Mara smoothed the hem of her dress for the third time.
"Relax," Clara said, lounging on the edge of the couch with a slice of cheesecake. "You look like you're meeting the Queen."
Mara shot her a look. "Well, I am meeting Malik's parents."
Clara grinned. "Same difference."
She didn't know why her heart raced this hard. Maybe because the last time she met someone's parents, it had ended with judgmental stares and whispered Arabic over tea.
But this… was different.
Malik was different.
A knock broke the silence. Mara froze.
"Oh my God. I can't breathe."
Clara shoved her slice aside, already at the door like she'd been waiting to star in this episode. She opened it with a dramatic, "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Haidar."
Two of the most elegant people Mara had ever seen stepped inside.
His mother wore a sleek off-shoulder cream gown, her makeup flawless, her presence even more so. His father had that calm dominance Malik carried; tailored suit, unreadable expression, and a watch that probably cost more than her first car.
And yet... his mother smiled.
Warm. Welcoming. Unexpected.
"You must be Mara," she said, taking her hand. "You're even more stunning than Malik described."
"Oh," Mara breathed, voice too soft. "Thank you."
His father, ever the mystery, simply gave her a firm nod. "So… you're the one my son decided was worth all this chaos."
Her lips parted. "Sir..."
"I mean that in a good way," he added. "You shook him up. It's about time someone did."
Behind them, Malik appeared; no announcement, no sound; just that soft gaze she'd learned to recognize. Protective. Proud.
He walked over, took her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"She's everything I needed," he told them, still looking at her. "And more."
.....
The door clicked shut.
Mara didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stood there with her heart in her throat, as if she'd just stepped off a runway in Milan instead of hosting the Haidars in her living room.
Clara stared at her for a solid three seconds before exploding into a squeal.
"OH MY GOD. BABE. YOU MET THE PARENTS. You survived!"
Mara sank onto the couch like gravity finally remembered her. "Barely."
"Barely?" Clara flopped beside her. "Girl, you slayed. Like; his mom literally looked at you like you were wrapped in gold foil and gifted from the heavens."
"She did?"
"Yes. And did you see his dad? Man looked like he interrogates UN officials for fun, but he nodded. You got a dad nod. That's international approval, babe."
Mara groaned into a throw pillow. "I think I forgot how to breathe. I might've held my stomach in the whole time. Do I even have a rib left?"
Clara snorted. "You looked snatched. But more importantly; you made it. You're officially part of the inner circle. You've crossed the in-law line."
Mara peeked out from behind the pillow. "Do you think they liked me?"
"They loved you," Clara said confidently. "And Malik? Girl, he was staring at you like you were dessert and he skipped dinner."
A blush bloomed across Mara's cheeks.
"I don't know how to feel," she whispered. "It's all happening so fast."
Clara reached out, gently tugging her hand. "Then feel everything. You love him. He loves you. And now even his power-parent duo is in your corner."
Mara exhaled slowly. "I think I'm going to cry."
Clara handed her a tissue before the first tear even fell. "There she goes. My soft girl is showing."