Chapter 7

Chapter 007

A quiet voice was filled with excitement as I turned around. Before I could even turn around, she was there—a blonde, blue-eyed beauty wearing an outfit straight off a runway show. Though tiny next to Casper (never reaching his shoulder), her presence made an impressionable statement of who she was.

I took a deep breath as her wealth became obvious to me, and suddenly, it felt as though I didn't belong with her group of peers.

Casper offered his mother a small smile as he addressed her.

My mind scrambled as I tried to process what had just occurred; could that really be his mother, or could it possibly be some other name—there was no other explanation—so much was riding on this encounter that it made no sense whatsoever.

"How are you, baby?" she inquired as she pulled him close for a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Hello, Mum. How are you?"

Before I could even comprehend this information, someone else appeared—a young guy, probably around my age, with blonde hair and blue eyes—just like she had, except taller and broader.

"Hey, bro!" Casper exclaimed with an enthusiastic hello and extended his hand to shake it.

Casper accepted it but with an inquisitive look in his eye. "You didn't show up at the site today." His voice was low but heavy with meaning.

"What am I doing this time?" the man exclaimed in disbelief.

"You disobeyed my orders. The workers needed supervision."

"Casper..." His mother sighed deeply as if speaking directly to a child. "We agreed on no business talk tonight.

Casper felt his jaw tighten yet let go of his brother's hand and exhaled deeply.

At that moment, she turned towards me.

"And who is this?" Her tone was gentle, yet I could feel the weight behind the question as her sharp gaze flickered between Casper and me.

He cleared his throat, then gave me a gentle push forward. "Mum, this is Lena—she is my fiancée."

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed with disbelief at what had transpired.

She grabbed me in a tight hug before I could respond.

I was taken completely by surprise, so for a second I hesitated before giving her a tight embrace back. When she drew back, she smiled brightly as we parted ways.

"Come, dear," she gestured with an arm enfolded around mine as though we were already family.

I glanced over at Casper. He barely glanced up from his phone.

"Please," Casper replied hesitantly. Then Marieke ordered, "Casper, put away that phone immediately!"

Just like that, he stuffed it into his pocket without debate or discussion.

So he listens? From the moment we reached the dining table, all eyes were focused on me with curiosity, surprise, and something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"All, I want you all to meet someone," Marieke announced with great excitement as she pulled my hand slightly toward Lena—Casper's future wife-to-be.

Silence.

"No way!" A teenage girl with dark hair and glasses almost shrieked out loud as she raced around the table throwing her arms around Casper before doing the same with me.

"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed with admiration.

"Thank you," I replied and received more congratulations from him.

Over time, I met each person.

Marieke, Casper's mother, barely looked old enough to have grown children of her own. She was warm, charming, and impossible to dislike.

His father, Bram, was quite different: open, friendly, and carried himself effortlessly; I wouldn't have suspected they were related at first glance.

Marit, his older sister, was twenty-five and did not seem enthusiastic about my presence. On multiple occasions, I noticed her side-eyeing me but decided not to acknowledge it.

Thijs was around my age; friendly, playful, and the family troublemaker.

Elise was a sixteen-year-old student who had quickly made my acquaintance and had quickly attached herself to me as though we were close.

At first glance, everything about their family appeared ideal—except for one major issue.

I could feel the tension between Casper and his father.

Subtle signals pointed towards trouble: stiff shoulders, glances, and an awkward silence that felt just a little too heavy.

But it was there and then came the questions.

"So, where did we meet?" Marieke inquired with a warm smile.

The question is straightforward. Had we planned for it?

I took a quick shot of Casper.

"Look at them!" exclaimed Elise with a laugh as they gazed upon each other lovingly.

Marieke laughed. "Yup. That's right!"

"We met in Rotterdam, at a restaurant." Casper recounted their meeting.

Marieke's eyes glimmered. "What?" she exclaimed in question.

"I saw her, looking beautiful as ever. He casually spoke while twirling his fork between his fingers.

"Thanks, honey," I forced out. I smiled sweetly as she gave her compliments and nodded. "Thanks again." I gave a forced smile back.

"He looked directly into my eyes!" It was romantic! Our table had become the place to be. Elise and Thijs nearly collapsed at their table with laughter at this adorable gesture. "That is so romantic!" "This is so adorable!" "That is so romantic!" "Wow!"

Marieke even appeared delighted.

Casper continued, "She caught my attention immediately, and since then my life has never been the same.

His delivery was so natural, so unwavering; had I not known better, I might have believed every word he said.

Momentarily, our eyes met.

There was something mysterious and unreadable in his expression.

Elise interrupted, "Uh-oh, are we interrupting a moment?"

Thijs flicked her ear. "Let them have their staring contest."

She grumbled, shoving away his hand. "You are so annoying!" she exclaimed indignantly.

Arguing like children, they made everyone at the table laugh as they quarreled back and forth.

Well, almost the whole table.

Casper didn't laugh or smile much during dinner. By the end, dessert had been delivered, and Marieke began asking me questions about my life.

I gave an honest response, and to my relief, she didn't look down upon my background—just nodded along, showing genuine curiosity about me and my story.

Thijs and Elise made me feel welcome, offering lively conversations that made me feel at home in this group of strangers. I enjoyed spending most of the evening talking with them, as their conversation made me feel included and like part of their group.

At last, I felt relaxed.

Casper had to go and ruin everything.

He made a sudden statement. "Lena has an early flight tomorrow."

"What? Since when?"

Before I could protest further, Marieke pulled me in for one final hug before heading out the door. "Don't forget: we have a wedding to plan!"

Before I could even finish answering, she had already taken action and was on her phone making plans.

Soon enough, Casper and I were back in our car.

Silence enveloped us as city lights grew increasingly dim against our windows.

As my eyelids became heavy with sleepiness, I fought back a yawn that threatened to arise.

"I appreciated how you called me 'baby' back there."

My eyes popped wide open as the heat spread across my cheeks. I quickly turned away, pretending not to hear him.

"You should do it more often," he suggested his tone teasing.

"I clamped my jaw shut, not giving him any satisfaction from my response.

He laughed, making a deep and quiet sound.

Somehow, this made me happy.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when meeting this man and was unknowledgeable of my commitments with him.

One thing was certain.

Casper Vermeer was unpredictable.