Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Mia and Alex walked to the bedroom, holding hands.

"How'd you know I didn't like broccoli?" Alex said, breaking the silence as they entered the bedroom.

"We've had quite a number of meals together, haven't we? Whenever I ate it, you'd always rush to leave the table."

"I noticed from there," Mia replied. Taking off her clothes, she walked into the bathroom, humming a song.

Mia walked out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel firmly around her body.

She changed into a set of pyjamas while Alex walked into the bathroom. He came back outside to find Mia already asleep.

He walked to the closet and saw a light grey pyjamas on a hanger; it was obvious Mia had already put it there.

He smiled briefly, changed into the pyjamas, and walked to the bed.

Stopping for a moment, he stared at Mia's peaceful sleeping face. She didn't look like the strong female she always claimed to be. At that moment, she was just Mia, a girl who needed protection from the evils of the world.

He averted his gaze from her face and laid on the bed after switching the chandelier off. He drifted to sleep, holding Mia's hands.

---

Mia woke up before Alex and sat on the bed, looking at him, fast asleep. She had never seen him look so peaceful. He seemed like an ordinary man, not Alex Heartman, the stoic stone-faced man.

She walked off the bed into the bathroom to wash her face with water. Coming back to the bedroom, Alex was still asleep. She decided not to wake him and walked out of the bedroom.

It was Stell's birthday, and she had to offer her wishes as a family.

"Good morning, Mom," Mia said, entering her parents' room.

"Happy birthday, Mom," she greeted Stell with a hug.

"Thank you, honey," Stella said, hugging her tighter.

Zayn came and offered his greetings to Stell before walking out of the room with Mia, heading back to the bedroom.

"Mia," Zayn called out to her as she walked away.

"Yes, Zayn, how can I help you?" Mia asked.

"Nothing, no way, Mia. I just wanted to ask if we could have some time to ourselves, like a private moment," he said sheepishly.

"No, Zayn, I've got my husband to attend to, and my friends are going to be here anytime. We'll catch up at the dinner party tonight," Mia said, walking away without giving him any attention.

Zayn walked back dejectedly, having been rejected by Mia, back to his room.

Mia walked a distance and met Zayn by the walkway; he had obviously been listening to Mia's and Zayn's conversation.

"You've woken up," Mia said and walked to him.

"Yes, I have," he said back and held her hand.

"Let's go back to the room," Mia said and held Zayn's hands to the bedroom.

They finished getting ready and walked back outside the bedroom to the dining table to eat.

Steph and the rest weren't at the mansion yet, which made the meal exceptionally silent.

Mia and Zayn walked back to the bedroom to get ready for the night dinner party.

---

Seven hours later.

Mia and Zayn were getting ready, wearing their attires for the dinner party.

They soon finished, with Mia having a dazzling look while Zayn stood like an emperor beside her.

They both walked down the stairs to the party that had already started.

All eyes were on Alex and Mia as they walked into the party, garnering stares from the partiers.

"Happy birthday, Mom," Mia said to Steph as they got down.

"You look so beautiful, Mia," Zayn complimented, walking close to Mia with a bouquet of blue roses in his hands to wish Stell a happy birthday.

"Thank you, Zayn," Mia said, accepting his compliments.

"Happy birthday, Aunt," Zayn said, walking closer to Stella with the bouquet in his arms.

"Oh my moon goodness, Zayn, you're just too incredible," she said, taking the bouquet of flowers from him.

"I wish you a very long life and prosperity in the rule of the pack with Uncle Jayden," Zayn said, with a big wide smile on his face.

"Thank you so much, Zayn. How perfect would it have been if you and Mia were here as couples, not just family?" Stella said, trying to throw shades at Alex.

Alex's face had turned stoic as he held Mia close to himself to calm down the anger in him.

"Mom," Mia said in a low voice, "my husband here," she said.

"What? Am I not saying the truth? Look at how perfect Zayn is. Where's your Alex, your so-called husband?" Stella said, putting emphasis on the so-called.