Last Elysium

A surprise visit

Upon hearing the knock on the door, your gaze followed the sound towards the main door. Damien sighed softly before pulling away from you. "I'll go get it," he said briefly before he approached the door and opened it slightly. You were left curious in the kitchen and decided to follow him, you were surprised to see the person outside. You could hear Damien uttering something as he looked directly at the visitor. "Mom," his expression was stoic but his voice was laced with warmth and respect.

You both stepped aside to allow her inside when she entered the house her gaze fell on you, her signature cold and calculating demeanor intimidated you. You gulped nervously as you looked back at her. "Mrs. Millers," you muttered as you met her icy gaze. "Just call me Evelyn," her voice sounded calm and collected as she stared down at you before walking down the hallway and his son walked alongside her before they both entered the living room together, you sighed and decided to follow them.

As you stepped into the living room, the atmosphere was already thick with unspoken tension. Evelyn settled herself gracefully on the couch, her posture perfect, every movement measured and precise. Damien sat beside her, casting you a brief, reassuring glance that did little to ease your nerves.

"Would you like something to drink, Evelyn?" you offered, trying to keep your voice steady. "A glass of water will be fine," she responded coolly, her eyes never leaving you. You nodded and hurried back to the kitchen, your mind racing. "What was she doing here? Why now?". As you filled a glass with water, you couldn't shake the feeling that this visit was more than just a social call.

When you returned, you handed the glass to Evelyn, who accepted it with a curt nod. She took a small sip, her eyes still locked on you, as if assessing every detail. "Thank you," she said, her tone polite but distant. "I've been meaning to visit, but you know how busy things can get."

"Of course," you replied, forcing a smile. "It's nice to see you". Evelyn's gaze shifted to Damien. "How have you been, dear? It's been a while since we had a proper talk." your husband's gaze darted towards her mother "I've been good, Mom. Busy with work, as always," Damien said, a hint of warmth in his voice. It was clear that despite her intimidating presence, he held a deep respect and affection for his mother.

Evelyn nodded, her expression softening slightly. "I'm glad to hear that." Then, her eyes flicked back to you, and the softness vanished. "And how have you been settling in?" You hesitated, feeling the weight of her scrutiny. "It's been...an adjustment, but I'm managing. Damien has been very supportive."

"Yes, he is quite the support system," Evelyn agreed, her words laced with an underlying challenge. "But marriage is more than just support. It's about partnership, understanding, and meeting expectations."

"Of course," you said again, unsure of what else to say. The conversation felt like a minefield, each word a potential misstep.

Damien seemed to sense the tension and leaned forward. "Mom, we were planning on making breakfast soon. Would you like to join us?" Evelyn's eyes softened slightly as she looked at her son. "That would be lovely, thank you."

You excused yourself to the kitchen, grateful for the temporary reprieve. As you started preparing dinner, you couldn't help but think about Evelyn's words. Was she testing you? Did she think you weren't good enough for her son? Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Damien entered the kitchen, his expression concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," you replied, not entirely convincingly. "Just... a bit overwhelmed." He placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "She's just... protective. She'll come around."

"I hope so," you said quietly. "I really want her to like me." He smiled and squeezed your shoulder gently. "She will. Just give her time."

You nodded, feeling slightly better but still anxious about the planned breakfast together ahead. As you worked together to prepare the meal, you couldn't shake the feeling that today would be a pivotal moment in your relationship with Evelyn.

When breakfast was finally ready, you carried the dishes into the dining room, where Evelyn sat, her eyes watching your every move. Damien followed with the remaining dishes, and soon the table was set. "Everything looks wonderful," Evelyn said, surprising you with a rare compliment. "Thank you," you said, sitting down and hoping the meal would be enough to win her over.

As you ate, the conversation flowed more easily, though you remained on edge, carefully choosing your words. Evelyn shared stories from Damien's childhood, and for a moment, her icy demeanor thawed as she laughed at old memories. You saw a glimpse of the warmth she was capable of, and it gave you a sliver of hope.

By the end of the morning, the tension had lessened, though you knew you still had a long way to go to truly win her approval. As Evelyn prepared to leave, she turned to you with a thoughtful expression. "Thank you for the delectable food that you've prepared us for breakfast," she said. "It was... enjoyable." You smiled a bit at her words. "You're welcome," you replied, feeling a bit more confident. "I'm glad you came."

Evelyn nodded, her gaze lingering on you for a moment before she turned to Damien. "Take care, dear. We'll talk soon." her expression remained stoic yet a hint of affection in her eyes could be seen. "Goodbye, Mom," Damien said, giving her a hug. "Drive safe."

As you watched Evelyn leave, you couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and anticipation. The evening had been challenging, but it was a start. You knew you had to keep proving yourself, but for the first time, you felt it was possible to earn her respect.