Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 362: Too Many Obstacles

Chapter 362: Too Many Obstacles

"Wait —what?" Maxi’s head whipped in Issac’s direction with a questioning raise of her brow, not that he was able to answer verbally. This was not what they discussed. Maxi was not complaining though. It merely took her by surprise. Nor was she prepared to stay for more than a day, she had no extra clothing.

She had told Aldric she wouldn’t be around for the matchmaking ball. In one word, Maxi had enough time on her hands and had planned to go somewhere else, just her and Issac, after they were done visiting his family. The dark Fae horse shifter was serious with her threat, she was cutting off all ties with Aldric if Islinda died.

Oma must have noticed the silent communication between her and Issac because she asked, "Is there something I don’t know?

Issac said with an apologetic look, "I’m sorry, Mama, but the plan was to meet with you briefly and return to the palace. I honored your command by bringing Maxi to you, remember?" He reminded her of the task she had given him the last time he was here.

"What nonsense?!" Oma was displeased, her tone furious, "You introduce your fiancée to your mother for the first time and you wouldn’t even be long. Who does that? I taught you better than this, Isaac. Since when do you disrespect me this way?"

"Mama, it’s not like that —"

"What is it like then?"

"To think he broke the rule this time for his fiancée?" Kayla said with stifled laughter at the side, having gotten off Maxi’s body. However, Oma shot her a deadly glare and she closed her mouth at once. Damn, her mother was scary.

Oma turned to Issac, grim-faced, "You ignored us, this family for months and I forgave that easily. Now you return with the Fae you hurt with your disrespectful behavior only for her to turn out to be your fiancée, one I had no idea of, nor did you send a message earlier, and you wouldn’t even stay?" She sounded hurt by his callous action.

The tension in the room caused Issac to knit his brows, forming a tight fold in his forehead as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. He tried to explain to her, "Mama, you don’t understand —"

"We’d stay."

The unexpected announcement by Maxi caused everyone in the room to jerk in surprise.

"We would?" Issac looked at her in surprise.

Maxi stood up, "Two days."

"Two what?!" Issac shouted this time.

Maxi had a thoughtful look in her eyes, revealing her contemplative mood, saying, "Prince Aldric is attending the matchmaking ball and he has no use for Issac currently or do I lie, my love?"

There was a wicked glint in her eyes and Issac was left stumbling over his words, "W—well, Prince Aldric does not want me... I mean we can s—stay, he won’t... we will stay." He concluded, inhaling deeply. He and Maxi were going to talk about this.

"Good, I’m so happy it turned out this way," Oma was all smiles. Her gaze flickered over to Maxi, noticing the kind of control she had over her son. She has never seen any female make Issac second guess his decision. Her son was quite headstrong.

While this was a good thing, Issac was too stubborn for his good, this kind of power over her son in the hands of the wrong female could backfire. Oma sincerely hoped Issac made the right choice.

"Yes!" Kayla rejoiced, hugging Maxi all over again and forcing her to jump along with her, "Now, we can spend enough time together."

"Indeed." Maxi was enthusiastic too.

"Alright, that is enough, Kayla," Oma beckoned her child, "Come, let’s go prepare a deserving feast for our guest. We have enough reason to rejoice."

"No," Kayla whined.

She wanted to spend more time with Maxi and not in the kitchen. She was curious about her future sister-in-law. Moreover, Kayla hated the kitchen and anything that had to do with cooking, especially when they had enough money to hire a cook. But her mother wouldn’t, the Fae was a traditionalist and insisted it was a must-have skill for a female to know how to cook.

How will she know how to cook for her children when she settles down with her husband in the future? Oma would go on and on while she tuned out the rest of her lambasting. Good thing Calan knew how to cook and she wouldn’t have to worry about that area — if they ended up together.

"There’s no room for negotiation. Up on your feet now, Kayla." Oma insisted.

Maxi suggested, "I could help out if you want?"

"Over my dead body would I sit and watch my guest and future daughter-in-law labor in the kitchen for her own feast!"

"Oh." Maxi was stunned by her passion and level of respect. She honestly hoped they were not agemates.

So far Issac had no problems with that. Also, she did not look her age, most Fae don’t, but the same could not be said for his mother or others around them. Most Fae were open-minded, but not all, and Oma was quite protective of Issac. Maxi knew that from the way the Fae’s eyes narrowed at her the first time they met. She wanted the best for Issac.

Being older than her son was one thing, but being older than her was another, Oma was not going to accept her easily once she learned the truth. Not to mention, she was a dark Fae. There was only so much secret one could take and Maxi had a lot of them.

Not that she was seeking something long-term with Issac. Maxi knew one day, this charade was going to end. But for the first time, Maxi saw the possibility of being with someone who accepted her for who she truly was. There was a possibility of a future together. Except there were too many obstacles. One they couldn’t possibly hurdle.

"Well, thank you, Oma." Maxi relaxed back and said to Kayla hovering by her side in a show of rebellion towards her mother, "We have a lot of time to talk, little one. Go, do not break your mama’s heart on this happy day," She tipped her head in a gesture to get her ass moving.

"Fine." Kayla grudgingly moved.

As soon as they left for the kitchen, Maxi and Issac spoke at the same time.

"What was that earlier?"

"How old is your mother?"

"Huh?"