Kimberly repeatedly checked her reflection in the mirror. She tried to see if there was anythingcking in her appearance this time. After careful consideration, everything seemed just right, not too much or too little.


    Yes, this is more than perfect, isn’t it?


    Don’t be nervous, Kimberly.


    Just think of it as a meeting with a big client.


    Yes, let’s just think of it that way.


    Kimberly kept repeating these thoughts to herself until the door to her room was knocked from the outside.


    “Just a moment,” Kimberly replied.


    Quickly, she grabbed her ck handbag from the nightstand and made her way to open the bedroom door. There stood Nichs, waiting for her.


    “Are we leaving now?” Kimberly asked.


    For a moment, Nichs seemed taken aback by what he saw. “You can be beautiful too, I see,” he praised.


    “Of course, and I’m sure one day you’ll fall in love with me for real,” Kimberly replied sarcastically.


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly’s response. “Oh, really? That means you’ll have to work very hard to make ite true.”


    We’ll see about that, Nick.


    Don’t me me if you end up falling head over heels for me.


    “Let’s go to the car now,” Nichs said.


    During the entire journey, Kimberly chose to remain silent. Her mind was racing, filled with worries about situations she had seen in Korean dramas. Thoughts of evil inws or those who openly rejected her presence kept swirling in Kimberly’s mind. Even though she was only pretending, the nervousness wouldn’t just vanish.


    In contrast, Nichs appeared calm and rxed, even slightly amused. asionally, he stole nces at Kimberly sitting beside him.


    Beautiful.


    Unconsciously, Nichs smiled.


    How can someone like Kimberly look so beautiful without even going to a salon?


    She’s truly an unusual woman, so different from Briana, who used to spend every day at the salon.


    Briana? Why did that woman’s name suddenly cross his mind? Kimberly and Briana were clearly worlds apart. Nichs couldn’t remember when he had truly forgotten the woman who had hurt him.


    Nichs shook his head vigorously.


    I don’t want to fall into the same pit again.


    No!


    This time, I won’t make the wrong move.


    Nichs didn’t want to dwell on Briana any further. He refocused on the road ahead until they finally arrived at a five-star restaurant in the city center.


    “Nick-” Kimberly spoke softly before they got out of the car.


    Nichs shifted his gaze. “Is there something you want to say?”


    “I feel like canceling this arrangement,” Kimberly replied weakly.


    “You’re crazy! We’ve already arrived. Don’t y games, Kimmy,” Nichs threatened.


    “Are you sure about this meeting? Somehow, I feel really nervous right now. I feel like I’m about to meet your actual future inws,” Kimberly confessed.


    Nichs took a deep breath before he replied, “You don’t need to be afraid. Just act as natural as possible. Remember not to call me ‘Mister.’ We’re now a couple, not work partners. Whatever I doter is all part of the act.”


    Kimberly nodded in understanding. “I’ll do my best.”


    They both finally got out of the car. Nichs intentionally reached for Kimberly’s wrist and held it tightly as they walked into the restaurant.


    “Mom, Dad,” Nichs greeted his parents, who had arrived at the restaurant ahead of them.


    “So, this is your girlfriend?” Cassandra asked when Nichs and Kimberly sat together at the table.


    Nichs nodded. “Let me introduce her. Her name is Kimberly Rayder, Mom.”


    Without being prompted politely, Kimberly extended her hand toward Cassandra and Robert, who were sitting right in front of them.


    “I’m d to meet you, Kimberly,” Cassandra said as she shook Kimberly’s hand.


    “d to meet you too, Auntie,” Kimberly replied.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    “No! You’re not my niece, so it’s not appropriate for you to call me ‘Auntie,''” Cassandra responded.


    Kimberly was taken aback, feeling surprised after hearing Cassandra’s words. She then nced at Nichs as if seeking help, but he remained silent, as if he wanted her to handle the situation on her own.


    You’re in trouble now, Kimberly.


    It seems like a scene from the dramas is about to happen to you.


    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Kimberly murmured.


    Cassandra smiled. “You indeed shouldn’t call me ‘Auntie,’ but it would be more appropriate to call me ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ in front of my husband. Are you really Nichs’s girlfriend?”


    Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. She had nearly cried from fear that Nichs’s parents would turn out to be evil inws, just like in the drama series.


    “Alright, I will call you as you wish,” Kimberly replied.


    After that, Nichs took the lead in exining to his parents about his job, business developments, and their rtionship, which naturally became a topic of conversation.


    “Where did you two meet?”


    “Is this rtionship really serious?”


    And othermon questions typically asked of a couple. Cassandra seemed genuinely happy to chat with Kimberly. She felt that Nichs had made the right choice this time.


    “Well, Mom and Dad, I believe your choice this time is right,” Cassandra said confidently.


    Nichs smiled. “I won’t disappoint both of you. I promise.”


    Cassandra looked at Nichs and Kimberly in turn. Her expression seemed to suggest that she was considering something.


    “In that case, when are you two getting married?” Cassandra suddenly asked, leaving Nichs and Kimberly thinking for a moment.


    “Mom… there’s no way I can get married so soon,” Nichs muttered.


    Cassandra raised an eyebrow directly at Nichs. “Why not? Are you really serious about this rtionship? She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?” she asked to confirm.


    “We’re both serious about this rtionship. But it’s not so fast to get married,” Nichs replied.


    “So, how long do Mom and Dad have to wait, Nick?” Now it was Robert Alistair who spoke. He rarely got involved in matters like this. Usually, it was Cassandra who took care of matchmaking.


    Nichs nced briefly at Kimberly. If he misspoke, he could end up actually marrying the woman beside him.


    “As soon as possible, but not right now,” Nichs answered.


    Just as he was about to interrupt, the restaurant’s waiter arrived with the dishes they had ordered. Nichs and Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. At least, the discussion about marriage could be postponed for a while. But it wasn’t a guarantee that Cassandra wouldn’t bring it up again tomorrow, the day after, or the day after that.