Keigh was halfway through reviewing a security brief when his mother's name appeared on his phone. That alone was unusual.
Madam Dynamite did not interrupt her son's work unless the matter required intention. She had always respected the invisible boundary Keigh drew around his professional life, even when he was younger, especially then.
He answered on the second ring.
"Mother."
"Keigh," she said, her voice warm, unhurried. "Are you busy?"
"Yes," he replied honestly. Then, after a beat, added, "But not too busy for you."
She smiled on the other end, he could hear it.
"That's good. I was hoping we could talk."
Keigh leaned back in his chair, eyes lifting to the ceiling. "About?"
"A dinner," she said lightly. Too lightly.
Keigh straightened.
"A dinner where?" he asked.
"One of the villas. The lake house."
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "That's… remote."
"That's the point."
Silence stretched between them, filled with understanding that didn't yet have words.
"You want me there," Keigh said.
"Yes."
"And you want her there," he added quietly.
His mother did not deny it. "I'd like to meet the woman my son seems so invested in."
Keigh exhaled slowly. "You've already made up your mind."
"I've made a decision to observe," she corrected gently. "Your father will not be present."
That eased something in his chest, not fully, but enough.
"She's not a political move," Keigh said, his tone measured but firm. "She's not something to be weighed."
"I know, that's why I want to meet her." She replied softly.
Another pause.
"Ask her to dinner and don't tell her anything she doesn't need to know. Let her come as herself," she continued.
Keigh closed his eyes briefly. He trusted his mother, more than anyone but Nara was.... is different. Fragile in ways she didn't yet know she was.
"I won't let her be cornered," he said.
"You won't have to," she promised. "This isn't a trial, Keigh."
He nodded once, even though she couldn't see it. "Fine."
"Good," she said. "I'll handle everything else."
The call ended, leaving Keigh staring at his phone longer than necessary.
Nara thought it was just dinner.That's how Keigh framed it when he asked casually, almost offhand, like it wasn't something he'd rehearsed in his head.
"There's a place I want to take you," he said, voice low over the phone. "Quiet, good food and no eyes."
Her heart skipped in that small, traitorous way it had learned to do lately.
"Is this… a date?" she asked, half teasing, half serious.
He smiled. She could hear that too.
"It's dinner," he replied. "You and me."
She agreed without hesitation. What she didn't expect was the villa.
The drive itself was stunning. Winding roads, tall trees, the lake shimmering under the late afternoon sun like something out of a painting. When the gates opened and the car rolled onto the gravel path, Nara felt her breath catch.
"Keigh…" she murmured. "This place is..."
"Home," he said simply. "One of them."
She swallowed, suddenly aware of her simple dress, her quiet presence in a world built of inheritance and stone. The moment the car stopped, the doors opened and that was when she saw her. Madam Dynamite stood at the entrance, elegant as ever, dressed in soft neutrals that somehow made her presence even more commanding. She smiled the moment her eyes landed on Nara and in that instant, Nara understood. Her stomach dropped.
"You didn't tell me...." Nara whispered, turning to Keigh, her voice barely audible.
"I know," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."
Before she could process it further, Madam Dynamite stepped forward.
"Nara, you look more stunning than the last time i saw you" she said warmly. "I'm so glad you could join us."
Nara straightened instinctively, nerves flaring. "Mrs. Dynamite.."
"Marie," she corrected gently. "Please."
There was no judgment in her eyes, no cold assessment, just curiosity, sharp yes, but kind. Dinner was set on the terrace overlooking the lake, the table lit by soft lanterns and the fading glow of sunset. The food was exquisite but understated. Fresh bread, roasted vegetables, delicately seasoned fish, wine that tasted like patience and time.
Conversation flowed slowly at first. Marie asked about Nara's work, not just the ball, but her business, her vision, how she built something from nothing. She listened closely, nodding, asking thoughtful follow-ups.
"You don't oversell," Marie observed at one point. "Most people would."
Nara smiled faintly. "I don't know how to be anything other than honest."
"That's rare," Marie said, clearly pleased.
As the evening deepened, the questions softened.
"Do you enjoy quiet places?" Marie asked.
"Yes," Nara replied. "They make me feel… grounded."
"Keigh has always preferred them too," Marie said, glancing at her son. "Even as a child."
Keigh raised an eyebrow. "You're reminiscing now?"
Marie laughed lightly. "I'm contextualizing."
At one point, Nara excused herself briefly, needing air. The lake breeze cooled her flushed skin, but her heart was still racing.
This wasn't what she'd expected. This wasn't interrogation, it was welcome. When she returned, she caught Marie watching her with an expression that made her chest ache, something maternal, something wistful.
Later, as dessert was served, Marie reached across the table and touched Nara's hand lightly.
"You carry yourself with grace," she said softly. "Not because you were taught, but because you chose to."
Nara swallowed. "Thank you."
"I hope you'll come again," Marie added. "Without surprises next time."
Nara smiled, a little shy. "I'd like that."
By the time the evening ended, Keigh walked Nara down to the car, his hand warm at her lower back.
"I should've told you," he said quietly. "I just didn't want you to feel pressured."
She looked up at him, eyes searching. "She likes me."
He nodded. "She does."
Nara exhaled, tension she hadn't realized she was holding finally easing. Behind them, Marie watched from the terrace, a small, satisfied smile on her lips. Whatever her husband believed lineage defined, Marie knew better now.
This girl was not a threat. She was something far more powerful. She was right.