Chapter 17

• As time passed, the date of my mother's wedding to Mr Walter grew closer. Preparations were underway, and invitation cards had been mailed to friends, family, and acquaintances. My mother became increasingly ecstatic as she realized she was on the verge of accomplishing her dream of marrying again. I expressed my excitement for her, but within me was a bundle of nerves and worries. Derek and I kept our mate bond private from them. We didn't want to ruin their happy moments, so we chose to conceal the truth from them.
• One Saturday afternoon, some of my mother's old friends came to visit. I could see them admiring me and eyeing me as I served them some snacks for lunch. I smiled warmly at them, feeling a little nervous from their awkward looks. They were three in total, one of whom I knew was a coworker from my mother's workplace. Her name was Mrs. Daphne Velazquez. She is Mexican, and Theodore, her son, is a friend of mine.
• When Derek showed up, I saw them widening their eyes as they shifted a gaze at him. He was in a black jacket and leather pants, looking so hot and stunning. I wouldn't deny that I saw them drool as they kept their gaze fixed on him. Derek has always been the center of attraction, so I'm not surprised. I'm blessed and lucky to have him as a mate, but I always feel awful because I know we'll be step-siblings. The decision to keep our mate bond a secret kept me constantly anxious because I feared what would happen once the truth was finally disclosed. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable about the opinion I made but I didn't want to lose Derek either. When I think back to my parents and how we want them to remain together without informing them of our bond, I feel glad to have kept it a secret from them.