Meadow’s POV:


    The moment I saw ric’s mother, it automatically made sense that her sons were so damn attractive.


    Ingrid Ashford was the epitome of elegance and beauty. Her blond hair was pulled back into a bun- something told me she hardly ever let it fall–her eyes a striking blue color that looked exactly like


    Nn’s<b>. </b>


    She glided toward us in a blue dress that went all the way down, her cheekbones high as she smiled at a few guests.


    All of a sudden, I forgot how to breathe.


    ric must’ve somehow noticed how tense I was, because <b>his </b>arm came to rest on my lower back and he pulled me closer to him.


    “Rx, baby,” he murmured into my ear, sending a fresh wave of chill down my spine.


    “I can’t,” I said through gritted teeth. “You didn’t tell me she was this… intimidating.”


    How could I rx? The woman hadn’t even gotten to us yet and I could already feel her presence. Could


    already <b>feel </b>how important she was, both to her sons and the party guests.


    I


    ric didn’t respond, and for a second, I thought he didn’t hear me, but then he spoke. “She’ll behave.”


    That did nothing to calm me down. ric wasn’t denying that she <b>was </b>an intimidating woman.


    I wanted to say something else but Ingrid was already right in front of us.


    “Mein Herz,” she said in a light German ent.


    I had no idea what it meant but I figured it was meant for ric, because he stepped forward, hand slipping away from my waist as he did. “Mutti,” he breathed.


    She leaned in to air kiss him on both cheeks, and then she stepped back. “A little birdie told me that my


    sons were almost at each other’s throats, so I came here to check what the problem was.”


    ric exhaled. “Well, your little birdie was wrong, because it wasn’t like that,”


    And then <b>his </b>arm returned to my lower back again as he pulled me forward, giving me a reassuring smile before looking at his mother.


    “Mutti, <b>this </b>is my wife, Meadow.” My heart stuttered at the word “wife.” “Meadow, meet my mother- Ingrid.”


    I forced my heart to calm, putting on a small smile. “It’s very lovely to meet you, Ingrid.” I made sure my


    voice was firm.


    Ingrid’s eyes slowly dragged over me from my head to my toes, and then back to my face. Something shed in her eyes and my breath hitched. She turned back to ric.


    “Yes. The wife you married without informing your family.”


    ric’s grip tightened around my waist, and I wished I could see the expression on his face right now. Mutti-”


    “I do wish you could’ve introduced her, Mein Schatz…” she trailed off, her gaze shifting to <b>me </b>again.


    Because she is so wless.”


    And then her eyes grew lighter, her lips pulling up in a full grin.


    The relief I felt was unlike anything I’d ever felt before, and I could feel the tension waft away from ric’s body in waves as his mother walked closer to me.


    Ingrid reached her hand out to my shoulders, and then she delivered an air kiss on both my cheeks.


    “Lovely to meet you too, Meadow. Wee to my party and I hope you enjoy yourself.”


    She turned back to ric, fondly reaching out to fix his tie. “A few of your uncles are here, son. I would appreciate it if you went to them. Everybody wants to meet your beautiful wife, and possibly grill you about this sudden marriage.”


    “You know very well I answer to no one, Mutti.” ric’s tone was low <b>and </b>clipped. “I couldn’t be bothered


    less about <b>rtives </b>who are sulking because they weren’t at my wedding to pick and prod.”


    Ingrid let out a soft chuckle. “That is <b>fair</b><b>. </b>I know you never much cared for big celebrations,” she said lightly, voice lowering as she continued. “Especially not after well, you know.”


    I felt ric tense beside me. It wasn’t an obvious shift, but I felt it.


    Whatever his mother had meant by ‘you know‘ had hit him.


    “Mother-”


    Without thinking, my hand slid from <b>his </b>arm down to his wrist <b>and </b>then his hand, wrapping around the only part of him that was exposed beneath the suit.


    I wasn’t sure what it would do, but I just needed him to rx.


    ric didn’t look at me, but his warm fingers curled around mine anyway in a light squeeze.


    My heart stuttered.


    When I looked back at Ingrid<b>, </b>she was staring pointedly at our hands, and she seemed frozen for a second, eyes narrowing like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.


    And when she opened her mouth, I thought she <b>was </b><b>going </b>to ask about it, but she didn’t. Instead, she said: “I see I was insensitive, son. I apologize.”


    Her smile <b>was </b>tight when she looked at me. “Well, I’d best leave you to it then. I truly hope to see you at more of my parties, Meadow.”


    And then, wiggling her <b>fingers </b>in a little <b>wave</b>, she spun around on her heel and walked back into the


    crowd.


    <b>And </b>maybe I was imagining it, but something shed in her eyes right before she turned.


    “You alright, baby?” ric’s voice was deep and low as <b>he </b>asked, raising our joined hands to his lips.


    My eyes fluttered. “So far, “I muttered, grabbing a ss of wine from a passing tray. “I need another ss.


    Your family is just so… <b>intense</b>.”


    His lips twitched, “You’re right. I should’ve given you a heads up. Sorry about that.”


    I couldn’t help the smile that made its way to my lips and I looked away, raising the ss to my mouth.


    And I froze.


    The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention as the unsettling feeling that I was being watched


    crept across my skin.


    ric steered me somewhere else, and even as we walked past, I could feel it.


    “Something wrong?” ric asked as my brows drew together..


    “Uh, yeah…”


    Who would be watching me that much?


    “ric Ashford!” I heard a voice exim and I turned in that direction, watching as a man who looked like he was ric’s age walked up to him<b>. </b>


    ric introduced him as an acquaintance of his, but my mind wasn’t even on that conversation


    Slowly, I turned my head, carefully skimming through the crowd.


    And then I stopped.


    Because my eyes met a familiar pair of brown eyes that were watching me over the rim of a wine ss.


    My heart fell


    No.


    No, no no. She couldn’t be here. Not now.


    Her eyes were <b>hard </b>as she stared at me. And when she lowered her ss from her lips, she raised it in a mock gesture, and then turned back to nod and speak to the people beside her, as if nothing had happened


    “Baby,” ric whispered <b>again</b>. “<b>You </b>alright?“


    I jerked my eyes to meet his instantly. I couldn’t let him know that I knew someone at this party. I


    His gaze narrowed only slightly. “Alright. I need to speak to some people anyway.”


    I handed him my wine ss before I made my way through the sparse crowd,


    I needed to regain myself. Figure out a way to endure this party without having to see her again.


    Thest thing I needed <b>was </b>for ric to notice and then find a way to trace me back to her. That beat the entire point of hiding my past from him.


    I was about to turn the corner when I felt a hand wrap around my wrist. Hard.


    Surprised, I turned around, expecting to see her, but it wasn’t. It was Ingrid.


    Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as <b>she </b>asked:


    “How much did he pay you?”