Chapter 12: His marriage, his rules.

Xavier's P.O.V.

I cursed under my breath as I walked out of the restaurant. That damn fool forgot to send her picture along with her file.

Damn it.

I made my way to where my parents were waiting. Mom looked pissed—like really pissed—while Dad? Oh, he was smiling. Probably did something to annoy her again.

"Let's go." I was about to walk past them when Mom stepped in front of me, hands on her hips like she was about to scold a five-year-old.

"Hold it right there, mister. What do you mean 'there was no one there'?" just then dad's phone rang and left to pick it.

I barely hesitated. "She went to the bathroom before I got there." A complete lie, but I knew she wasn't dropping the topic without an explanation.

Mom narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously but then sighed. Crisis averted.

I tried leaving again, but of course, she had more to say.

"Why did you come out so early?"

"There was nothing else to talk about." I shrugged.

She gave me a look. "There were plenty of things you two could've talked about. In fact, I'm starting to doubt if you even spoke to her."

"Mom, we talked. Can we go now? I have a mountain of paperwork waiting for me." I placed my hands on her shoulders, lightly pushing her towards the car, but she slapped my hands away.

"Oh, really?" She crossed her arms. "Then tell me, what did you two talk about?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Nothing much, just got to know each other."

She scoffed. "Oh, really? What's her middle name?"

I clenched my jaw. "I didn't ask."

"What's her favorite food and color?"

"Didn't ask."

She threw her hands up. "Then what the hell did you guys talk about?!"

"Stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Yes, stuff. Now, can we go?"

"Xavier, you are hopeless." She groaned in frustration. "Fine, let's go. There's still a lot of preparation to do."

Dad finally returned from his phone call, and we were about to leave when I remembered something important.

"Hold on." I turned to face them. "You asked me to marry the girl of your choice, and I agreed. Now you're going to listen to my conditions."

I didn't give them a chance to interrupt before continuing.

"First, only the two of you and her parents can be present at the wedding."

Mom's jaw dropped.

But I wasn't done.

"The ceremony will be in the backyard of the mansion—small, quiet, zero drama. And most importantly, no media must find out about this marriage."

She gasped. "Tell me you're joking, Xavier!"

I shoved my hands into my pockets. "Dead serious."

"What about the grand wedding I've always dreamed of planning for-?"

I smirked. "Mom, you have Skyler for that."

Her eyes lit up as if she just remembered. "Oh! You're right. She's far better than you anyway."

I rolled my eyes. "She's always been your favorite. Can we go now?"

Mom turned to Dad for support. "Noah, are you listening to the nonsense your son is spouting? Say something! Why on earth would he want only four people at his wedding?"

Dad, completely unfazed, shrugged. "You are right darling, but He's old enough to decide what he wants for his wedding. Let him have this. His wedding, his rules."

"Finally, something that is going my way," I muttered.

Mom sighed dramatically but begrudgingly agreed.

As we got into the car, she did not stop complaining about how Dad and I never listened to her.

Drama queen.

Y'ALL

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