Nora Lawson's perspective.
It's dinner night, and the family gathering is finally here. I'm about to meet Santiago's family for the first time. After I finished my shower and stepped into my room, I noticed a white bag sitting on my bed. He's always been clear about wanting us to have our own space, and he hasn't laid a finger on me since that night, but I can't help but miss him—his touch, his presence.
"Did someone come in while I was in the shower?" I wondered as I walked over to the bed and started to peek inside the bag.
To my surprise, it was a stunning red dinner dress and a pair of white heels. Plus, there was a Louis Vuitton bag included. It was obvious this was all Santiago's doing.
As I slipped into the dress, I realized it fit me perfectly.
"How did he know my size?" I mused aloud. Just then, I heard a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," I called out.
"Good evening, Madam. We're the makeup artists for the party," they said as they introduced themselves. Without wasting any time, they worked their magic on me. Looking in the mirror afterward, I felt like a total goddess.
"You look absolutely stunning, Madam," they said, filling me with joy.
When we arrived at Santiago's family home, I felt this weird vibe; nothing seemed to add up—the fancy buildings, the flashy cars. As we stepped out of the car, Santiago took my hand, leading me toward this massive mansion. A few staff members in uniforms greeted us with a polite nod.
"Good evening, Young master,"
"Good evening, Madam," they said in unison.
I was still trying to wrap my head around everything when an older woman spoke up.
"Everyone's already in the garden; dinner has started."
"Thanks, Anita," Santiago replied, and we made our way to the garden.
"Who are they?" I asked as we walked.
"Oh, they're my grandfather's staff," he said. Just as I was about to ask more, a voice caught my attention, and I turned to see where it was coming from.
"What a delight to see you both!" A man, probably in his late 70s but still full of life, approached us with open arms for a hug.
"Grandpa, how have you been?" Santiago asked, letting go of my hand to embrace him.
"I'm as good as ever, my boy," he said with a big smile. "I was starting to think you wouldn't make it."
"Of course, Grandpa! Why would I miss it? I've got a wife now, no reason to keep secrets from you," Santiago replied, and his grandfather turned to me, eyes wide in surprise.
"You're absolutely stunning and I feel like you're a demure kind, my dear. I'm thrilled you've managed to soften Santiago's tough exterior," he said, pulling me in for a hug.
"What do you mean by tough?" Santiago chimed in.
"Well, you know what I mean for a playboy," he winked. "What's your name, lovely?"
"Nora, Nora Lawson," I said, feeling a bit shy.
"It's great to see you here, Nora," he said with a big grin as I expressed my thanks.
"Where's everyone else, Grandpa?"
"They're in the garden."
With that, we strolled toward the garden, his hand firmly holding mine. I couldn't help but admire the garden's beauty; it was extravagant yet perfectly arranged.
"Grandpa, Babe, I left my phone in the car. I'm going to grab it. You guys go ahead; I'll catch up," Santiago said, and I nodded, feeling a bit anxious.
As Grandpa and I made our way to the party, I clutched my bag tightly, feeling the stares on me like I was an outsider, which I kind of was.
"You have great taste, and this party is just stunning," I said to him, trying to ignore the looks we were getting.
"Thanks a lot, Nora. I'm glad you think it's beautiful," he replied with a smile.
"Isn't that Nora Lawson?" I heard a voice and turned to see who it was, my eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes, she's my wife. Got a problem with that?" Santiago's voice came from behind me as he wrapped his arm around my waist, while I was still recovering from the shock.
"She's your wife? No fucking way," the familiar guy said, and by now, everyone in the garden was watching us.
"A...Aiden, what are you doing here?" I asked, staring at him in disbelief.