That weekend, Sandra was getting ready to spend her break in the province with her mother. She had already spoken to her over the phone the previous week, informing her of the plan to get married and fly to the U.S. with Roland. Though her mother had been hesitant at first—doubtful, even—she eventually relented and gave her reluctant blessing.
Still, Sandra knew that a simple agreement over the phone wasn't enough. She needed to be there in person, to spend time with her mom, coax her gently, and earn her wholehearted approval.
While contemplating how best to act adorably and soften her mother's heart, her phone suddenly rang.
"Hello?"
"It's me," said a rich, baritone voice on the other end.
Sandra's heart skipped a beat. She nearly dropped the phone.
"Mr. Fleming…"
"Are you free for dinner?" he asked smoothly.
"I'm actually preparing to head to the province for the weekend. I'll be spending it with my mom," she replied, honest and slightly breathless.
"Is it far?"
"Not really. Just about a two-hour drive by car."
"Wait for me before you leave."
Before she could even ask why, the line had already gone dead.
Roughly thirty minutes later, Roland appeared on her doorstep. Two bodyguards stood behind him, arms full of paper bags.
"What's going on?" Sandra asked, blinking in surprise at this god-like man once again invading her peaceful home.
"We're meeting mother-in-law, aren't we?" he said with a smug smile, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Sandra could only sigh in surrender. There was no winning against him.
As they stepped outside, she noticed the convoy of vehicles parked at the curb. Her brows furrowed.
"We're only bringing one car," she declared firmly.
Roland agreed without protest. He didn't care which car they used—as long as he could be by her side when meeting her mother.
The ride was filled with a quiet, awkward tension. Sandra leaned against the window and closed her eyes, trying to nap. Meanwhile, Roland was absorbed in his laptop, typing away intently.
Eventually, Sandra drifted off to sleep.
Roland glanced at her from time to time, his expression softening. A look reserved only for her. Watching the gentle rise and fall of her breathing, warmth spread through his chest.
At first, he had thought it was only physical—desire and lust. But when he truly saw her that day at the coffee shop, fully illuminated in the morning light… perhaps it really had been love at first sight. He hadn't clearly seen her face during that night they first met, but he remembered how she felt against him. Just thinking about that moment again stirred heat through him.
If he could, he would take her every day, every night—but he wouldn't rush. He needed her to fall for him, to give herself to him willingly. He needed her love.
The car eventually came to a stop. Sandra stirred awake, blinking dazedly at her surroundings.
"You're awake?" Roland asked, lips curved into a familiar smirk. As her senses returned, she quickly gathered herself and stepped out of the vehicle.
As they passed through the front gate of the provincial house, Sandra saw a middle-aged woman standing with a cheerful-looking man beside her.
It was her mother, Arneta, and her childhood friend, Joey.
Sandra lit up with joy at the sight of them and rushed forward, hugging Joey tightly as she whispered and giggled in delight. In contrast, Roland's expression darkened at once, a shadow falling across his usually handsome features.
He didn't like this. Not one bit.
Sandra, oblivious to his changing mood, turned with a bright smile. "Mom, Joey—this is my fiancé, Roland."
Then, turning to Roland, she said, "This is my mom, Arneta, and my childhood friend, Joey."
Roland gave Arneta a polite, amicable smile… then shot Joey a look that could make even a hyena back off, all while shaking his hand with a grip just a little too firm.
Sandra walked arm-in-arm with her mother toward the house, while Joey and Roland trailed behind.
"You didn't tell me your fiancé was coming," Arneta said, whispering with a slight frown.
Sandra gave her a sheepish smile and bowed her head. Arneta only narrowed her eyes, her suspicions clearly stirred.
While the two women prepared food in the kitchen, Roland and Joey sat opposite each other in the family room. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Joey sipped his tea nervously under Roland's intense, hawk-like gaze.
Finally, Roland broke the silence.
"Do you like Sandra?"
Joey nearly choked on his tea. "W-What?!"
"If you do," Roland said flatly, "give up."
Joey blinked, stunned. "Excuse me?!"
"Even if you don't now," Roland continued, eyes narrowing, "I have ways of making you give up."
"Stop!" Joey raised both hands in surrender, voice high with panic. His instincts screamed that this man was dangerous.
"First of all, I don't like Sandra like that—absolutely not!" Joey exclaimed. "Second, I'm ga—"
"Why?" Roland cut him off suddenly.
Joey blinked. "What?"
"It doesn't make sense that you don't like her," Roland growled, looking deeply unsettled. "She's beautiful, capable, strong—"
"I'm gay!" Joey finally blurted out.
That shut Roland up.
He stared at Joey like he was scanning his soul, assessing whether he was lying.
Then, a voice from the kitchen doorway spoke up.
"Joey likes men," Arneta said, walking in with perfect timing. "Unfortunately for him, you're Sandra's fiancé. If not, you'd be exactly his type."
Roland's face darkened even more.
Sandra giggled from behind her mother. "Mom! Stop teasing Roland."
She walked over with a fruit plate in hand and sat beside her fiancé, her presence immediately lightening the mood.
The rest of the afternoon passed in laughter and shared stories. Joey regaled Roland with amusing tales from Sandra's childhood—her misadventures, her tantrums, even her first crush. To everyone's surprise, Roland listened intently, occasionally smiling in that rare, boyish way only Sandra had seen before.
Everything went smoothly from there. Time passed quicker than expected, and before they knew it, the day of their flight to the U.S. had arrived.