The day Filex finally decided to introduce Debbie to his family felt like crossing an invisible threshold. They had been growing closer over the past weeks, their connection deepening with every shared laugh, every quiet moment. But Filex knew that Debbie had no idea what she was walking into.
"Are you sure about this?" Debbie asked as they drove out of Phnom Penh toward Siem Reap in his sleek black car—one of the few remnants of his privileged life he still used.
"No," Filex admitted with a small smile, glancing at her. "But I want you to meet them. It's important to me." Debbie fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her nerves evident.
"What if they don't like me?"
Filex reached over and squeezed her hand. "They'll love you. How could they not?"
She smiled back, though the butterflies in her stomach didn't settle.
The Sovath estate was everything Debbie had imagined and more—lush gardens, sprawling lawns, and a grand villa that looked like it belonged in a movie. Debbie felt out of place immediately, her modest upbringing clashing with the
opulence before her.
Rina Sovath, Filex's mother, greeted them at the door with awarm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She embraced her son tightly before turning her attention to Debbie.
"You must be Debbie," Rina said, her tone polite but assessing. "Filex has told me so much about you." Debbie smiled nervously. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Sovath."
"Rina, please," his mother corrected, though her gaze lingered on Debbie's simple outfit.
Filex's father, Chan Sovath, was more reserved, offering a firm handshake and little else. His siblings, Theo and Alicia, were charming but distant, their interactions tinged with an undercurrent of judgment. The dinner that followed was elegant and tense. Debbie struggled to keep up with the conversations about business and politics, feeling like an outsider in a world she couldn't relate to.
Later that evening, as they walked through the gardens, Debbie finally voiced her feelings.
"I don't think your family likes me," she said quietly, her arms wrapped around herself. Filex stopped and turned to face her, his expression serious.
"They just need time. They've never seen me bring someone home before."
"That's not it," Debbie said, shaking her head. "They think I'm not good enough for you."
"That's not true," Filex insisted, but his voice faltered slightly. Debbie looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Be honest, Filex. Do you think they're right?"
Filex cupped her face, his gaze steady. "Debbie, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. My family's opinions don't matter—not when it comes to us."