Chapter 19 — Dinner at the Wilson Villa
Mia had received the invitation that morning.
Her family wanted everyone to come together for dinner at the Wilson family villa.
It had been a while since she had sat around the same table with all her siblings, and despite knowing exactly how chaotic family dinners could become, Mia was looking forward to seeing them.
By the time she and Nathan arrived, the villa was already lively.
Her brothers were in the sitting room talking while their wives moved between the dining room and kitchen. Her father was already seated, looking pleased to have his children under the same roof.
The moment Mia walked in, her younger siblings greeted her warmly.
"Princess Mia!"
Mia laughed.
"Don't call me that in here."
Her father smiled.
"Let them. You've earned the title."
Nathan walked in behind her.
One of Mia's brothers looked at him.
"And here comes the Prince."
Nathan nodded.
"Good evening."
"Come, sit down. Dinner is almost ready."
Everyone eventually gathered around the large dining table.
Mia sat beside Nathan.
Across from them sat Namita.
Mia immediately noticed the look on her sister's face.
She knew that look.
Namita was planning something.
Mia simply picked up her glass and took a sip of water.
She wasn't going to give her sister the satisfaction.
Dinner began peacefully.
Her father asked Mia about her royal duties.
"How are things at the palace?" he asked.
"Busy," Mia replied. "But I'm getting used to everything."
One of her brothers smiled.
"Look at you. From refusing to follow anyone's rules to becoming a princess."
Mia laughed.
"I still don't follow everyone's rules."
Nathan turned toward her.
"That's certainly true."
Mia slowly looked at him.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Nathan continued eating.
"Nothing."
Her siblings immediately went quiet.
Mia narrowed her eyes.
"You said that with meaning."
Nathan looked at her.
"I said nothing."
"You always say 'nothing' after saying something."
"I was answering your brother."
"You were making a comment about me."
"It wasn't a comment."
"It sounded like one."
Across the table, Mia's brothers exchanged glances.
One of them silently pressed his lips together.
His wife did the same.
Another sibling lowered his head, pretending to be very interested in his food.
Their father watched the two of them for a moment before shaking his head with amusement.
Namita smiled.
"Well, I see marriage hasn't changed anything."
Mia looked at her.
Namita continued.
"You two still argue over absolutely everything."
Mia expected another comment to follow.
Instead, she simply smiled.
"We're fine."
Namita's expression changed slightly.
She had clearly expected Mia to become defensive.
"So you don't mind Nathan telling you what to do?"
Mia placed her fork down.
"I didn't say that."
"Then what happens when you disagree?"
"Sometimes we disagree."
Nathan glanced at Mia.
"Sometimes?"
Mia looked at him.
"Don't start."
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not starting anything."
Mia sighed.
Their siblings immediately pressed their lips together again.
Nobody wanted to laugh.
The tension between Mia and Nathan wasn't exactly unpleasant, but whenever they disagreed, there was something intense about the way they looked at each other.
It was as though the rest of the table disappeared for a few seconds.
Namita noticed it too.
She leaned back in her chair.
"So, Mia, I heard something interesting."
Mia already knew where this was going.
"What did you hear?"
"I heard that Nathan doesn't always let you leave the palace whenever you want."
The table became quiet.
Mia glanced at Nathan.
Nathan looked back at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Mia calmly picked up her glass.
"That was before we reached an agreement."
Namita looked disappointed.
"And you're okay with that?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
Mia nodded.
"Really."
She didn't explain further.
She didn't want another family discussion about her marriage.
She had learned something over the years.
Not every comment deserved an answer.
Namita tried again.
"But if I were you—"
"I'm not you," Mia interrupted calmly.
Silence.
Then one of Mia's brothers coughed to hide a laugh.
Mia's father shook his head.
Namita stared at her.
Mia simply continued eating.
She wasn't angry.
She wasn't offended.
She had gotten used to her sister's attempts to stir things up.
And, more importantly, Mia had learned not to let Namita control her mood.
Nathan quietly leaned toward her.
"That was surprisingly calm."
Mia glanced at him.
"I've had years of practice."
Nathan smiled.
"I noticed."
Mia gave him a warning look.
"Don't make me regret being calm."
Nathan chuckled.
Again, the siblings watched them.
There it was.
That strange tension.
Not a fight.
Not exactly a joke either.
Just something between them that none of them could quite explain.
Mia's oldest brother finally looked at Nathan.
"You two realize everyone at this table can feel the tension whenever you argue, right?"
Mia nearly choked on her drink.
"What tension?"
Nathan looked equally surprised.
"There is no tension."
Every sibling at the table stared at them.
Then, almost simultaneously, they pressed their mouths shut.
Mia looked around.
"Why is everyone doing that?"
Her sister-in-law finally laughed.
"Nothing."
Mia frowned.
Nathan looked at her.
"They're teasing us."
"About what?"
Nobody answered.
Mia looked at Nathan suspiciously.
Nathan shrugged.
For once, they were both completely unaware of what everyone else had begun to notice.
Something between them had changed.
Their family could see it.
Mia and Nathan couldn't.
Or perhaps they simply weren't ready to admit it yet.
Across the table, Namita watched them carefully.
For once, even she didn't know exactly what to make of it.
And Mia?
She simply continued eating, determined to enjoy dinner without allowing anyone to ruin her evening.
After all, she had finally learned that peace was sometimes more satisfying than winning an argument.