The Second Family Gathering-----------
The second meeting between the Vayne and Veris families was supposed to be simple.
A polite follow-up dinner.
No surprises.
No scandals.
No flying insults.
No walking on eggshells.
In theory.
In reality?
Both families were already over-thinking the event so intensely that even the air between the two houses felt nervous.
At the Veris Household — Lian's POV
Lian stood in front of the small living room mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt for the seventh time.
Behind him, Lin lounged on the sofa, sipping juice like she was judging a talent show.
Lin:
"Bro, relax. You look like you're about to meet your crush's parents for the first time."
Lian froze.
Crush.
A dangerous word.
Lian:
"It's not… that. It's just a formal dinner."
Lin:
"Mhm. Formal. That's why you're fixing your hair every two minutes like a nervous bride."
Lian turned red to his ears.
His mother peeked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
Mom Veris:
"Lin, stop teasing him. Lian, sweetheart, are you sure you're okay? You look pale."
Dad Veris:
"Boynuh, don't let those high-society folks scare you. We Veris have dignity."
He said this while panicking inside about which fork to use in front of the Vaynes.
Lian exhaled.
"Everything will be fine. Arion said today's dinner is small, no media, no pressure."
But his heart still squeezed.
Small or not…
He would be in the same room as Arion Vayne again.
And that was enough to make anyone's stomach twist.
At the Vayne Mansion — Arion's POV
Arion stood in his walk-in closet, buttoning his dark charcoal shirt.
Emrys leaned against the doorway with a lazy grin.
Emrys:
"Nervous?"
Arion:
"No."
Emrys:
"You've rebuttoned that shirt wrong twice."
Arion stopped.
…Damn it.
Emrys approached, fixing the buttons properly.
Emrys:
"It's okay, you know. Liking someone."
Arion stiffened.
"No one said anything about liking."
Emrys:
"Yeah, yeah. You just stare at him like you're calculating mortgage interest."
Arion shot him a glare.
Before he could respond, Farrah peeked in.
Farrah:
"Arion, if you mess this dinner up, I swear I'll— Oh. You're blushing?"
Arion: not blushing
Also Arion: definitely blushing
He rolled his eyes and walked out.
Farrah turned to Emrys.
"He's doomed."
Emrys chuckled.
"Absolutely doomed."
The Dinner — Slow Burn Begins
This time the dinner was at a neutral venue — a private dining room in an upscale traditional restaurant owned by one of the Vayne's allied families.
Warm lighting.
Private partitioned seating.
Enough space for comfort but intimate enough to encourage conversation.
The Veris family arrived first.
Then the Vaynes.
And when Lian and Arion's eyes met…
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't electric.
It was… gentle.
A soft recognition.
A question.
A comfort.
A warmth Lian couldn't name.
Seating was a funny puzzle — both families politely insisting the others sit first.
The waiter stood there frozen, unsure whose instructions to follow.
Finally, Grandfather Vayne took charge.
Grandpa Vayne:
"Sit wherever. It's food, not politics."
Everyone immediately obeyed.
Lin and Farrah ended up next to each other — disastrous but iconic.
Within minutes they were whispering like old friends.
Farrah:
"Your brother is adorable."
Lin:
"Yours is terrifying."
Farrah:
"Accurate."
Across the table, Arion kept glancing at Lian without meaning to.
Lian noticed.
Looked away.
Then peeked back.
Their parents engaged in surprisingly warm conversation this time.
Mrs. Veris complimented the restaurant.
Eleanor Vayne actually smiled for more than two seconds.
Mr. Veris shared stories about Lian's childhood—which Lian desperately prayed would stop.
Even Grandpa Vayne, infamous for strictness, was unusually soft.
He turned to Lian.
Grandpa Vayne:
"So. You're the one."
Lian's heart stopped.
Lian:
"Y-Yes, sir."
Grandpa nodded once.
"This family is sharp. Strong. Loyal. I expect you to be the same."
Lian bowed slightly.
"I'll do my best."
To his shock, Grandpa Vayne smiled.
"A good answer."
Arion's chest tightened with pride he refused to interpret.
Midway through dinner, Lian reached for a small bowl of soup.
The handle was hot.
