just above my knees. A sleeveless, off-white crop top. Not too revealing—the crop top covers my belly button, and the high waist makes sure my stomach stays hidden. Throw in my jean jacket and white sneakers? Chef's kiss.

Honestly, I should be arrested. Looking this good has to be illegal.

Hair flip.

I blow a kiss to my reflection, style my hair, grab my crossbody bag, and head downstairs.

The moment I step down, Jasmine turns to me in sheer horror. Her eyes practically scream How dare you look this good?

or just how dear you but....

"What are you still doing here?" she screeches, her voice shrill enough to make my ears bleed. "You were supposed to leave an hour ago! What if they change—"

************

I step out of the taxi after paying the driver, my gaze landing on the restaurant in front of me.

Fancy.

Not that I'm surprised. They have good taste.

It's not like I hate these people. I haven't even met them yet. But the whole buying and selling of people situation? Yeah. Not a fan.

I walk inside, and as expected, it's mostly empty. Except for a couple who look like they could be in their fifties. They're sitting together, mid-argument, their expressions heated but not angry-angry.

Honestly? Cute.

I hover awkwardly, unsure whether to interrupt or just stand there like a lost child.

Eventually, the man notices me.

"Oh my, you are here."

"Yes, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting"

It's okay, you're here now. Take a seat." The woman's voice is warm, her smile even warmer.

"Awwwww she's so beautiful." The woman said and her husband nodded in agreement.

I barely pull my chair out when she gasps dramatically.

"Noah, doesn't she look just like Amelia?"

I freeze.

My mother's name.

How do they know my mother?

The man, Noah, examines me like I'm some sort of rare artifact. "Of course, she does... but..." He squints. "I think she looks more like Lauren."

My stomach flips.

Lauren?

That name... I've only heard it once, from my father.

His wife tilts her head, nodding in agreement. "You're right. But, darling, do you remember you once had a crush on Lauren?"

Noah immediately starts coughing like he just choked on air

He started coughing hysterically.

I chuckled at the site.

"Noah are you okay." She asked looking worried.

"Yeah I'm okay, but don't let us keep the poor girl waiting." She turned to me realising i was still standing.

"Take a seat mira." She smiled sweetly at me

I took a seat and the first thing I could blurt out was

"How did you know my mother?"

They exchange glances, like they're debating how much they should say.

After a moment, she exhales deeply and begins..

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

"Mira, Amelia, Maya, and I were high school best friends. We grew up together, knowing each other since our diaper days. When we got to college, we met Amelia's elder sister, Lauren. She was three years ahead of us.

She was like a mother to us—always cautious of what we did, making sure we didn't get into trouble.

When we got out of college, I met Noah and got married. I had to move in with him. Though they were supportive, we gradually stopped talking because everyone was busy with their own lives. I gave birth to a son, and then, after three years, Maya called to tell me that a marriage had been arranged for Amelia to her brother, and Amelia agreed.

I rushed over, trying to convince her to think it through, but she said she had actually liked Eathan since high school. So, we supported her.

She was finally getting married. But some days before her wedding... Lauren died."

She paused for a while, trying not to cry as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Nobody knows how it happened. Amelia cried and cried. We tried consoling her, but it was all in vain. She decided to call off the wedding, but after she came back from talking to Eathan, she had changed her mind, and they got married. No one knew what they actually talked about that got her to change her mind

We rarely talked after she got married, until she called me about ten years ago. She told me she had a beautiful daughter and that she was happy. I told her I was pregnant with my second child, and she was excited.

We talked for a while, but she actually sounded sad.

We started chatting almost every day—until she stopped. I sent her numerous messages, but there was no reply. I wanted to visit her but—"**

She choked on her words, her body trembling.

**"I... I... I had a miscarriage.

I didn't have time to visit her.

And then, last year, I met Maya, and she told me everything.

I'm so sorry, Mira, for everything you had to go through. We tried getting information about you, but your family kept you really hidden.

When we finally found something, we learned that Eathan had remarried, and his wife was mistreating you. But you seemed fine over the years, so we didn't intervene.

Until recently.

Jasmine wanted to marry you off to a man, proposing a deal. We did a background check on him—he has a very bad criminal record—so we had to step in.

We struck a better deal with Jasmine and Eathan. Knowing who we were, we were able to convince him.

We are really sorry, Mira. We didn't mean for it to be like this.

I know you don't want to do this, but please give it another thought.

If you call off the wedding, Jasmine will stop at nothing to marry you off, and then... there won't be much we can do to stop it.

We're really sorry for putting you in this position."

I sat there, dumbfounded, trying to process all this information.

"So... what you're trying to say is that my mom and dad had an arranged marriage... but they always looked so happy?"

But now that I think about it, they stopped looking happy when Mom came back from that vacation. That's when everything changed.

Dad knows that this marriage thing doesn't work.

But he's still forcing me into it.

I felt fury creeping in.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard someone calling my name.

"Mira? Mira, are you okay? You look lost there," she said, looking worried.

"Sorry, were you saying something?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around everything.

"Yeah, I said I'll send Xavier in. He texted me—he's already here."

WHAT?!

I have to meet him too?!

"Aww, darling, do you want to meet your future husband at the altar instead?" she chuckled as my cheeks turned a shade of pink.

The thought of calling someone my husband didn't sit well with me at all.

She reached over and pinched my cheek lightly—something only my mother used to do.

"She's so cute! They're going to be so beautiful together. Aishhh, what are you going to name my grandchildren?" she mused, pretending to think.

What?! We haven't even gotten married yet!

She just laughed as my cheeks deepened into an even darker shade of pink.

"Stop teasing the poor girl. Look, she can't even stop smiling, thinking about their wedding night," Noah said, smirking at me.

My whole body turned pink as my mind betrayed me—actually imagining it.

My innocent mind.

"I------------" I was about to tell them i was not  when Mr Parker pushed his wife out of the restaurant.

They left, abandoning me in this icebox of a restaurant.

Seriously, who cranks the AC up this high? Are they trying to preserve me like frozen meat?

I sank into my seat, my mind spinning as I tried to process everything Pearl had just unloaded on me. So my parents' marriage was arranged? My mom was ready to call it off but changed her mind last minute? And my dad, knowing full well that arranged marriages don't guarantee happiness, still had the audacity to force me into one?

Make it make sense.

I was so deep in thought that I almost missed the moment the door swung open.

And then—oh.

Oh.

Oh.

My brain short-circuited as a dangerously handsome man walks in like he owned the place.

Tall. Sharp jawline. Effortlessly stylish

My heart stuttered, my brain went blank, and for the first time since stepping into this freezing restaurant, I completely forgot how to breathe.

Whew. That was long. But it had to be done. 💁‍♀️

Shitload dropped on  Mira and on top of that our very handsome Xavier, Yeah, no. I'd be glitching too.

Don't forget to vote and comment

stay chaotic and blessed💫

❣