C7 Chapter 7

Adrian’s Mom’s POV

"Ma’am, you have to see this," my assistant said, her tone urgent as she handed me her phone.

I took the phone, narrowing my eyes at the screen. The headline blared: "Rumors Swirl About Knight Heir’s Sham Marriage – Is It All About the Money?"

Her face darkened. She dropped the phone onto her desk with a sharp clatter, her tea now forgotten. "What rubbish is this?" she hissed.

Claire hesitated. "It’s all over the news, ma’am. They're saying Mrs. Knight—your son’s wife—married him for money."

Alexandra's lips thinned. "Of course, they are." Her voice dripped with disdain. "What else could a low-life nobody like her want? Adrian should have known better than to bring this shame to our family."

Claire stood silently, knowing better than to interrupt when I was in one of my moods.

I slammed the phone on my desk. “Tell Adrian there’s a family dinner tonight. Seven sharp. I want him and his... wife there.”

She nodded quickly. "Right away, ma’am."

I muttered under my breath, “Bringing shame to the Knight name. What was he thinking?”

---

Adrian’s POV

My phone buzzed on the desk. I sighed, seeing the name of my mother’s assistant flashing on the screen. This couldn’t be good.

“Adrian Knight,” I answered, leaning back in my chair.

“Sir, Mrs. Knight has requested a family dinner tonight. Seven o’clock. She wants you and your wife to attend.”

“Of course she does,” I muttered. “We’ll be there.”

I hung up and rubbed my temples. My mother’s ‘family dinners’ were never just dinners. They were strategic events designed for drama. “What’s she planning now?” I mumbled to myself.

My mother wasn’t the type to gather everyone unless she had a reason, and it was rarely a pleasant one.

Standing up, I straightened my tie and made my way to Mia’s room. I knocked lightly on the door.

“Come in,” she called.

I opened the door to find her sitting on the bed, her laptop open in front of her. She looked up, her brow furrowed. “What is it?”

“We’ve been summoned to a family dinner tonight,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.

“A family dinner?” She raised an eyebrow. “Adrian, I’ve barely been keeping up with all these public appearances. Now you want to add family drama to the mix?”

I smirked. “You hate lying to the public. Trust me, you’ll hate lying to my family even less.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

I shook my head, a hint of a grin on my face. “You’ll see.”

---

Mia’s POV

Adrian’s family home wasn’t just a mansion; it was a statement. Towering pillars, sprawling gardens, and a driveway long enough to make you question if you’d taken a wrong turn.

As we walked up to the front door, Adrian reached for my hand. “Just remember, we’re supposed to be the happy couple,” he said with a wink.

I gave him a tight smile. “Oh, I’ll try. But don’t expect me to fake a smile if someone throws a jab my way.”

Inside, the air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers and the faint hum of activity as maids prepared for dinner. At the center of it all was Alexandra Knight, his Mother directing the staff with a sharp tone.

When she noticed us, her demeanor shifted. She approached Adrian, her face softening slightly. "Adrian," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "So nice to see you."“Adrian,” she said warmly, kissing him on the cheek. Then her eyes landed on me. “And you must be Mia. So nice to finally meet you.”

Her tone was anything but warm.

“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Knight,” I said, forcing a smile.

Adrian placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me inside. “Come on, let’s go to the living room while they finish setting the table.”

The living room was just as intimidating as the exterior. Plush furniture, crystal chandeliers, and enough antiques to fill a museum.

A woman walked in, her nose slightly in the air.

“That’s my aunt,” Adrian whispered. “She’s exactly like my mom. Gossiping, judging—comes with the territory.”

She barely spared me a glance before sitting down.

“Adrian!” A younger man walked in, a wide smile on his face. “What’s up, big bro?”

“Lucas,” Adrian said, pulling him into a quick hug. “Mia, this is my younger brother. He’s based in China, running the company’s branch there.”

I raised an eyebrow. "I didn’t know you had a brother."

"He doesn’t visit often," Adrian explained.

Lucas turned to me, extending his hand. “Mia, it’s great to meet you. Don’t let these two scare you—they’re all bark, no bite.”

I laughed softly. “Thanks for the warning.”

---

At the Dinner Table

The table was set like a scene from a royal banquet—silverware polished to perfection, plates that looked like they’d never been touched before.

We all took our seats, and for a while, the conversation was surprisingly normal.

“Lucas,” Adrian said, “what brings you back from China? Thought you were too busy running the show over there.”

Lucas shrugged. “Needed a break. Plus, Mom’s been pestering me to come home.”

“Of course,” Adrian muttered, shaking his head.

“So, Mia,” Lucas said, turning to me. “What do you do?”

“I’m a marketing consultant,” I said.

“Interesting. And how’s it been, adjusting to married life with this guy?”

I glanced at Adrian, who was smirking. “It’s been... an adjustment,” I said carefully, earning a chuckle from Lucas.

Just when I started to think the dinner might go smoothly, Mrs. Knight cleared her throat.

“I suppose you’ve both seen the rumors circulating,” she said, her eyes sharp as they moved between Adrian and me.

The table fell silent.

“Mother,” Adrian said, his tone a warning.

“Don’t ‘Mother’ me, Adrian. I want to know the truth. Is this marriage real, or is it just a sham to save face?”

“Mrs. Knight—” I began, but she cut me off.

“Don’t play coy with me. Are you with my son for his money? That’s what people like you are always after.”

My heart dropped, and I stared at her, speechless.

“Mother!” Adrian’s voice rose, but she ignored him.

“I’ve met women like you before. You’re all the same—”

“That’s enough,” Adrian said, standing abruptly. “You don’t know anything about Mia, so stop making assumptions.”

Mrs. Knight narrowed her eyes. “I know plenty. And I know when someone doesn’t belong.”

The tension was suffocating. I couldn’t sit there any longer. Standing up, I pushed my chair back and left the room, blinking back tears.

---

Adrian’s POV

I stared at my mother, anger bubbling to the surface. “Congratulations,” I said coldly. “You’ve officially crossed the line.”

Without waiting for her response, I followed Mia out.

She was standing by the car, arms crossed, staring at the ground.

“Mia,” I said softly, walking up to her.

“Adrian, I can’t do this,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can handle the public, but this? Your family? It’s too much.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You don’t have to worry about my family. They don’t define us. We’ll get through this, together.”

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening. “How?”

I took a deep breath. “First, we put these rumors to rest. It’s time to make everyone believe this marriage is real—starting now.”

She moved towards me " Time to dispel the rumors"