As the night air wrapped around them on the balcony, Louis broached the subject gently. "There's something else I wanted to discuss with you." Verena looked at him, her curiosity piqued.
"What is it, Louis?" Verena asked attentively, a little bit drunk right now.
"I was thinking... maybe we should visit my mother." Verena's eyes widened in surprise.
"Your mother? I didn't even know you had family nearby."
"Yes, the main mansion is nearer to our house. I thought it would be nice for you to meet her." Verena didn't miss the word 'our' house. So, he had started to think of her as his family now?
"That sounds lovely, Louis. I'd be honoured to meet your mother." Louis felt a sense of emotion wash over him at her acceptance.
"Thank you, Verena. I think she'll be delighted to see you." Their conversation turned to other matters, and Verena's excitement bubbled over. She couldn't contain a secret any longer.
"Have you enjoyed your time out? Where have you gone today?" Louis asked as he took a sip of his wine.
"Oh, yeah, I met my best friend today." Louis's eyes lit up with interest, noticing she had opened up to him.
"Your best friend? That's wonderful! What's she like?" Verena beamed with joy as she described her best friend, recounting their shared interests, inside jokes, and unforgettable adventures.
Louis listened intently, captivated by Verena's animated storytelling and the genuine friendship that had blossomed.
"She's amazing! She's a fashion designer, and her work is incredible." Louis couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"It's great to hear that you're reconnecting with your friends, Verena."
"Yes, it feels good. But, Louis, I wanted to talk to you about something too." Louis leaned in closer, his gaze locked on hers.
"Of course, Verena. What's on your mind?" he asked. Verena hesitated for a moment, contemplating her words carefully.
"I was wondering... Do you want people to know about our relationship?" Louis thought for a moment, his expression thoughtful. He had no problem with people knowing about their relationship, but he also understood Verena's concern for privacy.
"I'm okay with people knowing, Verena. But I also understand if you prefer to keep it private for now. It's completely up to you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
"You're right. It's still early, and I don't want to rush things. Let's not disclose it too soon."
"Or perhaps you have a plan by disclosing it to the world, then do so." He gave her permission to make the decision on whether or not to share their relationship publicly.
"I am thinking we should disclose it two days before our wedding." She informed him and continued. "I want to shock Vanduleurs that they lost you and I won you for me. At that time, they would have anytime to do anything to me, haha." Verena laughed out loud.
She was planning and enjoying it before it happened. When she looked at him, she noticed his gaze and no smile on his usual smily face. She felt a knot forming in her stomach. His lack of enthusiasm made her question her decision.
"What's wrong? You don't like this idea?" His gaze still had not left her face, and she felt embarrassed for some reasons.
Suddenly, doubts crept into her mind. Had she misjudged him? Was this all a big mistake? She desperately hoped that he would reassure her and bring back the excitement they had shared just moments ago.
"Keep smiling like that; you have a beautiful smile." Verena was shocked. His comment caught her off guard and momentarily eased her concerns.
She couldn't help but want to smile at his unexpected compliment, but she couldn't form a smile. She felt shy and looked away towards the stars.
She heard him say, "There is no need to be afraid of Vandeluers. I told you I could protect you." Verena nodded, feeling her heart flutter with relief as she absorbed his words.
Verena cleared her throat and looked at him, who was already looking at her. "On a different note, I was also thinking about making an Instagram account. It might be a fun way to connect with people."
Louis couldn't help but smile at Verena's idea of creating an Instagram account; her willingness to embrace new experiences filled him with admiration.
"That sounds like a great idea. If you decide to make one, I'll join Instagram too." Verena raised an intrigued eyebrow, her curiosity apparent in her eyes.
You don't have an Instagram account?" She saw Louis nod, his expression thoughtful.
"No, I've never really felt the need for it." Verena leaned in a bit closer, a playful spark in her gaze.
"Never even a tiny bit curious about what you might find there?" Louis chuckled, her playfulness infectious.
"Well, your enthusiasm might be contagious. Who knows, I might end up enjoying it more than I expected." Louis also raised an eyebrow, mirroring Verena's earlier expression.
Verena narrowed her eyebrows, appreciating his willingness to explore new things with her. "Beware, Louis. You might get addicted to scrolling through endless photos of cute animals and delicious food."
"Oh, I forgot to give you this."
"Another surprise?" Verena asked teasingly. Louis loved her whenever he was lucky to see her expressions like that. He felt how his heart always skipped a beat because of her, and he loved this feeling. Not knowing he had been falling in love with her. He only thought she was an interesting girl.
"No more surprises." Louis grinned and added, "This is the family description book I wrote for you. Find out more about them when you have time."
That whole night, Verena didn't sleep; instead, she had been reading the context again and again.
'Grandpa Cian, elder of Heisengberg's, is known for his sharp wit and unwavering wisdom. He has a knack for storytelling and always keeps the family entertained with his captivating tales of the past. He is also a skilled gardener and spends most of his time tending to the beautiful flowers that surround their ancestral home. Grandpa Cian's warm and loving nature makes him the heart of the family.'
Verena thought he must be scary and noted that she would not make him angry in any way. Second was:
'Grandma Jae, her full name is Jae Lincoln. She has the same rights as Grandpa Cian, and she is his younger sister. She has two sons, Marvin Lincoln, an older son, and Cullen Lincoln, a younger son.'
'Marvin Lincoln's wife is Eisley Lincoln. They had two sons, Margo and Celine. while Cullen is still single.'
'Louis's father's name is Remy Heisenberg, and his stepmother's name is Olivia Hesienberg.'
'Step sister, Rosie, and step brother Alexander. He doesn't have a good relationship with Alexander. Alexander and Louis have never seen eye to eye and often clash with each other. Despite their differences, Louis is very close with Rosie, and they have a strong bond.'
Verena closed the diary, laid down on the bed, and closed her eyes. She felt overwhelmed by the extensive knowledge of his family.
The complex web of relationships, including learning about Louis and his strained relationship with his stepbrother Alexander, added another layer of complexity to the family dynamics for her.
As Verena reflected on all this information, she couldn't help but wonder how it all fit together and how it would impact her own relationship with Louis's family.