Samuel took her hand and helped her down from the car. Most of the house seemed normal, but the garden was beautifully lit, with string lights strewn over the well-trimmed shrubs. Ember and Peter spoke to their father and some other couple while Ysabel was with an older man by the gazebo.

Samuel wore a sports jacket, button-up shirt and pants, while she wore a knee-length gown and some flattering jewellery. It was a family dinner; she didn't see the reason to dress like she was going to a gala. They kept things simple while trying to still appear formal for the event.

Together they walked over to the garden and spent a few minutes greeting his family. A few of his aunts and uncles were present, and Kali got reintroduced to them. After some time passed, Samuel took her over to where his grandfather stood.

"Good evening." He greeted. They shook hands before he gently pushed her forward with a hand against her back. "Kali, this is my grandfather, Claudius. Grandfather, this is my wife, Kali."

She stretched her hand forward, and he gave it a firm shake. Managing a flourishing smile, she dropped her hand and returned to Samuel's side.

"It's nice to finally meet you, sir." Hesitating, not knowing if she should mention it, she later added. "I am glad you are feeling better."

"Yes. Thank you. It's a shame I missed your wedding and the chance to meet you before this."

"It's not a problem."

"I'll leave you," Ysabel announced and brushed past them.

Kali kept her gaze straight. Ysabel had not spoken to her about the incident that occurred with Giovanna. No one mentioned it except when Timothy called to inform Samuel. Since then, it had all been radio silence. Peter and Ember didn't seem to be aware, and Giovanna was nowhere to be seen.

"Dinner isn't for another few minutes. Kali, would you walk with me."

It wasn't a request. Kali could sense it. Samuel's hand fell away, and she walked off, further into the garden, with Claudius. He led her far from the budding party into the haven of flowered shrubs. From Ember's earlier warning, Kali knew she needed to keep a level head no matter what he threw her way. So, she followed in silence, preparing possible answers to the questions he had.

She didn't have to wait long.

"How are you this evening."

"I am fine. The weather is pleasant."

"Yes, it is. I believe my grandson has spoken to you about me."

"Yes. He has."

"Well, he has told me nothing about you. I suppose it's no surprise that I am shocked by his decision to marry you."

"I admit our relationship isn't normal by any standards, and I understand that rushing into things has raised some concern on your part. You are his family."

"Didn't it raise any concern on your side of the family? Does no one from your family oppose you marrying a man you barely knew?"

"No," Kali stated. "My family trusts my decisions. Samuel is a good man, and my sister saw just as much when they met."

"Samuel was meant to be with someone else. Are you aware of this?"

The million-dollar question. "Yes. I found out after we met."

"And knowing he was with another woman didn't deter you from pursuing the relationship." He didn't sound accusatory or judgmental. In fact, he sounded indifferent, like he was asking the questions out of obligation rather than out of necessity. The temptation to remain silent and not indulge him further was strong, but she couldn't.

"We didn't pursue anything. I admit I was wrong in starting an emotional relationship with him, but that is all it was. An emotional relationship. We talked, shared stories, and confided in one another. But nothing more happened between us until he ended his relationship."

"Did you ask him to?"

Kali stopped, and he did the same, turning to face her head-on. Kali began to wonder if he knew something about their marriage and was trying to goad her into confessing. Maybe he knew what his daughter was up to, or Giovanna had gotten to him and told him her version of things.

"I am not understanding?"

"There is nothing difficult to understand in that question. Did you encourage my grandson to break up with a woman he had dated for years to go ahead with you?"

"No. I did no such thing."

"But you didn't try to stop him."

"No."

"And you trust that a man who can leave a woman he had known for so long, a beautiful, independent, intelligent and well-bred woman, will not do the same to you?"

"I am aware of our complicated relationship, and as I said, it is not ideal, but it is what it is. I love Samuel, and I am ready to take on everything that might challenge us in the future. Even if it's another woman."

"Even if it's Flora?"

"It doesn't matter to me. She or anyone else. I am ready to stand up for our marriage." She pulled her shoulder back. "Flora has her qualities, but I also believe I have mine."

