True Love's unexpected twist

XIII- 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓷𝓸𝔀?

Zander grinned broadly at Maria's mother's comment. "Anytime, mom!" he replied excitedly. He could feel his heart beating faster as he imagined himself as Maria's husband one day.

Maria couldn't help but smile as she watched her mother's reaction to Zander speaking Russian. She shook her head fondly at their playful banter before excusing herself from the room to join him on the video call. Her cheeks still flushed with excitement.

Maria laughed as she spoke to Zander on the video call. "You're so good at winning my mom over," she teased, playfully punching his arm virtually. Her cheeks were still flushed with happiness from her mother's reaction to him speaking Russian.

Zander replied calmly, "I have to make an effort. Otherwise, your mom doesn't like me." He smiled softly at the screen. "And I think she's really nice. I like her too."

Maria laid on her bed, staring at Zander's face on the screen. She couldn't help but agree with his words about making an effort to impress her mother. It made her heart flutter knowing that he cared so much about their relationship.

Maria laughed softly. "She might be nice to you, but not me," she joked. "She's kind of a strict mom, haha. But I'm grateful for having a mom like her. We're not rich in money, but we're rich in heart."

Zander smiled warmly at Maria's words. "She's strict because she loves you," he reassured her. "And being rich in heart is much more important than any amount of money. I'm grateful to have you in my life too, Maria."

Maria's heart swelled with warmth at Zander's kind words. She felt a deep connection to him, knowing that he understood the bond she shared with her mother. For a moment, all the worries and stress from her day seemed to melt away.

Maria suddenly remembered the reason he had initiated the call in the first place. "So, what do you want to say to me?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly. "Is it important?"

Zander nodded quickly, his expression turning serious. "Ahh, yes. It is important." He paused for a moment before asking in a soft voice, "Are you free tonight?"

Maria checked her calendar to make sure there were no events scheduled for the night. She hesitated slightly before asking him why it was important for him to see her tonight. "Yeah, Saturday and Sunday are usually just sitting at home having dinner with my family," she replied curiously.

Zander swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "Oh." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I want to invite you over for dinner with me and with someone special." His eyes flickered nervously, hoping she'd say yes.

Maria's curiosity piqued at the mention of dinner with someone special. She leaned in closer to the screen, her heart racing slightly. "Dinner? With who?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his for any hint of who this mysterious person might be.

Zander looked at Maria on the screen, his cheeks flushing slightly. "My mom," he replied softly. "She wants to meet you." He bit his lip nervously, wondering how she would react to this unexpected news.

Maria was taken aback by the news that she'd be meeting Zander's mother. She felt her heart start to race, her palms growing sweaty as she tried to process this unexpected development. "Dinner with your mom?" she repeated, her voice cracking slightly. "At your house?"

Zander shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "Nope," he replied confidently. "At this luxury restaurant. Where the famous chef is here." He took a deep breath, his voice quivering slightly as he continued. "And I really want you to be here. It's very important for us.

As Maria processed this new information, her mind racing with questions and concerns, she let out a startled gasp. "A luxury restaurant?" she breathed, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But I don't have any dress..."

Zander watched as Maria walked around her small room, clearly overwhelmed by the news. Taking a deep breath, he decided to reassure her. "Don't worry about the dress," he said gently. "I'll take care of everything."

Maria's curiosity was piqued. "How?" she asked, looking up at Zander with wide eyes. "Isn't dinner tonight?"

Zander nodded. "Yes, just wear your normal clothes," he replied with a reassuring smile. "We can go to Balenciaga, not too far from my home. I can help you with the dress, bag, and accessories."

Maria's jaw dropped as she heard the name Balenciaga. "Balenciaga?" she squeaked out, her eyes growing even wider. She couldn't believe it—she was being taken to a place like that?

Zander nodded, his heart racing with excitement. "Don't worry, babe," he said softly. "It's all on me." He reached out, his fingers brushing against the screen in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. "Now let's go."