Unexpected Love

chapter 4: Dinner with the Knights

Bonny’s POV

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the blue guest suite and barely recognized myself.

The woman staring back at me looked polished, elegant… and completely exhausted.

Mara had insisted on helping me get ready after I stepped out of the shower.

“You need something that says grace, not fear,” she had declared firmly.

Before I could protest, she had laid out a soft emerald dress that hugged my waist and flowed to my knees. It was simple but expensive-looking. She paired it with delicate earrings and brushed my hair into loose waves.

Now I looked like the kind of woman who belonged beside a billionaire.

If only appearances were reality.

“You’re frowning,” Mara said from behind me.

“I’m about to meet the grandparents of the man I married three hours ago. I think frowning is justified.”

She chuckled.

“Mr. Knight’s grandparents are lovely people.”

“That makes one of them.”

She laughed outright this time.

“You’ll survive.”

I wasn’t so sure.

The bedroom door opened without warning.

Adrian stepped in.

I spun around. “Do you knock?”

“No.”

“That’s disturbing.”

His gaze moved over me once, slow and unreadable.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

“You’ll do.”

I scowled. “Such poetic praise.”

He ignored me.

He wore a charcoal suit with no tie, the top buttons of his shirt undone. Somehow he looked even more dangerous dressed casually.

“I thought you said dinner was at seven.”

“It is.”

I glanced at the clock.

“It’s six-thirty.”

“I prefer punctuality.”

“You prefer dictatorship.”

“I prefer results.”

I grabbed my clutch bag and brushed past him.

He caught my wrist lightly.

My breath hitched.

“Rule one,” he said quietly.

I looked down at his hand around my wrist, then back up at him.

“What rule one?”

“In front of my family, we look united.”

He released me.

“No arguments. No distance. No visible hostility.”

“So we pretend to like each other?”

“We pretend to be married.”

I folded my arms.

“We are married.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Exactly.”

He walked out first.

I followed, annoyed that he always seemed to get the last word.

---

The ride to the Knight estate was silent.

I stared out the tinted window at the city lights while my stomach twisted itself into knots.

This was insane.

I had married a man I barely knew.

Now I was on my way to convince his family it was real.

“What if they ask how we met?” I asked suddenly.

“At a charity gala.”

I turned to him.

“I’ve never been to a charity gala.”

“You have now.”

“What if they ask for details?”

“Smile.”

“That is not a detail.”

“It usually works.”

I glared.

He looked almost amused.

Almost.

The car slowed before large iron gates that opened automatically. Beyond them stood a sprawling mansion lit warmly against the dark sky.

I stared.

“This is your grandparents’ house?”

“Yes.”

“How rich are you people?”

He didn’t answer.

Which probably meant very.

The car stopped beneath a grand entrance. A butler opened the door before we could move.

“Welcome home, Mr. Knight.”

Then he looked at me kindly.

“And welcome, Mrs. Knight.”

There was that title again.

Adrian stepped out and offered me his hand.

I stared at it suspiciously.

He lowered his voice.

“Rule one.”

I slipped my hand into his.

Warmth shot unexpectedly through my fingers.

I hated that I noticed.

We walked inside together.

The house was elegant but unlike Adrian’s penthouse, this place felt lived in. Family portraits lined the walls. Fresh flowers sat on tables. Warm golden light softened everything.

This house had love in it.

A voice rang out from another room.

“If that boy is late to his own family dinner, I’ll rewrite my will.”

I froze.

Adrian sighed.

“She says that every week.”

An older woman swept into the hallway with surprising speed. Her silver hair was styled perfectly, and her sharp eyes landed on Adrian first.

“You’re late.”

“I’m on time.”

“You’re arrogant.”

“Also true.”

Then her gaze shifted to me.

She gasped.

“Oh!”

Before I could react, she rushed forward and took both my hands.

“You’re real.”

I blinked.

“I… hope so?”

She laughed delightedly.

“She has humor! Edward, come here immediately!”