"What Flora has that you don't is all the years she has been with Samuel. We know her better than we know you. We are well acquainted with her family. She was a marvellous fit for my grandson. Your relationship, on the other hand, is a tough pill to swallow."

"If it's time you want, it's time you'll get, sir. Of that, I can assure you. I may not be Flora, but it is no reason to look down on me or put me beneath her. I work hard at my job, and I am very independent. I won't demand to be shown the same curtsey as Flora would have had if she was Samuel's wife, but I will demand respect. I may not be the woman you all wanted, but it doesn't make me a bad person."

"You can't have respect you haven't earned."

"I don't believe you intend to give me a chance to earn it. With time, you will all see that the love between Samuel and me is more than just a passing fantasy."

"I hope you are right. If not, Samuel would have lost a great woman to settle for less."

Claudius folded his arms behind his back and left her there while he returned to join the family at the table. Kali stalked behind him, but she stopped by the gazebo where Samuel stood, arms resting on the wooden rails. He had stood there the entire time, watching them.

"Are you okay?"

"More or less. Your grandfather is a direct man." She walked up the stairs to rest and rested her back on the rails. "He doesn't see us as a match. He also suspects I convinced you to break up your previous relationship."

Samuel blew out an exasperated breath. "My grandfather appears to be in form this evening. I guess being hospitalized did little to ebb his character."

"I, on the other hand, think he actually held his tongue. Something about his demeanour made me feel he wanted to say more to me."

"More like what?"

"Don't know. I am not a mind reader, but just like everyone else, he is heavily suspicious. I won't be surprised if he hears about Giovanna's theory, and supports it."

"Then we should hope she isn't in the mood for more shenanigans tonight."

She broke out in laughter, and his expression turned sceptical. "That wasn't funny."

"No, but your dad has been watching us since we came, and now your sister and brother are too." She responded, her smile still on. She bent over, laughing some more. Then she caught him off guard when she threw her arms over his shoulder and pulled him closer.

"Your grandfather also suspects something is not right between us."

"Everyone suspects that. How does fake laughing help?"

"Making them think you said something to lighten my mood."

"I guess that makes sense," Samuel grumbled after a beat.

Kali nodded in agreement. Samuel's hands left his side, and he reached around her, locking his fingers and resting them on the small of her back.

"You never told me your grandfather was a fan of Flora's." Kali continued, wanting to air out her theories while they had some privacy.

"What are you talking about."

"The whole time we spoke, he sounded indifferent to the entire conversation. His tone when he spoke about Flora was different. The judgment I didn't hear before came in, and he basically called her the best thing that could have happened to you and me, your step down."

Samuel shook his head, and she gazed up at him, twisting some of his hair around her fingers.

"I have never heard him say a kind word about her while we were dating."

"Did he ever meet her?"

"Yes. She came to various family events. Dinners. Lunches. My dad's parties. He never spoke a word to her. Unless it was in greeting. That's where their conversations usually ended."

"He didn't seem to care when you were dating, but you break up and marry someone else, and he is suddenly a champion for your old relationship?"

"Don't start with your conspiracies again."

"I am not. I was making a comment."

"Uh-huh. Listen, can you promise to behave yourself for this dinner? It might take a while, and we don't want another fight to break out."

"I can be quite cool-headed when I want to be."

"Great. I am holding you to that. And watch yourself with my grandfather. I don't know what he is up to, but I don't like it."

"Meaning?"

"It means he is his daughter's father. The last time my mom showed interest in my relationship with Flora, I wound up married."

"I'll watch my back then, and yours." She muttered, eyes on his chin as her curious fingers traced the stubble on his chin.

"Do you plan on being all over me again?"

"I am your wife." She reminded him, locking her eyes with his. "We should remember that often, especially in front of doubtful family members. Your grandfather and Giovanna, for example."

"Doesn't make it any more comfortable?"

"Think of me as your best friend." She grinned when he lifted his brow in question. "You know, the one you are so close to that you must assure your girlfriend that there is nothing between us."

The words took a moment to settle. When they did, Samuel erupted in laughter. Light-hearted, she giggled, burying her face in his chest as he held her against him with a more confident hand on her hips. She looked up at him when their bout of laughter ended, and he grinned down at her.

"I guess I can learn to live with that."

"It's a start.