Chapter 24 - Callahan
After I showed her the library and told her she could do whatever she wanted with it, I went into the kitchen to reheat dinner while she showered.
The house was quiet. The only sound: faint running water upstairs.
I loosened my collar slightly as I walked into the kitchen.
I opened the refrigerator and pulled out the containers Maria had prepared earlier in the evening.
Normally, Maria would handle everything. Tonight, I didn't mind doing it myself.
I set the containers on the counter. I began reheating everything and plating the food once it was warm enough. The quiet hum of the microwave filled the kitchen. Leaning against the counter, I rubbed a hand down the back of my neck.
Despite the peaceful evening, the conversation I had earlier that day still lingered in the back of my mind. The visit from my mother hadn't exactly gone well, proving that she had no intention to change.
I had barely finished plating the food when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I looked up just as Evania stepped into the kitchen.
She wore an ankle-length, loose-fitting dress that hid her figure yet made her irresistible. Her bright smile made it impossible not to smile back.
For the first time since everything had started between us, it felt like my wife and I were finally on the same page.
She walked over to the table and glanced down at the plates.
"You cooked?" she asked, sounding pleasantly surprised.
"Maria did," I corrected as I set the last plate down. "I just heated everything up."
She laughed softly before sitting across from me and picking up her fork. For a few minutes, we ate quietly. It felt comfortable. Easy. Then she glanced up at me.
"So," she asked casually, "how was your day?"
My smile faded. I hesitated, then said, "My mom stopped by the office today."
Evania looked up from her plate, her expression curious but calm. “Oh?”
I sighed quietly. “She still doesn’t approve of our marriage.”
I watched her closely, waiting for her reaction—a hint of irritation or anger, maybe. Instead, she simply shrugged, her demeanor calm and relaxed.
She actually shrugged.
“Well,” she said, taking another bite, “we’re already married.”
I stared at her in genuine surprise, taken aback by how easily she brushed off my mother's disapproval.
She continued eating like that settled the matter entirely. “She doesn’t have to approve,” she added after a moment. “She’ll just have to get over it.”
Her response was so carefree that it caught me completely off guard. I knew Vani was different from other women from the way she dismantled my mother's every attempt to be disrespectful, though I didn't expect her to be this unaffected.
When my silence lingered, her gaze lifted to meet mine, worry quickly filling her wide eyes. "I'm sorry, that was a bit insensitive of me. I'm sure she'll come around if she gets to know me." Her tone softened, betraying a hint of concern.
I almost laughed when she visibly winced at her own words. "Do you truly believe that?" I asked, searching her face for sincerity.
"No," she admitted. "But she's your mother, so I'll understand if you want me to be nice to her."
"You don't need to tolerate disrespect to make me happy or suffer injustice to keep the peace."
"Are you sure about that?" she mumbled, not looking away from me. "What if you change your mind?"
"I won't," I promised, voice low and earnest, meeting her eyes fully. My heart thudded as I continued, hoping my sincerity shone through. "Watching you defend yourself is one of the sexiest things I've ever seen."
"Sop," she dragged the word out, the tip of her ears red from embarrassment. "Did your mother say anything else?"
“She tried forcing me to divorce you.”
That got her attention. She paused mid-bite and slowly looked up at me. “She what?”
“She tried forcing me with the company,” I explained. “Luckily, I planned ahead.”
Evania’s appetite vanished as she set her fork down, eyes searching mine with disbelief before she let out a slow, disbelieving exhale and shook her head.
“Well,” she muttered under her breath, “your mom is taking her role of a Monster-in-Law a little too seriously.”
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I hoped it would lighten the tension, but instead, her shoulders tightened, and she let out a quiet, annoyed sigh.
I raised my hands slightly in surrender. “Sorry.”
The silence between us lasted only a few seconds before I decided to change the subject entirely. “So,” I said, clearing my throat slightly, “I was thinking my name is a bit long.”
She eyed me suspiciously. “I guess you could say that.”
My lips twitched with barely concealed amusement. "I thought you could choose a nickname for me.”
She blinked. “A nickname?”
“Yes. I want something cute.”
That earned a real smile from her. “You want a cute nickname,” she repeated slowly.
She studied me like she was trying to decide if I was joking. “You’re serious.”
“Very.”
“Well,” she said thoughtfully, “I do like the nicknames you’ve given me, I think I’ll like them even more now that we’re a real couple.”
My grin widened immediately. “A real couple,” I repeated.
She nodded once.
A real couple.
Something about hearing her say that out loud made my chest feel lighter. She tapped her fork lightly against the plate. “I’ll have to think of the best nickname for you.”
“That serious?”
“Of course,” she replied. “This is important.”
I chuckled.
“Well, take your time then.”
Dinner continued quietly. Once we finished eating, we both got up and cleaned the kitchen together. She washed while I dried. The simple routine was oddly comfortable. When everything was finally put away, we headed upstairs. The hallway was quiet as we walked toward the bedroom.
Vani headed straight for the bathroom to brush her teeth, and I followed after her. She was the first to climb into bed, sliding under the covers and getting comfortable. I turned off the lights and joined her a moment later.
At first, neither of us moved. I was ashamed to admit that I was incredibly nervous. I've slept with other women before, but having Vani this close to me gave me heart palpitations. Then she shifted closer to me, and my heart all but stopped.
