“Callahan,” she said slowly, “Is this your wife?”
I smirked slightly. “Emily, this is Evania Sterling. My wife.”
Emily’s gaze snapped to Vani's left hand, then to mine. Vani looked like she might actually faint. She swallowed, then straightened her shoulders like she was about to walk into battle. Instead, she grinned.
“We’re about to be best of friends,” she said confidently.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.
Emily stared at her for half a second before breaking into a laugh. “I think we are.”
“You have no idea how many times I’ve reread your second book,” Evania added quickly, excitement spilling over now that the initial shock had worn off. “The ending had me in tears for three days."
Emily’s eyebrows lifted. “I was hoping to get a couple of tears with that one.”
I chuckled quietly.
Emily looked between us again, clearly still stunned. “I did not expect to meet one of my readers tonight. Definitely not as my brother’s wife.”
“I didn’t expect that either,” Vani admitted.
There was something almost surreal about the whole exchange. The tension in the room hadn’t disappeared, but it had shifted; it softened a bit. I turned just in time to catch Victoria whispering something into my mother’s ear. My mother’s expression remained composed, but her eyes narrowed on us.
“We should greet Mom and Dad,” I said.
Vani nodded, still glowing slightly from the interaction. As we approached my parents, I kept my arm firmly around her waist. My father stood beside my mother, hands clasped behind his back. He looked curious but not hostile. My mother, however, didn’t look pleased.
“Callahan,” my mother said evenly, her gaze moving from me to Vani. “You’ve certainly made an entrance.”
“I wasn’t trying to,” I replied calmly, "but some people like to stir up drama.
I tilted my head to Victoria, who looked offended but didn't dare say anything in response. The silence that followed was suffocating.
My father stepped forward first, breaking it.
“Welcome to our home,” he said, extending his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Vani let out a quiet breath of relief and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sir.”
“Christopher,” he corrected gently.
She smiled. “Christopher.”
My mother did not extend her hand; she didn't even look in our direction. I felt irritation crawl up my spine yet again. I wanted to call my mother out on her behavior, to demand that she show basic respect. But before I could speak, Vani squeezed my arm.
I glanced down at her.
She gave me a small shake of her head.
Don’t.
My jaw tightened.
Reluctantly, I stayed silent.
With nothing else to say, I pulled out Vani’s chair and helped her sit.
The moment Evania sat down, my mother lifted her fingers slightly—barely a gesture at all—but the staff moved instantly. Like soldiers awaiting command.
