ma chérie | cl16

chapter thirty-two

"Are you nervous?" Charles asked, gently resting his hand on Adeline's thigh while keeping the other hand on the wheel.

"I... uh... Yes. I've never actually met a guy's mom before," Adeline admitted, her lower lip caught between her teeth. However, her attention quickly shifted as she felt Charles' touch on her thigh, causing her bare skin to tingle and melt under his warm grasp.

The weather was too hot to wear a pantsuit, so Adeline chose a dress with a flower print. It wasn't too short, but it also wasn't long, so it definitely was a lifesaver in this sunny weather. And the perfect dress to meet Charles' mom.

"Wait, what?" Charles' shock was evident as he quickly glanced at the blonde woman seated in the passenger seat.

She looked absolutely breathtaking. But in Charles' eyes, even a trash bag would still make her the most beautiful woman in the room. Every time he looked at her, an overwhelming surge of emotions coursed through him, so powerful that it was almost physically painful. But it was the most beautiful agony.

"Well, no. I've never been... Serious with anyone," Adeline said, and then she placed her sweaty hand on Charles'. The word 'serious' had been on her mind since the accidental meeting with Charles' brothers. And meeting his mom meant that things were no longer casual between them. "My relationship with Hunter lasted almost two years, but he never introduced me."

On the other hand, despite the overwhelming nerves that almost made her feel sick, she felt important. She had never felt like that before—no one had ever made her feel this way, but Charles did.

"You know that we don't have to do this," Charles said, seeing a glimpse of hesitation in Adeline's eyes.

Shaking her head, Adeline took a deep breath and intertwined their hands. "You're important to me. And I want to meet those, who are important to you, mon chou."

"Alright," Charles nodded. Initially, he had feared that this meeting would happen too soon, but as Adeline had insisted, he had begun to feel better about the whole thing.

His brothers loved Adeline. Especially Arthur had been asking about Adeline's arrival (and also about her cookies). Charles was confident that his mother would also adore her. The only regret Charles held was that he couldn't introduce Adeline to his late father, who would have been amazed by her. He was sure he would adore her personality and her sarcastic comments. They would probably get along so well.

"Wait, I love this song!" Adeline let go of Charles' hand to turn up the volume, and then she put her hand back in the same position as before.

Charles couldn't contain his laughter as Adeline sang loudly along to the bridge of Out Of The Woods. He had never thought that the gorgeous woman, whom he had first seen with a frown at the café, would be now beaming with joy and screaming her lungs out to a Taylor Swift song in his Ferarri—on their way to meet his family.

After a fifteen-minute drive, Charles and Adeline arrived at the countryside villa owned by Charles' family. Charles opened Adeline's door, offering her a hand so that she could smoothly step out of the car.

Adeline's gaze swept across the beautiful villa. The porch was adorned with enchanting lights that created a welcoming atmosphere. The grass was cut perfectly, and the soothing aroma of lavender wafted through the air, reminding Adeline of Rouen.

"Oh, they're probably outside," Charles pointed out, recognizing the loud noises and voices in the backyard. "Do you need a minute?" He asked, looking at the blonde woman beside him. She had a smile on her face, though.

"No. I'm ready," she shook her head. As Charles' hand brushed against hers, Adeline instinctively reached for his hand without hesitation. It amazed her how much comfort and reassurance this man had brought into her life.