Alpha Mate Chose Half-Sister, I Changed Groom Novel

Chapter 19 It wasn't until we returned to the villa that I finally escaped from that face-heating, heart-pounding awkward atmosphere in the car. The silence between us during the drive had been thick with unspoken things. Questions I wanted to ask but didn't dare. Memories he'd referenced that I couldn't recall. Now, standing in the grand foyer, I could finally breathe again. I'd be staying here temporarily for the next few days. Maybe longer. We hadn't really discussed the details of our living arrangements yet. Originally, I hadn't planned to move in at all.

I'd thought maybe I'd stay at my own villa. Keep some distance. Take things slow. Always feeling it wasn't quite proper to just move into his home immediately after signing papers. We barely knew each other, after all. At least, I barely knew him. But Caspian had blocked all my hesitations and protests with one casual remark. Said so smoothly, so reasonably, that I couldn't argue. "Legally, you'll be Luna Shore very soon. Living here is perfectly proper. What's there to be embarrassed about?" And when he put it like that, what could I say?

The villa normally housed only a taciturn but extremely efficient house manager. An older man who moved silently through the halls, anticipating needs before they were voiced. Caspian's parents were supposedly traveling the world abroad on some extended adventure. 1/6 Living their best retired life, from what I'd gathered. The last time they'd made contact, according to Caspian, they'd apparently been tracking cheetahs on some distant African savanna. Somewhere remote where the signal was spotty and unreliable.

So I hadn't even managed to add their contact information yet, much less meet them. I'd figured I had time. That we'd do proper introductions later, maybe over a formal dinner. When they eventually returned from their travels. But I never expected that today, the moment I pushed open the villa door, I'd be greeted by an unexpected sight. An elegantly maintained lady sat on the living room couch, smiling as she watched us enter. She looked perfectly at home, comfortable and composed. Caspian was clearly also stunned for a moment.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise before he recovered his composure. "Mom?" His voice carried genuine shock. "How did you get back?" Mom. Oh god. His mother. Mrs. Shore's eyes immediately lit up at the sight of us. Unable to spare a moment to answer her son's question, she stood quickly. She practically rushed forward, her movements energetic despite her age. She intimately grabbed my hand before I could react, pulling me closer. Her touch was warm, firm, claiming. She looked me up and down with an assessing gaze, taking in every detail. 2/6 But her expression was nothing but delighted.

Her gaze so satisfied it practically overflowed with approval. "Oh my! This must be Aria! What a beautiful, lovely girl!" Her voice was warm, welcoming, immediately putting me at ease. She smiled so widely that the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. "Wonderful, just wonderful!" She squeezed my hand, her excitement palpable. "All that time my stubborn son spent pining after you wasn't wasted. He finally brought you home!" Wait. What? Pining after me? Before I could process that shocking statement, before I could ask what she meant, she was already moving.

Without waiting for my response, she slipped an exquisite jade bracelet from her own wrist. The piece was clearly antique, beautifully crafted, probably priceless. She placed it directly on mine with decisive movements. "Here, dear, this is my meeting gift for you!" She patted the back of my hand affectionately, like we'd known each other for years. Then she reached over to the side table and picked up an elegant envelope.. Thick, expensive paper. Clearly containing something substantial. She stuffed it into my other hand before I could protest.

"His father is still overseeing some wildlife protection project in Kenya and can't get 3/6 +25 Bonus back right away, but the meeting gift can't be neglected!" She beamed at me, clearly pleased with herself. "Take this card and spend freely. Consider it a token of our affection!" My head was spinning. This was too much. Too fast. Too generous. I stammered out a refusal, my voice weak and uncertain. "Mrs-Mrs. Shore, this is too valuable. Really. I can't accept these. It's too much..." Hearing this, Mrs. Shore deliberately put on a stern face.

Pretending to be unhappy, though her eyes still sparkled. "Hmm?" She raised an eyebrow. "You've already registered your mating, and you're still calling me Mrs. Shore?" The rebuke was gentle but clear. My face heated up instantly, embarrassment flooding through me. Of course. Of course she was right. I immediately corrected myself, the word feeling strange on my tongue. "Mom!" It came out too loud, too emphatic, making me cringe. But Mrs. Shore's face instantly brightened with pure joy. As if I'd given her the best gift in the world. She responded repeatedly, her voice warm and delighted.

"Yes! Yes! Good girl! That's much better!" Caspian stepped forward at that moment, finally intervening. 4/6 His tone carried a hint of helplessness, but also affection. "Mom, tone it down a bit. You're overwhelming her." He glanced at me, seeing my flushed face and wide eyes. Mrs. Shore shot her son an irritated look, waving him away dismissively. "Shoo, shoo! I finally got myself a daughter-in-law after all these years. Don't I know how to behave appropriately?" She turned back to me, ignoring her son completely. "Go away, Caspian. Don't interrupt my conversation with Aria!

We're bonding!" I looked pleadingly toward Caspian, my eyes full of helplessness. Silently begging him to rescue me from this overwhelming situation. Caspian received my signal clearly and sighed in resignation. A small smile played at his lips, like he'd expected this. In the end, he personally intervened despite his mother's protests. His long arm extended smoothly, naturally wrapping around my shoulders. He gently pulled me away from his mother's overly enthusiastic range. Creating distance, giving me space to breathe. "Mom, Aria's tired today. It's been a long day.

I'm taking her upstairs to rest for a bit. He steered me toward the stairs, his hand firm on my back. "You can talk more later. She's not going anywhere." Hearing this, Mrs. Shore immediately nodded, her irritation vanishing: Her smile returned, beaming and satisfied. Her gaze moved between us, full of approval and something that looked like relief. 5/6 "Good, good! Go rest! You're absolutely right!" She clasped her hands together, looking delighted. "Look at you, knowing how to dote on your wife already. Taking care of her needs.

Excellent, excellent!" I was practically in a daze as Caspian half-guided, half-carried me upstairs. My mind still reeling from the encounter. Not until we reached the bedroom and the door clicked softly shut behind us, finally blocking out Mrs. Shore's enthusiastic gaze from downstairs, did I seem to recover my senses. I spun around abruptly, facing him fully. No longer caring about embarrassment or personal space or propriety. I reached out and grabbed the collar of Caspian's crisp shirt with both hands. Forcing him to lower his head slightly, bringing us face to face.

I narrowed my eyes with an interrogative air, my voice low and demanding. "Caspian Shore, you need to explain. Right now." I tightened my grip on his collar for emphasis. "What did your mom mean when she said you'd been pining after me for so long?"