Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 109: Dinner Invitation

Chapter 109: Dinner Invitation

Ella’s POV:

It had been a quiet afternoon, me and my mom had spend it strolling through the penthouse. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her presence until she was right here beside me again.

Every room we entered, she would comment on something, fawning over the modern kitchen, admiring the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city, and even raising an eyebrow at the minimalist décor. I wanted everything to be perfect for her.

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Arec stepping inside, earlier than I had expected. His tie was slightly loosened, and there was a subtle smile playing on his lips. I instantly felt a flicker of relief at his presence.

"You’re back earlier than I expected," I said, walking over to meet him.

"Yeah Something came up," he replied, leaning down to kiss my forehead. His touch was warm, but there was something in his tone that made me pause.

"What is it?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

He hesitated for a beat, then rubbed the back of his neck, a habit of his when he was preparing to deliver news. "My grandmother has invited us to dinner tonight. She specifically mentioned wanting to meet your mother."

I blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "Dinner? Tonight?"

Arec nodded. "She specifically said, she wants to get to know your mom."

My stomach twisted. Arec’s grandmother and my mother in the same room? I couldn’t decide if that sounded more like a polite family dinner or the prelude to a war.

"Ella." Arec’s voice was calm, but there was a gentle firmness to it. "It’s just dinner. Nothing more, nothing less."

I met his gaze, searching for reassurance. He looked so composed, like this was no big deal, but he didn’t know my mother like I did.

She was wonderful, kind, strong, and fiercely protective, but she also didn’t sugarcoat anything. If Arec’s grandmother so much as raised an eyebrow the wrong way, my mother would call her out on it without hesitation.

"I don’t know, Arec." I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the tension coil in my chest. "Your grandmother might have softened a little after hearing about the baby, but I can’t forget how she treated me when you first introduced us. What if she says something rude or..."

"She won’t," he interrupted gently, stepping closer and placing his hands on my shoulders. "I’ve already spoken to her. She understands that this is a chance for all of us to come together as family. She knows how important this is to me, and to you."

I exhaled, trying to fight the tightness in my chest. I wanted to believe him. I really did. But I couldn’t shake the memories of how Arec’s grandmother had looked at me that day, like I wasn’t even worthy of a second glance.

"Are you sure about this, Arec?" I asked, my voice low. "I just..."

Before I could finish, Arec leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Ella, like I said, it’s just dinner. You’re worrying too much."

I didn’t believe that for a second. This wasn’t just dinner. This was my mother, the one person in my life who had always been there for me, the one person who would call someone out without hesitation if she felt they were being rude. And Arec’s grandmother? Well, she wasn’t exactly known for her gentle touch.

"Okay," I said softly, "I’ll let her know. "

Arec smiled and kissed me again, a quick peck on the lips before he pulled away. "Thanks, babe. You’re the best."

"Yeah, yeah, just make sure she didn’t do anything to set my mother off please." I pleaded softly.

"Your mother will be fine, Ella. I know you’re worried, you’re believe your mother can handle herself around my grandmother." Arec said with a chuckle.

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about," I muttered under my breath.

Arec chuckled, and despite myself, I felt a small smile tug at my lips. He always had a way of easing my nerves, even when the situation felt impossible.

"Look," he said, tilting my chin up so I was looking into his warm blue eyes. "You don’t have to stress about this. Let’s go, be ourselves, and let them see how much we mean to each other. That’s all."

I exhaled deeply, nodding. "Okay , I’ve heard you kind sir."

He kissed my forehead again, lingering just long enough to make me feel anchored. "Thank you."

As he headed toward the bedroom to change.

I exhaled, trying to calm my nerves. I could already feel the tension in the air, and I knew my mom wouldn’t be able to keep her thoughts to herself if something rubbed her the wrong way.

---

The ride to Arec’s grandmother’s estate felt like the longest journey I’d ever taken. I sat in the backseat of Arec’s car, my fingers nervously tapping on the leather armrest, my mind spinning in a million ddirections

I hadn’t expected to feel so jittery, after all, it was just dinner like Arec said.

But this wasn’t just any dinner. This was with her. Arec’s grandmother, the woman who had looked at me like I didn’t even belong in their world the first time we met. The woman who treated me like an afterthought, a pawn in some game I didn’t even understand.

Ella, stop. I tried to shake the thoughts away. I was overthinking. But my stomach was still tied in knots, and I couldn’t seem to quiet the fluttering in my chest.

As Arec drove, I could feel the weight of my anxiety pressing on me like a heavy blanket. I had always been good at hiding my feelings, but my mother was sharp, she could sense something was off with me.

"You okay, sweetheart?" she asked, turning in her seat to look at me. Her eyes were filled with concern, but there was also a hint of curiosity behind them.

I smiled tightly, trying to reassure her, though the unease in my stomach had only grown since we left the penthouse. "I’m fine, Mom. It’s just... the baby. You know, hormones and all that." I placed a hand on my belly, even though it wasn’t really the baby that had me worried.

"Are you sure?" she asked again, her voice gentle but insistent. "You’ve been quiet the whole ride. It’s okay to tell me if something’s wrong."

I sighed, trying to calm my nerves. "I’m really fine, mother. "

Arec glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes softening when he saw the way I was fidgeting. He was still focused on the road, but there was a flicker of concern on his face.

My mother keep glancing at me over and over again, but she didn’t push.

Instead, she let the silence linger between us for a moment. Her lips were pressed together, and I could tell she was wondering what was really going on inside my head, but she didn’t ask again. I appreciated that.

We finally arrived at the estate, and I let out a long, shaky breath as Arec pulled up to the front entrance.

The towering gates opened automatically, revealing an expansive estate with manicured lawns, fountains, and elegant stone walkways.

The house itself was even grander than I had imagined, an old, palatial estate with ivy creeping up the stone walls.

Everything about it screamed wealth and status.

As Arec parked the car, I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. He was out of the car and around to my side before I could even move, opening the door with his usual grace.

"Here we are," he said with a small smile, offering me his hand.

I stepped out of the car slowly, my legs a little unsteady as I took in the surroundings. The air smelled fresh, crisp, but there was an underlying tension in my chest I couldn’t shake.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the view before stepping out onto the driveway. My mother followed closely behind me, her gaze sweeping across the property with clear surprise.

"This is... impressive," she murmured, her eyes wide as she looked around. "Does your grandmother live here all alone?" she asked Arec, her voice a little softer than usual.

Arec chuckled, glancing over at her. "Not exactly. She has a few maids and security here, but it’s mostly quiet. She enjoys her privacy."

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t seen any security the last time I’d been here, but I didn’t mention it. Maybe they were hidden somewhere within the estate. Still, it seemed... strange that such a big house would be so isolated.

"That must be lonely," my mom commented as we followed Arec toward the front entrance.

"I don’t think so, Mrs. Davis," Arec replied with a light smile. "She enjoys her space. Plus, she’s not the type to let anyone feel sorry for her."