Fate of deception

Chapter 18 - Umaizah's POV

I awoke to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, the warmth of the sun gently pulling me out of my deep sleep. I blinked slowly, my mind still caught between the remnants of dreams and the reality of the morning. The room was quiet, usually so, and I instinctively reached out beside me for the familiar presence of Amir. My hand met the cool, empty sheet. I frowned slightly, sitting up and looking around the room.

Amir wasn't here.

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm. He must have gotten up early, I reasoned, trying to dismiss the odd feeling creeping on me. After all, it wasn't unusual for him to go away on his own - he had his own responsibilities to attend. Still, something felt off.

Sliding out of bed, I quickly padded barefoot to the door. As I stepped into the hallway, I paused, listening for any sounds that might indicate where Amir had gone. The house was quiet, safe for the faint rustling of leaves outside and the distant sound of birds chirping. The quiet was comforting but disconcerting.

Deciding not to worry too much, I made my way down the hall towards Layna's room. Maybe Amir had gone there? The door was slightly ajar, I could hear the soft humming of Layna's voice inside. Pushing the door open gently, I found Layna already dressed and ready for the day, standing by her vanity, brushing out her hair.

"Good morning," I greeted her, stepping inside.

Layna turned, her eyes lightning up when she saw me. "Good morning! You're up early," she said with a smile, setting down her brush.

"Yeah, I... noticed Amir wasn't in bed so I figured I'd get up too. Have you seen him?" I asked trying to sound casual.

Layna shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "Not yet. Don't worry he's probably handling something. You know how he is."

"Yeah," I agreed, though I couldn't shake off the lingering unease. Still, I smiled and decided to focus on the present. "Are we not going to be matching today?"

"Yes we are going to. I just changed because I too, woke up early." Layna grinned. "What did you and Amir do last night."

Here we go. "We ate popcorn and watched a movie."

"That's it?" She cheekily questioned. I noticed her hinting voice.

"That's it." I repeated. "I fell asleep I guess. I can't remember much."

"Alright.~" She sung. "Let's pick something out for you now."

Together, we rummaged through her wardrobe, she giggled as we compared outfits that fitted hers. Today, she wore a long, pastel blue dress that was adorned with playful lace on her torso, with flowers sewed on her skirt. I opted for a mint green dress that reached to the ground, almost different to Layna's.

Mine had shoulder straps that were tied into a bow, the corset had a ruffled pattern onto it whilst the skirt was a mesh material that completed the overall look.

Once we were dressed, I felt a little more at ease, as if the routine of getting ready had soothed out my nerves. I left on the same necklace from the other day. It didn't quite go with my outfit, but I still liked the mystery of it.  I didn't think much of the strange message it had.

"Come on," Layna said, linking my arms with hers. "Let's go see what we could have for breakfast. I'm starving, that Garden Delight didn't do anything for my hunger last night."

We walked out of her room as we furthered down the hallway. I had almost forgotten that Amir's mother might be here. I didnt see or hear her when I arrived to Layna's room. We had to be careful to keep my presence a secret if she was here. My heart skipped again as I realised I was about to meet Amir's and Layna's mother for the first time in a more casual setting.

As we approached the kitchen, the smell of fresh bread and something sweet filled the air. I hesitated, I was nervous. We didn't go through this. Layna noticed, she gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.

"It'll be fine," she whispered.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and stepped into the joint kitchen and living room. Amir's and Layna's mother - a woman with warm purple eyes and a kind smile - was standing by the stove, stirring something in the pot. She turned at the sound of their footsteps, her eyes widening - her gaze landed on me.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. I could see the flicker of shock in the older woman's eyes, the way her hand paused mid-stir. But then, just quickly, the shock was replaced by something else - recognition, perhaps - the warmth returned to her expression.

"Umaizah," their mother said softly, as if testing the name on her tongue. She set down the spoon and approached with a gentle smile. "What was I blessed with to see you?"

I felt the tension in my shoulders ease, I returned the smile, telling a surge of relief. "It's nice to meet you Miss ..." I didn't know her name. How embarrassing.

"Call me Nova. I don't like those unnecessary titles." Layna's mother said, waving a hand dismissively. She reached out, taking my hands in her own. "You're even more beautiful than the press described you as."

I blushed, glancing at Layna, who was beaming beside me. "Thank you," I murmured, feeling a bit overwhelmed but in a good way.

"Come, sit," Nova urged, guiding us to the table. "Breakfast is almost ready. I hope you like Forest Berry Parfait!"

I settled in the seat, in front of the counter as Layna took the one next to me. The atmosphere in the kitchen was warm, comforting, all my worries seemed to melt away.

As we chatted over breakfast, the conversation flowed easily, without Nova asking me about my interests and hobbies, and Layna chiming in with stories of their own. I found myself relaxing more and more, grateful for how well the meeting was going.

Nova was kind, understanding and easy to talk to - so different from the intimidating figure I had imagined in my mind. Nova had luscious, ethereal silver hair that shimmered, adding a touch of elegance to herself.

By the time we finished eating, I felt like I had known Nova for years, though we just met. The older woman had a way of making me feel welcome, included and even loved. She didn't once mention why I was here or how I even was here. As Layna cleared the table, I realised how much this meant to me - to be accepted to Amir's family, to feel belonged.

Though, I still wondered where Amir had gone, I knew I'd find out soon but don't know when soon was. Hassan was still in his room, according to Layna and her mother, he sleeps till the afternoon because of how energetic he gets throughout the day. For now, I was content, surrounding by the warmth of the family and the comfort of a home that was slowly becoming my own.