>>Amber
The air in the house felt thick with anticipation. My mother had been cleaning for hours, sweeping, mopping, dusting, and polishing every surface she could find, as if the entire house could sparkle with enough effort. The curtains had been washed and ironed, the windows glead, and even the smallest details, like the arrangent of pillows on the couch, had been carefully considered. The scent of fresh flowers mixed with the lingering aroma of my mother’s cooking, filling our ho with warmth.
My father sat in the armchair, dressed in his best suit, his tie a little too tight around his neck, but he didn’t seem to mind. His eyes kept flicking nervously toward the clock on the wall. My brother, Ron, was pacing back and forth, occasionally glancing at his reflection in the hallway mirror, adjusting his jacket. I could feel the tension in the room, the anticipation that had settled into every one of us.
And ? I was sitting quietly on the couch, wearing a simple yet elegant dress, the soft fabric feeling foreign on my skin. I hadn’t worn anything this formal in a while, and the weight of the mont made feel both excited and anxious. I smoothed my dress for the hundredth ti, my heart racing with each passing minute. I wasn’t sure how this eting would go.
My parents had been shocked when I told them that Hael Helio, the international superstar, was in love with . They’d had a lot of questions—rightfully so. The most pressing one being, how had I gotten involved with soone like him? I told them that Hael would explain everything when he ca to visit, but that answer hadn’t exactly cald them down. If anything, it had made them more nervous.
A low chi broke the silence, and all of us froze.
The doorbell.
My heart skipped a beat, and I exchanged glances with my family. They were just as anxious as I was.
"I’ll get it," Ron said, his voice quieter than usual as he moved toward the door.
I stood up, trying to calm my nerves, but it was impossible. I could barely breathe as Ron opened the door, revealing Hael and his mother, Hestia, standing on the porch.
Hael looked different, more casual than the polished celebrity I was used to seeing on TV and on set. He wore a tailored suit, dark and understated, but there was still an aura of elegance about him. His silver hair was neatly tied back, and his piercing gray eyes softened when they t mine. Hestia, tall and imposing, was dressed impeccably in a sleek navy-blue dress that scread elegance and power.
"Welco!" My mother said warmly, stepping forward to greet them. She shook Hestia’s hand first, her smile wide but a little nervous. "It’s such a pleasure to have you both here."
Hestia returned the smile, her expression polite but guarded. "Thank you for having us,"She said. Her voice was smooth, confident, as if she had done this kind of thing a thousand tis before.
Hael stepped forward, shaking my father’s hand firmly. "Thank you for allowing us to visit," He said, his voice warm and genuine.
My father, usually a man of few words, smiled, though I could tell he was nervous. "It’s our pleasure. Please, co in."
They stepped inside, and for a mont, I caught Hael’s eyes again. A soft smile tugged at his lips, and I felt a wave of comfort wash over . Sohow, his presence made everything seem less overwhelming. He gave a small nod, as if to say everything would be fine.
We all moved into the living room, where my mother had prepared tea and small snacks, setting everything neatly on the coffee table. I noticed her hands trembling slightly as she poured tea for Hestia, but she kept her composure.
The conversation started light, with polite exchanges about the weather, their journey, and a bit of small talk. But there was an undercurrent of tension in the room—everyone knew what this eting was really about.
"So," My father said, clearing his throat, "We’ve heard... a lot of things in the news recently." He glanced at Hael, who nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue. "But I think it would be best if we heard it from you. How exactly did you two... end up together?"
The mont had co. My parents had been waiting for this explanation, and so had I. I looked at Hael, wondering how he would answer.
Hael smiled softly, leaning forward slightly, his hands clasped together. "I’ve been in love with Amber from the mont I saw her," He said simply, but the weight behind his words made my heart flutter. "She’s the only one who’s ever really understood . We share a history that goes beyond what most people can comprehend. I didn’t want to hide her from the world anymore. That’s why I’m here—to tell you all that I’m serious about her. I intend to marry her."
The room went silent for a mont, my parents and Ron processing what he had just said. My mother’s eyes widened slightly, but there was a glimr of warmth there. My father seed to relax a little, his expression softening.
"So," Ron said it first, "You fell for her at first sight?" He looked at with a baffled expression, "Her?" he pointed at with a confused look. My father slapped his finger down and glared at him.
This little shit, I’m going to tie him up with tape.
What do you an, ’you’
"Well," My mother finally said, her voice full of emotion, "if you love her, and if Amber loves you, then that’s all that matters. We just want her to be happy."
"I do love her," Hael said, his eyes eting mine. "More than anything."
I felt my cheeks heat up, my stomach doing little flips. My parents were silent for a mont longer, and then my father nodded, a small smile creeping across his face. "That’s good enough for us," He said. "Welco to the family, Hael."
My heart swelled. Relief washed over as the tension in the room seed to lt away, replaced by a feeling of warmth and acceptance. My family was happy for us. And for the first ti, everything felt like it was falling into place.
The conversation shifted to more practical matters, like wedding dates, locations, and what kind of ceremony we wanted. Hael was calm and composed, offering thoughtful responses to my parents’ questions, while I sat there, still overwheld by everything.
***
Later that day, Hael and I went shopping together. We needed to get a few things for the wedding, and though I was still in a daze from the conversation earlier, I was glad to have so ti alone with him.
Hael, of course, was in disguise. He wore a baseball cap low over his eyes, a mask covering his face, and sunglasses to further conceal his identity. It was a necessary precaution whenever he went out in public, especially since rumors about him had been circulating like wildfire.
We walked through the busy streets, side by side, but we kept our distance to avoid drawing attention.
"Are you sure this is safe?" I asked, glancing around nervously.
Hael chuckled softly. "It’s fine. No one will recognize like this." He adjusted his sunglasses, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile behind his mask. "But we do need to be careful."
I sighed, looking down at my feet as we walked. "Careful how? Your fans are... intense. What if they find out about ?"
"They won’t," Hael said, his voice firm. "I’m going to make sure of that. I’ll protect you. Always."
I felt a warmth in my chest at his words, but there was still a lingering fear. The world Hael lived in, the world of fa and constant attention, wasn’t a world I was used to. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
"I don’t want you to get hurt," He said softly, and I could see the concern in his eyes even behind the sunglasses. "That’s why we need to keep your identity hidden for as long as possible. Once the wedding is official, it will be harder, but until then, I want you to stay out of the spotlight."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. "I just don’t want to be a burden to you."
"You’re not a burden," He said, stopping in his tracks and turning to face . "You could never be a burden, Orenya. You’re the reason I’ve kept going all this ti. I won’t let anyone or anything co between us."
I looked up at him, my heart swelling with affection. "You’re so good with words now," I scoffed, "But Thank you," I knew he was scared for . In this world we didn’t have magic and he could not use his power to do things so it was understandable that he wanted us to lie low.
Honestly, I don’t want any spotlight at all. So I’m more than happy to stay low.
He reached out and gently took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "No need to thank . I’m just doing what I should have done a long ti ago—taking care of the person I love."
"Tell sothing," I said
"Yes?"
"Why did you pull that stunt of not rembering ?"
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