Zaria let out a sigh of relief when she made her way back to the VIP room in one piece. She had the facts on her side, but that did not mean she was ready to die! Even if she had to die, she would rather not end up in the hands of a heartless man like Jaime.

The room was quiet, so everyone noticed the return of Zaria, who had been gone for so long that it was almost questionable. "You took long, and you look pretty." Desmond broke the silence in an attempt to take everyone's attention away from Zaria.

While that did work, Zaria had the urge to stab the golden fork held leisurely between his fingers right into the side of his neck. How could he say something of that sort? Did he not know how to talk?

Initially, Zaria wasn't much of a threat, so no one cared about her. However, when Ava saw the little exchange and noticed that Zaria had glared at her so-called boss, and the latter seemed to be amused by it, she couldn't pretend to close one eye anymore.

"Zaria, sit beside me." She offered, since the latter was yet to go back to her seat.

It was not a question of whether she would like to sit beside Ava, so Zaria knew that it was no request. It was an order that was not wise to reject. She made her way over and sat silently, wondering what the older woman had in mind.

"Try some lobster. Have you tried the seafood of this restaurant before?" She asked as she served a piece to Zaria.

"No." The latter shook her head. This was the Imperium Royal Hotel. How could she have afforded a meal here in the past?

"Oh, sounds like Desmond didn't take the opportunity to bring you here." She laughed, but the hint in her words was obvious to Zaria and Desmond, who were now sitting opposite each other.

Knowing that it would be rude to reject the gesture, Zaria picked up the piece with her fork and put it in her mouth.

"Doesn't it taste great?" Ava smiled and offered a few more pieces with her eyes glued on Zaria.

She nodded even though she didn't know how it tasted. How could she still be in the mood to taste anything when she was being indirectly aimed at and couldn't even retaliate?

After a while that made everyone else uncomfortable, Ava moved from a different topic after having enough fun teasing the mistress. "Would you like to attend Natalie's wedding? She mentioned wanting to get close to you and I'm sure she would like to invite you. Isn't that right, darling?"

"Yes," Natalie hoped that her mother had finally stopped saying mean things. She was uncomfortable, but she was in an awkward position and could not speak up. She tried to ease the atmosphere. "Zaria, if you would like to come, we can go to fit for our dresses together when the time comes."

At least she was giving her a choice unlike Ava who was forcing her on edge, thought Zaria. She smiled and nodded, wondering when Desmond would decide that it was time to take their leave.

Ava looked pleased when the two women came to an agreement. Natalie has many acquaintances, including bachelors of high status. She is even close to the son of Imperium City's mayor."

"That's a good thing." Zaria said indifferently, wondering what Natalie's friends had to do with anything.

"Isn't it?" Ava chimed and picked up her glass to take a sip of the refreshing wine. "Her wedding is a grand affair, so most of them will be present. You can get a man you like from the eligible choices."

Zaria became uncomfortable when she finally realized what the middle-aged woman was up to. She had seen it coming, but it was still unpleasant when she actually heard it. Her husband minded his business as he was too engrossed in the conversation he was having on his phone while Natalie's eyes narrowed in shock at what her mother was doing.

Zaria looked up and her gaze met with Desmond's. He looked upset and was about to say something when she shook her head. She could handle it herself, and besides, it was not worth it for him to speak against his future mother-in-law for her sake.

"I'm not interested in dating or getting married at the moment." She responded in the kindest tone she could muster despite her anger.

The woman looked amused. "I see. So some women prefer to be mistresses all their lives instead. If that's what you want, I do not blame you."

If this woman was not Desmond's future mother-in-law, Zaria would have said something mean. However, not only was she Natalie's mother, she was also Norman's sister. The difference between the siblings was baffling.

She softly remarked, "Thank you for your kindness in looking out for me, Mrs. Sparks, but I prefer to be a mistress all my life. I hope this doesn't affect your life in any way?"

"You…"

"Mother, Desmond and I have matters to deal with, so we will take our leave first." Natalie announced and stood up without giving her mother the chance to say a word.

She then helped Zaria up and looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry about my mother. She is sharp-tongued sometimes but doesn't usually mean any harm. Don't take her words to heart, okay?"

She was speaking to Zaria, but Ava was still in the room and was able to hear their conversation.

The middle-aged woman's face contorted. Her daughter was letting her know whose side she was on. Ava slapped her forehead with a glare at her daughter. Naive woman. How could she be kind to the mistress? Did she not know that showing a third party kindness was the worst thing to do?

"Stay for a second." She ordered, and Desmond left the room with Zaria.

"Are you naive or stupid? Why do you want to pet a snake even while knowing its identity? When Desmond starts running off with that woman later, you will be crying all alone while holding your marriage certificate."

"You know that he is capable of cheating on me and making me cry, but you insist on me marrying him?" She raised an eyebrow at her mother. "Besides, you were the one who didn't want me to do anything to Zaria. Yet, here you are doing just that. Mother, you baffle me sometimes."

_

Desmond and Zaria got into his car first, and the man sent his chauffeur off to take a cab first before occupying the driver's seat himself. This was the first time Zaria was seeing him drive and she wondered whether it was because they were going together with Natalie. Could it be that he was too possessive to let another man drive his fiancée?

Having been forced into the shotgun seat, she felt as though she was sitting on needles. Natalie joined them a few minutes later and she looked less cheerful than she did earlier. It made one wonder whether she had argued with her parents before leaving.

"Drop me off here." She said in a slight whisper and Desmond stopped the car.

"Thank you." She mumbled softly and left the car to disappear into a hotel at the side of the road.

"Do you want to catch a movie?" Desmond asked as he stepped on the accelerator, breaking the uncomfortable silence in the car.

"No." She rejected him without flinching.

"I know you like them though." He smiled and gave her a side-glance.

"That doesn't mean I want to watch them with you." Came her retort.

He chuckled as though he was expecting it, stopping the car at a red light before turning to face her. "Tell me what happened in the ladies' room."

"Are you kidding me?" Her voice raised in shock at the absurdity. Who would ask a woman such a thing?

"You looked anxious when you came back, and you seemed to be relieved like a lamb that had expected slaughter. What did you think I was asking?" He teased.

"That's none of your business." She ignored him to look out through the window.

"The former or the latter?"

"Both." She was not interested in prolonging this topic.

He dropped the subject, knowing that he had ways to make her willingly open up later. "I insist on watching a movie with you. This Saturday at 7 pm."

"I have plans." She had already agreed to go with Ximena.

"Cancel whatever it is and postpone it to next weekend." He demanded with no space for negotiation.

Still, she did not give in. "It's up to me to decide what I want to do on non-working days."

"Yeah… unless it's an order from your boss." He directly used his position to pin her down.

"You are being unreasonable." She tried not to yell at him. It seemed like the man was taking pleasure in doing this.

He smiled and resumed driving when the light turned greed. "I never said it was reasonable."