Page 23 of Wicked Empire (Knight's Ridge Empire 3)

CHAPTERSIX

Sebastian

My heart pounds throughout my body as Mum’s footsteps get closer.

Sophia and I share a look, and I find the same apprehension in her eyes.

Her expression fills me with dread, because I know she’s already seen what kind of mood Mum is in, and I really don’t want this whole thing to be a disaster. I’d really like for her to meet Stella and just be normal. Just once.

But I fear it might be too much to ask.

The second Mum’s feet hit the hallway, I stop breathing.

It seems to take her forever to get through to us, but when she does and I get a look at her, I breathe a huge sigh of relief.

She looks… good. Really good.

It’s almost too good to be true.

“Seb, my boy,” she says with a wide smile on her face.

I glance at Sophia, who shrugs in a ‘just go with it’ way, and I push to stand with Phoebe still in my arms.

“Hey, Mum.” I close the space between us and drop a kiss to her sunken cheek.

She might look good, better than I’ve seen her in quite a while, but that’s not to say that she looks healthy. Her eyes are still dark, her skin a weird grey colour and her lips thin and puckered. It’s clear she’s not well despite the effort she’s clearly gone to in an attempt to cover it up.

“Where’s your—” She scans the kitchen quickly before her eyes land on Stella tucked into the corner at the table. “Girl?” she sighs, her entire face lighting up.

I can’t help but smile too, because Stella looks more awkward than I’ve ever seen her.

It seems that meeting my parents—or my mum, at least—is one thing that cracks her hard shell.

“Hi,” she squeaks, looking between Mum and I nervously. “I’m Ste—”

“Stella, I know, sweetie. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“O-oh?” I splutter. I’ve barely spoken to her since Stella got stabbed, so I know it hasn’t come from me.

Mum glances over at Sophia, and I find my answer.

“H-hi, Helen. It’s so good to meet you.” Stella hops up from her chair and awkwardly moves toward Mum, who immediately wraps her frail arms around my girl and pulls her into her body.

I can’t help but laugh at the look of shock on Stella’s face.

I’m not entirely sure what she was expecting from meeting Mum, but I’d hardly painted her in a great light, so I’m not surprised by her reaction.

“I can’t believe my boy has finally met someone. And someone as beautiful as you.” Stella backs up again and falls into her chair once more while I lower a wriggling Phoebe to the floor. “You know, when the time comes, you’re going to make me gorgeous grandbabies. Just like my little Phoebe, isn’t that right, sweetie?” Mum says, bending down to my niece who wobbled straight over to her.

Glancing at Stella, I find a horrified look on her face.

“Don’t worry, she’s not expecting them anytime soon.”

“Am I not?” Mum asks, still looking distracted by her granddaughter but clearly listening to everything happening around her.

“Ignore her,” I tell Stella, going back to the oven to check on my Yorkies when the buzzer goes off.

“Have you had one of Seb’s Yorkshire puddings before, Stella?” Mum asks, taking the seat I vacated when she came in.