I wrapped an arm around her instinctively. The moment she settled against my side, I felt something warm spread through my chest. It was the first time I had ever held my wife like this, and it felt beautiful.
Holding her, I realized how much I wanted this—my wife in my arms. For the first time since our marriage began, it felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be.
I woke before the sun, which had been happening more often lately. The house was quiet in that particular way; it was only in the early mornings, as if the world were taking a breath before everything began again.
I lay still, listening to faint clatter from downstairs. Maria was already here. That wasn’t surprising. She ran the household with efficiency that made my life easier.
I glanced to my left, my heart fluttering at the sight of Vani curled up beside me. Her lashes kissed her cheek, her steady breathing calming me more than anything else could. Knowing I couldn't watch her sleep all morning, I rolled out of bed and headed downstairs.
The smell of coffee hit me first, then bacon and fresh bread. Maria stood at the stove, humming quietly to herself while she flipped something in a pan. The kitchen lights cast a warm glow across the marble counters.
“Morning, Maria,” I said, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Sterling. Coffee is ready for you.”
“You're the best.”
She laughed softly as I poured myself a cup and sat at the island. For a few peaceful minutes, it was just the sound of cooking and the low hum of the coffee machine. I had barely taken my second sip when I heard the unmistakable sound of slow footsteps on the stairs.
Vani appeared in the doorway, looking like she had been personally victimized by the concept of mornings.
Her hair was a complete mess, dark strands sticking out in several directions like they had declared independence from the rest of her head. Her eyes were half closed, and she yawned so loudly it echoed in the kitchen.
And somehow… she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
She trudged forward, each step a clear battle with gravity, then collapsed into the stool beside me with a weary huff.
“Good morning,” I said.
She blinked at me like she had only just noticed I existed. Then she gave me the sleepiest smile I’d ever seen. “Morning,” she mumbled.
Maria turned from the stove. “Good morning, Mrs. Sterling.”
Vani gave her a small wave that seemed to require an incredible amount of energy. Maria slid a plate in front of her. “You’ll want to eat,” she said kindly. “You have a busy day.”
Vani squinted down at the plate like it had personally offended her. “Busy how?” she asked suspiciously.
Maria wiped her hands on a towel. “Well,” she said casually, “there’s the dinner tonight, and your publicist will be here at two o’clock to help you prepare.”
Vani’s eyes snapped open. It was like watching someone get struck by lightning. “What dinner?” she demanded.
I nearly choked on my coffee.
Maria blinked in surprise. “A birthday dinner for one of Mr. Sterling's biggest investors.”
Vani slowly turned toward me, her eyes widening and her face draining of color as realization dawned. “That's tonight?” she squeaked, panic sharp in her voice.
“Yes,” I said calmly.
She shot upright on the stool like she’d just remembered an exam she hadn’t studied for. “I totally forgot about that,” she groaned.
Then she looked down at herself—at the surprisingly alluring dress she’d slept in, her tangled hair, the general chaos of her existence. “I’m not ready for this,” she whispered.
I leaned back in my chair, watching her with amusement. “Vani,” I said gently, “we’ve already gone over everything. Remember?”
She peeked at me through her fingers. Maria hid a smile as she returned to the stove. Vani still hadn't moved, so I nudged the plate closer to her. “Relax,” I said. “This dinner is just the warm-up for the ball.”
The panic drained out of her face immediately. “Oh.” She picked up her fork and finally took a bite of her breakfast. “That’s not so bad then.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You realize the ball is significantly worse, right?”
She shrugged. “That’s future Vani’s problem.”
I laughed, genuinely taken aback by how funny she was without even trying. The things she said had this sarcastic edge, even when I knew she was being serious.
“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “my family dinner is in two days.”
My fork paused halfway to my mouth. Ah. There it was. The thing I had been expertly avoiding thinking about. I set the fork down slowly.
“I remember,” I said.
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “That means it’s your turn to be nervous.”
I stared at her. “I’m not nervous.”
She gave me a look. “You’re lying.”
“I’m choosing not to acknowledge reality.”
She took another bite of food, clearly enjoying this.
“Well,” she said casually, “I hope you’re ready to be interrogated.”
My stomach tightened. “Shouldn't you be reassuring me that everything will be okay?”
She hesitated. Then she made a face. “Well…”
My eyes narrowed. “Well, what?”
“I’m nervous too.”
“You’re nervous?” I blinked slowly, trying to make sense of what she was saying." “You’ve known these people your entire life. So why are you nervous?”
She shrugged helplessly. “Because they’re my family.”
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
“It explains everything.”
I stared at her for a long moment. Then I shook my head. “This would have been one of the only opportunities where lying to me would be acceptable.”
"I can do that," she chirped instantly as she sat up straighter and cleared her throat dramatically.
“Callahan,” she said in a very serious voice.
“Yes?”
“Everything will be completely fine.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“My family is perfectly reasonable.”
“Of course.”
“They will absolutely adore you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“And nothing terrible will happen.”
I leaned toward her. “You’re terrible at this.”
She burst out laughing. The sound filled the kitchen, bright and warm. I couldn’t help smiling back. I was smiling a lot more now than ever before, and I could only thank my beautiful wife for that.