Too hot.
He hissed softly, pulling back in pain.
Before the sound even finished—
Arion's hand closed around his wrist, steadying him.
"Careful."
His voice was low.
Quiet.
Softer than anyone had ever heard from him.
Everyone paused.
Mrs. Veris's jaw dropped.
Lin mouthed: OH MY GOD.
Farrah grinned like a shark.
Arion withdrew his hand quickly, pretending nothing happened.
Lian's heart didn't get the memo.
Throughout dinner:
Lin makes Farrah laugh so hard she nearly chokes on rice.Mr. Veris teaches Grandpa Vayne how to tell if a melon is ripe ("knock on it, like calling your neighbor").Mrs. Veris gets complimented by Eleanor on her cooking ("Your dumplings were excellent").Emrys talks stocks with Lian and ends up impressed by his knowledge.
Piece by piece…
Something like harmony begins forming.
Not perfect.
Not easy.
But real.
Outside the restaurant, the two families separated with formal goodbyes and unexpected smiles.
Lian bowed to the Vaynes one last time.
Arion's gaze lingered a fraction too long.
When their parents weren't looking, Arion leaned slightly closer.
Arion:
"If you need anything… call me. Don't hesitate."
Lian swallowed.
"Thank you. I— I will."
For a moment, it felt like everything around them blurred.
Then someone shouted.
Lin:
"BRO LET'S GO! MOM SAID TO PICK UP MILK!"
Moment ruined.
Arion actually let out a tiny breath of amusement.
Lian blushed all the way to the car.
✨ Bonus Story — "The Walk Back to the Cars"
Lian's POV
The dinner had ended beautifully — surprisingly so.
Both families laughing, no tension, no glares…
And yet Lian's palms still felt warm from where Arion had touched him earlier.
Just a light grip on his wrist.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing romantic.
…Right?
Lian inhaled.
"No. No, Lian, stop it," he whispered to himself as he walked behind his family.
"It was just a normal, helpful gesture. He didn't want you to burn yourself. That's all."
But then, his heart said:
He grabbed you really fast though.
Almost like instinct.
Almost like he… cared.
Lian slapped his cheeks lightly.
Lin:
"Bro, why are you hitting yourself?"
Lian:
"I—mosquito."
Lin:
"In December?"
Lian walked faster.
Arion's POV
Arion trailed a few steps behind his family.
The night air was cool, but his thoughts were loud.
He replayed the moment again — Lian reaching for the soup, the sharp inhale, and Arion grabbing his wrist without thinking.
He wasn't supposed to react so quickly.
He wasn't supposed to care.
He wasn't supposed to…
feel anything.
Arion exhaled sharply.
"No," he muttered under his breath. "It was politeness. Courtesy. Nothing else."
But his mind answered back:
You've never grabbed anyone else's hand like that.
You don't act instinctively for strangers.
You only do that for him.
Arion clenched his jaw.
This was ridiculous.
He didn't have feelings.
He wasn't developing anything.
He was Arion Vayne — logical, composed, controlled.
He definitely wasn't experiencing… anything new.
No.
Absolutely not.
Almost at the same time, both Lian and Arion turned their heads.
Their eyes met across the parking lot.
No smiles.
No nods.
No words.
Just a quiet moment where everything slowed down.
Lian looked away first, flustered.
Arion looked away second, frustrated at himself.
Lin whispered dramatically:
"Oh my god, they're doing the stare thing again."
Farrah whispered back from across the Vayne side:
"I KNOW."
Parents Whispering (secretly)
Mrs. Veris (softly):
"Arion seems calmer around Lian."
Eleanor Vayne (surprisingly gentle):
"And Lian… brings out a softness in him."
Both mothers exchanged knowing looks.
Both pretended not to know anything.
Final Soft Moment
As the Veris car pulled out, Lian caught one more glimpse of Arion standing by the Vayne car, looking in his direction.
Not staring.
Not intense.
Just… watching.
Like he didn't want the moment to end.
Lian felt warmth in his chest — warm enough to be terrifying.
Arion felt something settle in his heart — soft enough to be dangerous.
Neither spoke of it.
Both pretended it meant nothing.
But both carried that warmth home with them.