"So," she said coolly, her voice as smooth as polished glass. "You are the woman my son claims to have married."
My tongue felt glued to the roof of my mouth.
Lance stepped forward, his tone calm and authoritative.
"Yes, Mom. This is Maya. My wife."
Lucinda tilted her head slightly, studying me like a scientist examining a specimen.
She spoke directly to me.
"Tell me, Maya… what is your maiden name?"
I swallowed hard.
"Santos," I croaked. "Maya Santos."
Lucinda's lips curved into a faint, almost pitying smile.
"Santos," she repeated. "And your family…?"
My throat tightened.
"I… my parents passed away when I was nine. I grew up in an orphanage in Manila."
Lucinda's brows inched higher.
"An orphanage."
I forced myself to hold her gaze.
"Yes, ma'am."
She sat back in her chair, folding her manicured hands neatly on the table.
"How… fascinating."
Lance's jaw tightened.
"Mom," he said sharply. "We didn't come here for an interrogation."
Lucinda ignored him completely.
Her eyes pinned me in place.
"Tell me, Maya. How long have you been in love with my son?"
My heart hammered so violently I thought I might faint.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Lance squeezed my hand discreetly under the table.
I cleared my throat.
"For a while," I said weakly. "We've… known each other longer than people think."
Lucinda leaned forward slightly.
"And when, precisely, did you decide to marry my son?"
My vision blurred for a moment.
I opened my mouth and lied.
"After he saved my life."
Lucinda's eyes narrowed.
"Saved your life?"
Lance cut in before I could dig myself into a deeper hole.
"There was an accident," he said crisply. "Maya could have died. It made me realize I didn't want to waste any more time."
Lucinda's expression didn't change.
"How romantic," she murmured, the faint sarcasm unmistakable.
She shifted her gaze back to me.
"Maya, what do you love most about my son?"
I froze.
My mind went blank.
Beside me, I felt Lance stiffen.
His fingers tightened around mine.
I forced myself to look Lucinda in the eye.
I swallowed hard.
And then I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"I love that… he always makes me feel safe. Even when I'm terrified."
Lucinda blinked, as if surprised.
A brief silence fell over the table.
Then, to my shock, a tiny smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Hmm," she said quietly. "That… I can believe."
I let out a shaky breath.
Lance gave my hand a small, approving squeeze under the table.
Lucinda leaned back in her chair, eyes still sharp but fractionally softer.
"Well, Maya," she said. "I suppose we shall see whether this marriage of yours is truly as solid as my son claims."
She paused.
"In the meantime… welcome to the family."
For a few seconds, I just stared at her, stunned.
Did… I just survive that?
Lance leaned closer, his breath warm near my ear.
"See?" he whispered. "Told you you'd be fine."
But as I glanced back at Lucinda Villanueva, her elegant fingers tapping the table, her dark eyes glittering I knew one thing for sure:
The silence around the table was like a taut wire stretched too tight.
Lucinda Villanueva's dark eyes stayed fixed on me, still sharp enough to cut glass. Her slender fingers tapped a slow rhythm on the polished wood table, each soft tap a reminder that this conversation wasn't over.
Even though she'd said "Welcome to the family," I knew this wasn't acceptance. This was only round one.
Lance shifted slightly beside me, his knee bumping mine under the table. His hand still held mine beneath the crisp white tablecloth, and he gave my fingers another quiet squeeze as if to remind me I wasn't alone.
Except, at that moment, I felt very alone.
A waiter appeared, gliding forward like a ghost in a black suit.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am Lucinda. Sir Lance. Ma'am…" He gave me a polite nod. "Would you care to look at the menu?"
Lucinda didn't even glance at him.
"Bring the sea bass for me. Grilled. No butter. A small salad. Vinaigrette on the side."
The waiter bowed.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Lance turned to the waiter. "Steak. Medium rare." He paused, then tilted his head toward me. "Maya?"
My mouth opened, but for a second, nothing came out. I felt as though my brain had short-circuited.
I could feel Lucinda's eyes boring into my skull.
"Uh… chicken?" I blurted. "With rice. And vegetables. Please."
Lucinda arched one perfectly sculpted brow.
"Chicken," she murmured. "How… modest."
Heat crawled up my neck.
The waiter scribbled the orders and disappeared silently, leaving behind an oppressive hush.
Lucinda picked up her glass of water and sipped it delicately. Then she set it down with a soft clink and folded her hands once more.
"So, Maya," she said, her voice silky. "Tell me what you intend to do now that you're Mrs. Villanueva."
My heart gave an anxious flutter.
"Do?" I echoed.
Lucinda inclined her head slightly.
"Yes. Your plans. Your ambitions. A woman married into this family must carry herself a certain way. She must know how to navigate our circles. She must understand our business interests. Are you prepared for that?"
I swallowed so hard my throat hurt.
"Uh… I'm still figuring that out," I admitted, my voice embarrassingly small.
Lucinda's eyes glinted like dark jewels.
"'Still figuring it out' is not an acceptable answer in my world."
Beside me, Lance cleared his throat, his voice turning cool.
"Mom, she's only been my wife for twenty-four hours. Give her some time."
Lucinda lifted a hand, palm out.
"I am merely assessing her readiness. Do you expect me to embrace a stranger without knowing her capabilities?"
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to summon the spine I knew I possessed.
I took a breath and forced myself to straighten in my chair.
"With all due respect, Ma'am Lucinda… I've navigated plenty of circles. Maybe not your high society ones, but I've worked multiple jobs, dealt with difficult people, and survived situations you probably can't imagine."
Lucinda blinked, as if surprised by the sudden steel in my voice.
I swallowed again and continued.
"I may not know how to choose the right fork for each course or how to greet an ambassador, but I learn fast. And if being Lance's wife means I have to learn all that, then I will. Because I'm not afraid of hard work."
Lucinda stared at me for a moment that felt like an eternity.
Then, slowly, she tilted her head in a single, graceful nod.
"Hmm."
She leaned back slightly, folding her arms.
"That remains to be seen. I've heard countless declarations of determination in my life, Miss… Mrs. Villanueva. Most of them crumble at the first sign of pressure."
Her eyes softened by a fraction.
"But I suppose we shall see whether you're the exception."
Lance finally spoke again, his voice firm.
"She is."
Lucinda flicked him a look.
"You sound quite certain, hijo." son"
"I am," Lance said without hesitation.