Vani’s mother gestured politely toward the empty seat beside Elena. “Please sit.”
Her tone was warm, but there was a hint of curiosity behind it. The kind of curiosity that made me feel like I was being quietly examined.
I sat slowly.
Vani remained standing beside her father, shifting her weight from one foot to the other like she was suddenly unsure of herself. That alone was enough to make me uneasy. Vani was rarely unsure of anything.
“Well, before we get into… whatever this is,” her mother said gently, glancing between the two of us, “let me introduce everyone.”
"I'm obviously her mother. You can call me Amelia." She began gesturing around the room. “This is Evania’s father. You can call him Evan.”
Her father nodded at me, his gaze unwavering.
“And this is her brother. Allister."
Her brother leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, giving me a small wave that looked more amused than anything else.
"These are her sisters. The oldest is Elena. The twins are Sabrina and Serena."
"It's nice to meet you all."
"You too," they murmured, voices in sync.
When they finished, the room fell silent again. Then her mother’s eyes drifted downward to my left hand. Morespecifically, to the wedding band resting on my ring finger. Her gaze lingered there for a moment before sliding over to Vani.
Vani suddenly seemed very interested in everything except the people in the room. Her gaze bounced from the wall to the ceiling to the floor. Anywhere but her parents.
Her father followed his wife’s gaze. He noticed the rings as well. His eyebrows lifted slightly before he gestured toward the empty seat beside me. “Sit down, Evania.”
She frowned instantly. “I’m fine standing, it's safer here.”
He didn’t argue. He simply repeated the instruction. “Sit.”
With a quiet sigh, she moved and dropped into the seat beside me, though her expression suggested she was not pleased about it. Her mom leaned forward slightly, her attention shifting between the two of us.
“Now,” she said gently, “would one of you like to explain what’s going on?”
I glanced sideways at Vani, who avoided looking at me. She just stared straight ahead. Which meant, apparently, I was the one who had to answer.
I cleared my throat.
“Well… I suppose I should start by clarifying something.”
Everyone watched me expectantly.
“I’m not Vani’s boyfriend.”
A few confused looks passed around the room.
Her brother tilted his head slightly. “Okay…”
I took a breath before I continued, briefly wondering if this would be my last. “I’m her husband.”
The reaction was immediate. Gasps filled the room, while several people’s eyes widened dramatically. It looked like a few of them might genuinely be struggling to breathe.
Then Vani raised her hand and flashed the ring on her finger. “He's right, we’re married.”
The silence that followed was thick with shock.