An older man entered more slowly, using a polished cane. His face was stern at first, until he saw me.

Then he smiled.

“Well,” he said, looking at Adrian. “Miracles do happen.”

“Good evening, Grandfather,” Adrian said dryly.

The woman squeezed my hands.

“I’m Evelyn Knight, but you may call me Grandma if you have sense.”

I stared.

Then laughed despite myself.

“Bonny Hart,” I said.

Evelyn’s eyes sharpened instantly.

“Hart?”

Adrian spoke smoothly.

“Now Bonny Knight.”

My cheeks warmed.

Evelyn beamed.

“Yes, much better.”

Edward approached and kissed my cheek gently.

“Welcome to the family, my dear.”

Emotion rose suddenly in my throat.

No one had welcomed me anywhere in years.

I swallowed it down quickly.

Dinner was served in a formal dining room large enough to host twenty people. Thankfully, only the four of us sat there.

Evelyn insisted I sit beside Adrian.

Which meant he was entirely too close.

Servants placed dish after dish on the table.

I barely recognized half of them.

Adrian noticed my hesitation.

He leaned slightly toward me.

“Use the outer fork first.”

I whispered back, “I hate that you know I needed that.”

“I know many things.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“Eat your dinner.”

Evelyn watched us with delight.

“Oh, they bicker. I adore her already.”

Edward chuckled.

“So do I.”

Adrian looked betrayed.

“Traitors.”

Conversation flowed more easily than I expected.

Evelyn asked about my work.

I explained I had experience in administration and office support.

Edward asked about books.

Evelyn asked whether Adrian snored.

I nearly choked on water.

“I wouldn’t know,” I said quickly.

Too quickly.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Why not?”

Adrian answered without blinking.

“She sleeps deeply.”

I kicked him under the table.

Hard.

He did not react.

Psychopath.

Later, dessert arrived.

Evelyn set down her spoon and studied me.

“Tell me honestly, Bonny.”

My spine straightened.

“Yes?”

“Why would a lovely young woman choose my impossible grandson?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because I was abandoned in a parking lot and emotionally unstable?

Adrian calmly took my hand under the table.

The gesture startled me.

Then he said, “Because she has excellent judgment.”

Everyone laughed except me.

His thumb brushed once against my knuckles before letting go.

A tiny motion.

Meaningless.

Yet my pulse skipped.

After dinner, Edward asked Adrian to help him review something in his study.

The two men left.

Evelyn immediately turned to me.

“Now tell me the truth.”

My blood ran cold.

She smiled knowingly.

“You married him too fast.”

I gripped my napkin.

She leaned closer.

“But whatever the reason… I’m glad you did.”

I blinked.

“What?”

Her expression softened.

“My grandson has been lonely for a very long time.”

The teasing vanished from her face.

“He hides it well. He always does.”

Something in my chest tightened.

“He seems fine.”

Evelyn gave a sad little smile.

“That’s because pain taught him how to perform strength.”

Before I could ask what she meant, footsteps approached.

Adrian returned.

His gaze moved from me to Evelyn.

“What did you say to her?”

“The truth.”

“That narrows nothing.”

She waved him off.

“Take your wife home.”

As we walked toward the door, she called after us.

“And Adrian?”

He paused.

“Yes, Grandmother?”

“Try not to ruin this one.”

I nearly laughed.

He did not.

The ride back to the penthouse was quiet.

But this time, silence felt different.

Less hostile.

More curious.

When we reached home, I stepped into the elevator first.

Adrian followed.

Just before the doors closed, I looked at him.

“What happened to you?”

His expression hardened instantly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Your grandmother said pain taught you strength.”

The elevator rose.

His jaw clenched.

“Do not ask personal questions.”

“Because that’s one of your rules?”

“Because it’s none of your business.”

The doors opened.

He stepped out first.

Then stopped without turning around.

“Be ready by eight tomorrow.”

“For what?”

“You start work.”

I frowned.

“At your company?”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“As my secretary.”

Then he walked away, leaving me speechless in the hallway.