Chapter 6: Honeymoon?

• Bang...Bang...
• “Good job, Miracle. You did great,” she said, smiling with satisfaction as her shot hit the board. Miracle had always been taught by her father to take care of herself. Every day, she practiced shooting and using knives. Having lived in Rome for so long, Miracle needed to be able to protect herself. Although many bodyguards watched over her, she remained vigilant for her own safety.
• Miracle turned to grab a drink from the table, but she stopped short when she saw someone watching her intently.
• “Mateo? You’re home? How long have you been standing there?” Miracle asked, surprised. It was unusual for him to be back so early; typically, Mateo didn’t return until late at night.
• “I finished early today,” Mateo replied coldly, his face an expressionless mask. He stepped closer. “Who taught you how to use a gun? Aren’t women usually terrified of those things?”
• “I lived alone in Rome, away from my family. Even though my father had people watching over me, I learned to take care of myself,” Miracle replied nonchalantly.
• Mateo offered a mysterious smile as he closed the distance between them. Miracle tensed as he moved into her personal space. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear. “Your aim is still off,” he whispered.
• Suddenly, he reached out and took the gun from her hand. He pointed it at the target. A loud report echoed through the range. Miracle watched, annoyed, as the bullet hit the dead center of the bullseye.
• She snorted in displeasure. “Do you enjoy belittling me? Or do you just need to prove you’re better at everything?”
• Mateo shrugged indifferently. “You can judge that for yourself without me having to answer.”
• ‘How annoying can one man be?’ Miracle grumbled internally. ‘Just wait. If I ever get the chance, I’ll shoot him in the head!’ She kept her irritated gaze fixed on him.
• Mateo smiled faintly as he looked at Miracle, who was glaring at him with annoyance. To be honest, he didn’t care. He turned to leave, but his steps were halted when a maid approached him.
• “Mr. Mateo...Mrs. Miracle…” the maid called out breathlessly.
• “What is it?” Mateo asked sharply.
• “Sir, Mrs. Orina has arrived,” the maid informed them.
• “Mom is here?” Miracle asked for confirmation.
• “Yes, ma’am,” the maid replied.
• “Tell her we’ll be there shortly,” Miracle said. The maid bowed and quickly excused herself.
• Mateo glanced at Miracle’s attire. “Aren’t you going to change?”
• Miracle let out a sharp laugh. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” she asked irritably. She was wearing denim shorts and a sexy form-fitting tube top. While the outfit made her look stunning, it was hardly traditional. She didn’t mind wearing dresses, but she certainly wasn’t going to wear one to a shooting range.
• Mateo shrugged again. “I’m just worried my mother will be shocked by your choice of clothing.”
• “Actually, I like the way Miracle carries herself.” The voice of a middle-aged, elegant woman preceded her as she stepped gracefully toward them.
• “Mom?” Miracle greeted her mother-in-law, Orina, with a smile.
• “Hi, honey. How are you?” Orina asked, pulling Miracle into a warm hug.
• “I’m doing well, Mom,” Miracle replied. “And you?”
• “I’m doing wonderful, dear,” Orina said, glancing at the firearm on the table. “Are you two practicing together?”
• Miracle gave her a smile. “Yes, Mom. Mateo made it home early today.”
• “I’m impressed, Miracle. I didn’t realize you were so brave,” Orina said, her voice filled with pride. “Most women are afraid of guns, but you handle yourself well.”
• Miracle kept the polite smile on her face, though she wasn’t particularly fond of compliments.
• “Mateo, why don’t you take Miracle on a honeymoon? Or at least take a long weekend,” Orina suggested. “You need time to get to know each other properly.”
• “On weekends, I always have meetings with my business partners. I have a lot of work that I can’t leave,” Mateo said coldly, his face flat. This time, he had to hold back his emotions patiently. Yesterday it was his father asking about the honeymoon; today, it was his mother. In truth, he was tired of hearing the same question from both of his parents.
• “Mateo, you can’t just—”
• “Mom, Mateo really is busy,” Miracle interrupted, trying to smooth things over. She had no choice but to defend him in front of his parent. “I have a lot to settle as well, now that I’ve moved from Rome to Milan. There are many things to take care of.”
• “I understand,” Orina sighed. “But I hope you’ll make time for each other soon. Tell me, you aren’t planning on delaying having children, are you?”
• Miracle was taken aback. The thought of having children with Mateo had never even crossed her mind. She averted her eyes, looking at Mateo’s cold face and waiting for him to handle the awkward question.
• “Miracle and I are still newly married. There are many things we must know about each other. I hope you understand,” Mateo emphasized, a lazy expression on his face as he answered Orina’s question.
• Miracle forced a smile, relieved that he had answered. She desperately wanted to avoid the topic of children. They had only been married for days, and even if it had been years, the idea of having a child with him felt impossible. She pushed the thought out of her mind immediately.
• Orina sighed softly. “Fair enough. I’ll head inside. You two finish your practice.”
• Miracle nodded. “We’ll be in soon, Mom.”
• Orina kissed Miracle’s cheek and walked back toward the mansion.
• “Mateo,” Miracle said once they were alone.
• “What?” he asked coldly.
• “You said I should play the part of the perfect wife for your parents. So, why did you refuse your mother’s request for a honeymoon so bluntly?”
• Mateo smiled sarcastically. He stepped forward, tilting her chin up with his index finger. “Do you actually want a honeymoon with me? Like a real couple? Is that what you’re hoping for?”
• Miracle’s expression hardened. “Hoping for? Absolutely not! I don’t want that at all. I’m just asking because I’m worried your mother will get suspicious.”
• Mateo leaned in, his voice dropping to a sarcastic whisper against her ear. “Are you afraid my mom will get suspicious, or do you really want it? Huh—don’t you want to get in touch with me? Have you never had one before? So now you have to ask like this?”
• Miracle shoved him hard in the chest, glaring at him with pure rage. “Don’t you dare touch me, Mateo, or I’ll kill you! Talking to you always pisses me off. If you keep this up, I’ll age ten years from the stress!”
• Without another word, she turned and marched away, done with the argument.
• Mateo shoved his hands into his pockets and watched her go. A slow grin spread across his face as he recalled the look of pure annoyance on her face.