Chapter Four

Theo’s brows furrowed, and he turned toward the voice. “Mom? What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone carrying a mix of irritation and surprise.

The woman who entered looked to be around 57 years old, with silver-streaked hair neatly pulled back into a simple bun. Her face was lined with age, but her sharp eyes—dark and commanding—betrayed a life lived with authority. She was dressed in a modest, unassuming dress, simple and functional, but there was an air of elegance about her despite the lack of lavishness. Her presence demanded attention, as though she were accustomed to being in control.

She took a step into the room, her gaze flicking from Theo to me. She didn’t seem surprised by my presence, but her cold demeanor made me feel like an intruder in the room. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded me, studying me with the same intensity that Theo had moments earlier.

Theo didn’t move, still standing in the same position. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t raise his voice. “This is… unexpected,” he said flatly, though his gaze lingered on his mother.

Theo’s mother gave me only a brief glance before turning her attention fully to him. “Theo,” she said, her voice calm but carrying an edge. “You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend.”

There was a faint smile on her lips, almost pleased, as if this was a rare piece of news. Theo didn’t respond immediately, but his face tightened with frustration. I could feel the tension building, the unspoken weight of their exchange hanging in the air.

In my mind, I couldn’t help but think, Even if Theo had never had a girlfriend before, I wouldn’t be surprised. Who would want to date someone like this? Unless it’s for the money, of course. And if that’s the case, I’d consider them foolish. No amount of money is worth sacrificing your life over.

His mother didn’t seem to care about my thoughts, though. She continued, her tone now laced with an almost mocking interest. “Well, this is interesting,” she said, still looking at me as if I were something to be scrutinized. “Theo, I must say, I’m surprised. You’ve never brought anyone home before.”

Theo’s mother took a moment to inspect me again, her gaze lingering a little longer, her sharp eyes assessing every detail. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she spoke again, her voice smooth but carrying a sense of condescension.

“You’re quite beautiful,” she said, her tone almost mocking as she looked me up and down. “Blonde hair, piercing blue eyes… and that perfect height. Your body, too, I can see it’s… well-suited for bearing children.” She almost seemed to take pleasure in this observation, as though she were admiring some kind of prized possession.

The words stung, but I stayed silent, resisting the urge to react to her judgment. I could feel Theo’s discomfort, the tension radiating off him as he glanced between his mother and me. His jaw clenched tighter, but he still didn’t speak up.

His mother, however, wasn’t done. “You must be quite a catch, then,” she continued, her voice dripping with an unsettling sweetness. “Theo, you’ve been quite picky in the past, but I suppose it was only a matter of time before you found someone who matched… well, certain expectations.” Her eyes glinted with something cold, almost like she was sizing me up for a role I never signed up for.

I felt the weight of her words, the judgment in her gaze making me feel more like an object than a person. Still, I remained quiet, knowing any response would only feed into her game.

Theo’s mother’s gaze lingered for a moment longer before she finally broke the silence again, her voice colder than before. “So, what is your name, then?” she asked, her tone almost too polite, as if she was humoring me.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she expected, but finally replied, “Sofia.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but the faintest smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Sofia,” she repeated, as if savoring the name. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, I suppose.”

Her eyes flicked over to Theo briefly before turning back to me, the mockery in her expression still very much present. “And your status?” she asked, her words laced with a sort of casual disinterest. “Are you wealthy? Have you come from a good family? Or… is it your looks that have landed you here?”

I felt the sting of her question, but I didn’t let it show. Her words were designed to make me uncomfortable, to reduce me to something shallow, and yet I stood my ground. But before I could respond, she waved her hand dismissively, clearly uninterested in the answer.

“Who cares, right?” she said, her tone almost flippant. “You’re beautiful, and that’s all that matters. My son is rich, after all. He can take care of you.” She smiled, the condescension clear in her expression. 

I could not help to wonder how a nice woman would give birth to a devil like Theo. Theo’s jaw tightened as his mother’s words hit me like a wave, but he finally stepped forward, his voice steady, though tinged with a hint of frustration. “Mom, that’s enough,” he said, trying to maintain his composure. “Sofia and I… we didn’t want to make it official just yet. We’re taking things slow, okay? We wanted it to be a surprise.”

His mother’s eyes narrowed as she processed his words, her lips curving into a thin smile. “A surprise?” she repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism. “How… interesting.” She didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t push the subject further, at least for the moment.

Theo’s gaze flicked to me, his expression softening slightly, though his shoulders remained tense. “I don’t want to rush anything, Mom,” he said, his voice a little firmer now. “We’re just enjoying getting to know each other.”

His mother didn’t respond immediately, instead turning to study him for a moment, her eyes sharp as always. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she finally spoke again, her tone light, almost too sweet. “Of course, darling,” she said, though her eyes betrayed something colder beneath her words. “Take your time. But don’t keep me waiting forever. I’m sure you know how important it is to settle down eventually.”

There was something almost mocking in her voice as she glanced between Theo and me, but I stayed silent, watching as Theo’s face tightened with frustration. His mother didn’t seem to care much for his discomfort, but he was trying to deflect the conversation as best as he could.

“Right,” Theo said, his voice clipped. “We’ll figure it out. But, for now, we’re good.”

His mother gave a small nod, but there was no mistaking the thinly veiled judgment in her eyes as she turned on her heel, ready to leave. “Well then, I suppose I’ll leave you two to it,” she said, her words carrying an air of finality. “Just don’t take too long, Theo. You wouldn’t want to disappoint me.”

She left the room without another word, her presence lingering long after she was gone. Theo let out a long breath and finally turned to face me, his expression still strained.

But as I said it, I couldn’t help but wonder: How could someone like her give birth to a person like Theo? He was a monster, so ruthless, and merciless.

I let out a small sigh, trying to push the weight of the conversation out of my mind. But I couldn’t shake off the sense of discomfort. As I watched Theo’s mother walk out, I knew things weren’t going to be simple between us—not with her around.