TBG - Chapter 10: His Mother

The clock struck 6 PM when Theodore arrived at the house where Nadia was waiting. As he walked into the room, his gaze immediately fell on her. She was dressed in a stunning brown backless dress that accentuated her figure, yet there was something cold about her demeanor. She looked effortlessly sexy, but her eyes barely met his. She ignored him completely.

Theodore, who had always been in control of every situation, was confused. Nadia had been distant since the moment they left the car. Her silence, her lack of eye contact—it was all too obvious. He couldn't figure it out. Why was she acting this way?

They arrived at Leonora’s house, and the luxury of the estate immediately hit them. The grandeur of the mansion screamed wealth and status at every turn. The lush gardens outside, the marble floors, the chandeliers that illuminated the hallways—it was all just too much. It felt like stepping into another world, one that Nadia didn’t belong to.

Theodore led Nadia inside, his mother’s servants greeting them with smiles, though their eyes seemed to linger on Nadia, sizing her up. The tension in the air thickened with each step they took toward the dining room. When they sat down at the grand table, the conversation started off with small talk, but Nadia could sense Leonora's disapproval without even looking at her. It was as if the matriarch had already decided she didn’t like her.

In the middle of their meal, Leonora turned her attention to Nadia, her sharp gaze assessing her. "So, Nadia," she began, her tone polite but somehow condescending. "Tell me more about your business. I hear you’ve built it all on your own."

Nadia, ever prepared for such questions, smiled inwardly. She had already planned her response. "Yes, I’m from Russia," she replied smoothly, "My parents died in an accident when I was very young, and I was raised in an orphanage until I became independent. I started my own business when I was older. I live alone and have managed to make it work. It's been a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it."

Leonora listened intently, but there was no warmth in her expression. She merely nodded, as if taking mental notes. "How very… impressive," she said, her tone nonchalant. Then, her next question took Nadia by surprise. "And how did you and Theodore meet?"

Before Nadia could respond, Theodore cut in, his voice smooth and controlled. "We met at a charity event I was supporting," he explained, his words lacking any real warmth. "Nadia caught my eye there. It was a simple, unexpected moment."

Nadia didn’t look at him as he spoke, but she could hear the hesitation in his voice. It was a rehearsed line, one that seemed to leave out any real detail. She wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t want to share the truth with his mother, or if it was because there was no real connection between them.

Leonora didn’t seem satisfied with the answer. She pressed on, "Charity events are so... convenient, aren’t they? People meet in the most unexpected ways, but there’s always someone with an agenda."

The conversation took a sharp turn when Leonora, with a tone that mixed nostalgia and judgment, brought up Theodore’s ex-girlfriend, Sheena.

“You know, son,” Leonora said, her voice almost fond, “I always thought Sheena was the one. She’s a celebrity, came from a wealthy family. Her parents are business partners with ours, and I’ve known her since she was young. She was always perfect for you—everything aligned. It’s a shame how things turned out between you two.”

Nadia, who had been quietly listening, felt a strange twist in her stomach. She had no idea who Sheena was—only that she seemed like a perfect match for Theodore in his mother's eyes. As Leonora continued, Nadia couldn't shake the feeling that she was being compared to a woman who had everything: fame, wealth, and a deep family connection.

The mention of Sheena left a bitter taste in Nadia’s mouth, but it wasn’t jealousy—it was the realization that this relationship, this act, was being scrutinized under the weight of Theodore’s past.

She stole a glance at Theodore, waiting for his reaction. Would he defend his past? Would he explain himself to his mother? To her surprise, Theodore’s voice broke the tension in the room, firm and final.

“Enough,” Theodore interjected, his gaze sharp. “I’m already getting married next month, and I don’t want to hear about that woman again.”

Leonora’s face registered disbelief, her eyes widening as she processed his words. She didn’t expect him to be so direct, and certainly not so quickly.

“Getting married?” she echoed, her voice a mix of shock and disapproval. “But Theodore, you can’t be serious. Sheena... she was perfect for you. She was a part of this world, someone your family could be proud of. And now... this?" She gestured vaguely towards Nadia, as if she were an afterthought, a stranger to the life Theodore was supposed to lead.

Theodore’s eyes darkened, a clear flash of anger surfacing. But Nadia, sensing the storm brewing, placed her hand gently over his. The unexpected touch from her seemed to calm him instantly. His fingers tightened around hers, a silent thank you for grounding him in the moment.

His jaw clenched, but he took a breath, his posture relaxing slightly. Looking his mother dead in the eye, he said in a low, controlled voice, "This is the woman I’m marrying. You’ll have to accept it."

Leonora, still in disbelief, didn’t seem to know how to respond. She opened her mouth, but no words came out for a moment. Finally, with a defeated sigh, she muttered, “If this is your choice, then fine. But don’t expect me to be thrilled about it.”

Theodore’s gaze didn’t waver. He stood from the table, his hand still firmly holding Nadia’s. "We’re leaving now. We’ve said enough."

As they stood to leave, Nadia could feel the weight of Leonora’s disapproval lingering in the air, but she didn’t care. This wasn’t her battle to win. She knew what she was stepping into when she agreed to this charade, and she knew it wouldn’t be easy. But the warmth of Theodore’s hand in hers was enough to reassure her.

They walked toward the door, and as the two of them exited the mansion, the cold night air seemed like a breath of freedom. For a brief moment, Nadia allowed herself to breathe deeply, feeling the tension begin to melt away.

Outside, the silence between them was palpable, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Theodore’s demeanor softened, and he turned to her, a quiet question in his eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, his voice carrying an unfamiliar vulnerability.

Nadia nodded, offering a small but sincere smile. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”