The Tyrant's Wife

327 Final dinner

For the rest of the meal, Natalie was fidgety. Devonte had tried to calm her down, telling her everything would be okay, but she knew her parents.

No matter what they usually had to say, they wouldn’t hesitate. Unless it was something they were still thinking about, or something they knew was bound to hurt the other party. Something told her it was the latter case.

When dinner was finally over, she couldn’t eat any of her dessert. She had barely managed to stomach her dinner feeling so anxious.

“So,” Ava finally began when the table was cleared. “Owen, why don’t you show Devonte to the music room? You and him might just have a lot in common. You can also play a game of chess while at it.”

Devonte’s first reaction was to narrow his eyes at Ava. “Will Natalie be alright when I come back?”

“Of course.” Ava scoffed at him. “Do you think I would hurt my daughter?”

He did think so, yes. If they weren’t the kind of parents who dismissed their daughter’s feelings, he wouldn’t even think up such a thing. But again, Natalie now had Lucy’s protection. They would be insane to lay a single finger on her.

With this in mind, and the fact that Natalie smiled at him in reassurance, he left the dining room with Owen, but not before leaving Ava with a warning. “If a single strand of hair goes missing from her, I will shave your entire head.”

Ava laughed and only stopped when Devonte was out of earshot.

.....

“So…what do you think? Is he good for you?”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “I have been with him for more than a decade, mom. Go ahead and say what you want to say.”

“Right.” Ava placed her hands on the table. “I’m happy to see you so much in love. I can’t believe I’m saying this about a man who isn’t Desmond but he does seem to make you smile.”

“Maybe you could take lessons from him? I could ask if he’s taking in students.” Natalie retorted.

Ava’s brow rose. “You know, you were never a rebellious teenager. Not that you didn’t have your own infuriating side that nearly every teenager has, but you were different. You were always responsible.” She placed her hand on Natalie’s, her voice breaking. “Even when we were hard on you. It took us a long time to see it but you really are the best child a parent could ask for.”

“But?” Natalie probed. She couldn’t be fooled by her mother’s words. There had to be another side for her to give such a flowery speech.

“But, my dear, it started to change when you met him. Now that I did the math, I realized you started acting out soon after you got together with him—if your recount of how long you’ve dated is accurate, that is.”

Natalie didn’t wait for her to finish what she was starting. “I’m not breaking up with him.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Ava coaxed.

“You’re not?”

“No. All I’m saying is I don’t know if this new version is really who you want to be, or who you think you are because you spent enough time with him for your mind to see it as the default.” Before Natalie could express her displeasure, she gave an example.

“In all arranged marriages I’ve heard of, the man often cheats. They always give the excuse that they didn’t choose their wife.”

“And yet you wanted me to marry a man you chose.” Natalie grumbled under her breath.

Ava ignored that and continued. “But the woman always takes care of the home and keeps the family together. Because she believes that’s what she is meant to do. After a while, she turns a blind eye to what her husband is doing and adapts to a life similar to everyone else with the same kind of fate. But she would never truly find her happiness.”

“I never thought about it that way.” Natalie instantly thought of Nathaniel and then Alma within a few seconds. Those were two families she knew already that suffered the same fate.

She shook her head. “I’m not getting into an arranged marriage. What does this have to do with me?”

“We failed as parents.” She continued. “We are sorry for not being there for you. In our absence, Devonte swooped in and gave you the attention you needed. But how can you tell if this is permanent? Do you want to find out?” taking Natalie’s silence as yes, she finally said, “I would like you to go on a blind date.”

“I have a boyfriend, mother. Devonte Lemaigre. Remember him?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t forget him when his name is everywhere.” Ava faceoalmed. “I’m not asking you to break up with him. Just that you go out with someone else. If you really want to be with Devonte after that, I will never bring this up again.” She promised.

Natalie covered her mouth with her hand with an exaggerated gasp. “How exciting! I just have to two-time my boyfriend for a while to see if I fall in love with the other man. And if I don’t, I go back to my boyfriend who I just cheated on and life goes on?”

“It’s just a date, Natalie.” Ava shook her head in disbelief.

“Let me guess. I have to keep this a secret from Devonte?” She stood, planting her palms on the table. “And when our relationship is going perfectly, you will send him pictures from this date, which no one will have known about?”

Ava gasped in shock. When she finally composed herself, she shook her head. “I would say I can’t believe you think that way of us but I don’t blame you. We didn’t give you much reason to trust us. But honey, I didn’t say you couldn’t tell Devonte. I don’t care how you go on the date, as long as you do. You can even make it a trio with him.”

She straightened up. “Thanks for offering to support us, mom. But I don’t need a man to prove the strength of my love for another. I know my heart all too well.”

Luckily, Owen and Devonte returned and saved her from having to deal with more of her mother’s insanity.

Devonte’s first reaction was to rush over to her and hug her. “Everything is alright, right?”

Ava held up a strand of hair she had plucked out of Natalie’s head while they talked, laughing. “It sounds like I’m getting a new haircut. Maybe a Pixie? What do you think, Owen?”

Devonte glared at her despite knowing she was trying to lighten the mood. What did she do now?

“Natalie and I have other things to do. Thanks for inviting us to dinner.” He announced, inwardly adding, ‘we are not coming back.’

As soon as they were on their own, she told him all about her mother’s suggestion. “Can you believe it? She wanted me to go on a date with another man.” She looked out through the window. “Actually, it is pretty tame considering these are Ava Sparks and Owen Sparks. Maybe they really are coming around.”