"Wait, wait, wait—MY Melody?! Engaged?!" His voice was thick with disbelief, and he stood up so fast the chair almost toppled over. "To Leo Cyprus?! The billionaire business tycoon?!"
The TV replayed Leo's calm announcement, as smooth as ever: "—and one more thing, before I leave. Melody Violet is my fiancée. Thank you."
Victor's face twisted in horror as he watched the screen. His hands shot up in the air, still processing the impossible truth. "She didn't even tell me she was dating the guy who owns half the country! What kind of daughter does that?!"
Mom, hearing the noise, peeked around the corner from the kitchen. "What happened? You okay, honey?"
Victor didn't turn his gaze from the TV. "What happened?! SHE'S ENGAGED TO A TYCOON! A TECH WORLD RECLUSE! The only thing I've ever heard about this Leo Cyprus is that he probably owns an island in the middle of nowhere and only eats food that's flown in by private jet!"
Mom slowly walked over, holding a spatula in one hand, trying to calm him down. "Maybe it's not so bad, Victor. I'm sure it's fine."
Victor turned on her, eyes wide. "FINE? You think this is fine?!" He raised his arms in exasperation. "I haven't even gotten a phone call! How is she marrying one of the richest men in the world without telling me anything?
"CALL MELODY!" Victor bellowed to no one in particular, his hands trembling as he fumbled for his phone. "CALL HER RIGHT NOW!" Victor roared, his face turning beet red. "I need to talk to her! NOW!"
He waved his hands in the air like a madman, pacing frantically in front of the TV. "I can't believe this! She didn't even tell me she was dating the guy who's probably richer than a whole country! What kind of daughter does that?!"
As we entered the Town, the familiar streets started to ease some of the tension from my chest, but a new wave of nervousness crashed over me. My phone rang, and I glanced down at the screen.
It was Mom.
I bit my lip, feeling my stomach twist. I was already dreading the conversation that was about to unfold, but it seemed like there was no avoiding it.
I turned to Leo, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes, all wide and teary. "What if she's mad at me? What if she—" I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper, "What if she asks me why I didn't tell her about the billionaire fiancé?"
Leo glanced at me, clearly trying to hide a grin behind his usual composed expression. He reached out and gently placed a hand on mine. "Hey, it might be good news! Maybe she's just calling to say she already loves me."
I looked at him, incredulous. "Really? You think that's what she's calling about?"
He nodded confidently. "Well, it's either that or to tell you she bought a new kitchen gadget."
I blinked at him, dumbfounded. "A kitchen gadget? Like... a blender? After the whole 'engaged to a billionaire' shock, Mom's going to be excited about a blender?"
Leo shrugged, smirking. "Hey, you never know. People love their gadgets."
I couldn't help but giggle, despite the knot in my stomach. His optimism was contagious in a way I didn't expect. "Alright, I'll answer. But if she says she's buying a yacht for the family, I'm blaming you."
I pressed the accept button, bringing the phone to my ear as Leo flashed me a reassuring smile.
"Mom?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my insides were doing somersaults.
There was a pause on the other end. Then, Mom's voice came through, sounding unusually calm but with an edge of... curiosity. "Sweetheart, I just saw the news. Care to explain?"
I looked at Leo, my eyes wide. "Uh, well, I... I can explain, but it might take a while."
Leo leaned over with a mischievous grin and whispered, "Tell her I'm a very good cook. That should buy you some time."
I couldn't help but laugh, covering my mouth. "Mom, you're going to love this—Leo is an amazing cook. He's just... full of surprises."
She chuckled on the other end. "Well, that's a relief. I was starting to think you were marrying him for his yacht collection!"
I stared at Leo in shock. "Wait, you do have a yacht collection?"
He raised his eyebrows innocently. "What can I say? I have a few hobbies."
I couldn't stop laughing as I returned to the phone. "Uh, Mom, don't listen to him. No yacht collection, promise."
The tension in the car melted as I realized it wasn't as bad as I feared—thanks to Leo's humor and the way he always knew how to lighten the moment.
As I tried to soothe Mom, I heard a loud, sudden snatch on the other end of the line. A deep, familiar voice boomed from the receiver—Dad.
"WHAT IS THIS I'M HEARING?"
I winced, holding the phone away from my ear. Leo glanced over at me with raised eyebrows, clearly hearing the booming voice, but he kept his calm demeanor as I tried to salvage the situation.
"Sweetheart, I want answers now!" Dad growled, and I could practically feel the smoke coming from his ears. "You're marrying who? Leo Cyprus? The man with how many yachts?!"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. It was going to be a long conversation.
"Uh, Dad," I said cautiously, my voice shaking with just a hint of nervousness. "I—"
But Dad didn't let me finish. "HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL ME ABOUT THIS?! YOU'VE BEEN HIDING A MAN WITH MORE MONEY THAN I'LL EVER SEE IN MY LIFE?!!" He was shouting now, the words echoing through the phone.
I winced and shot a glance at Leo. He gave me a reassuring smile, one that said, I've got this.
I put the phone back to my ear and tried to stay calm. "Dad, please, don't get worked up! Leo is a great guy. He's just like you, seriously. He's—"
"A GREAT GUY?!" Dad yelled so loudly I nearly dropped the phone. "You're marrying a man who could buy three families' worth of groceries with one swipe of his credit card! And he's like me?!"
I swallowed, trying not to laugh. "Dad, he's got a good heart, I promise. He's not—"
"NOTHING like me, you mean!" Dad barked, cutting me off.
"NO, Dad!" I quickly corrected, trying my best to soften my voice. "I mean... he is like you. In his own way. He's protective, passionate about what he does... he treats people with respect. And—" I paused, glancing at Leo, "—he's really good with family. Trust me, he's... the best man. You'll see."
There was a long silence on the phone, and I could hear Dad grumbling, clearly still processing. I wasn't sure whether it was working, but I knew I had to keep pushing through.
"Okay, okay, whatever. I'll reserve judgment... but I'm still waiting for my 'get-to-know-you' session with him." Dad finally muttered, his voice softening a little but still carrying a hint of skepticism.
"Thanks, Dad! You're going to love him! Just wait 'til you meet him in person," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic despite the growing tension.
Just as I was about to say more, Leo, ever the smooth talker, leaned over and whispered, "Tell him I make really good barbecue."
I stared at him for a second, blinking. "Barbecue?" I repeated, totally caught off guard by his suggestion.
He nodded with a serious face. "Trust me. That'll win him over."
I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "Alright, alright, Dad... Leo is a barbecue expert too, okay? Just… just trust me!"
"Barbecue, huh?" Dad's voice had a small chuckle under it, but his tone was still firm. "Fine. I'm going to hold you to that. I'll let you off the hook for now. But you two better knock on my door in a way that makes me believe this is real."
I smiled, my shoulders relaxing a little. "We're on our way, Dad."
I ended the call, sighing with relief. Leo flashed me a playful smile. "See? That wasn't so bad."
"Are you sure? He sounded like he was going to burst into flames."
Leo grinned. "I know how to handle him. Just wait until he gets a taste of my barbecue skills. Your dad will be putty in my hands."
I couldn't help but laugh, feeling a little lighter. As we arrived at the front door, I quickly checked myself in the side mirror, trying to calm my nerves. I was about to face Dad for the first time, but at least with Leo by my side, I felt like I could handle anything.
We knocked on the door, a deep breath escaping my lungs.
Here we go.