CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 98: ZAYN’S MOTHER’S APPROVAL

"Who is Zayn to you?"

When I opened my mouth to answer, he stopped me.

"Zayn," she said firmly when I tried to answer. "I’m asking Evric, not you."

Evric hesitated, his gaze flickering to mine. I gave him a small nod, letting him know it was okay. He exhaled slowly, then began to speak.

"Zayn... is someone I care about deeply, ma’am. More than a friend, more than I ever thought I’d find. He’s... important to me.

He’s the person who makes me want to be better, the one I can’t imagine my life without. He’s not just important to me, he is my everything."

"Silent then she said. Evric... are you really certain about all this, about your feelings for my son?"

He straightens his posture, his voice steady without a hint of doubt.

"I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Zayn is the man I love, and nothing, no one, can change that. I will stand by him, always."

My mom was silent for a long moment, her gaze steady on Evric. The quiet stretched across the table, heavy enough to tighten my chest. Finally, she shifted her eyes toward me.

"Zayn," she said softly, her tone careful, deliberate.

I swallowed, my palms damp against my lap. "Yes, Mom?"

"Did you hear what Evric just said?"

I glanced at him instinctively. His hand brushed mine beneath the table, warm and grounding, before I looked back at her. "Yes... I heard him." My voice came out lower than I intended.

My mother finally broke the silence, her voice calm but edged with gravity. "Okay," she said with a slow nod, her eyes not leaving Evric. "I have no reason not to accept you, Evric. From everything I’ve seen and heard... I believe you are sincere about my son."

For a moment, relief fluttered in my chest. But then her tone shifted, low and cautious.

"But," she continued, turning her gaze toward me this time, "the only reason I’m truly concerned isn’t you, Evric. It’s your father."

Her words landed heavily between us. I straightened in my chair, tension prickling at the back of my neck.

"I’ve known for some time now," she said quietly, her fingers folding neatly together on the table, "I knew my son had someone in his life. What I didn’t know was who."

Her gaze flickered to Evric, steady and unflinching. "Once I realized it was you, I couldn’t ignore it. You see... it wasn’t difficult to learn more about you. Your family name carries weight, Evric. And with that weight," she paused, her lips pressing into a thin line, "comes... complications."

I fixed my gaze on my mother, unwilling to look away this time.

Her eyes shifted back to Evric, sharp but not unkind. "Your father will not allow this relationship with Zayn. And I cannot..." her voice wavered, just for a second, before she steadied herself, "I cannot let my son go through humiliation because of it."

Evric leaned forward, his jaw tightening, but his voice remained calm and resolute. "I understand your concern, ma’am," he said firmly. "But with all due respect, my father’s opinion does not control my heart. I’m not here as his son, I’m here as myself. And I know exactly what I want."

My mother studied him intently, searching his face for hesitation, for cracks in his certainty. When she found none, she sighed softly, her shoulders lowering.

"I only want my son safe," she whispered. "That is my only concern."

Evric didn’t flinch under her gaze. His jaw was set, eyes unwavering as if he had already rehearsed this moment in his mind. His hand brushed against mine under the table, a quiet reassurance.

I understand, ma’am," he said, his voice low but firm. "You have every right to worry about him, he’s your son. But I want you to know this... I won’t let anyone harm him, not even my own family. If there’s humiliation or judgment to face, let it fall on me, not on Zayn. He doesn’t deserve to carry that weight. I’ll protect him, no matter what it costs me. I only want to stand beside him, to give him the kind of love and safety he deserves. If you’ll allow it, I’ll prove that to you, step by step."

My mother’s eyes softened for a fleeting second, though worry still lingered in the lines around them. "If you mean what you say," she murmured, her voice gentler now, "then I have no reason to stand in your way. My son... he trusts you, and I can see it in the way he looks at you. That alone tells me more than anything else could. I may worry for him, as any mother would, but I cannot deny what is already in his heart."

Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles as she added, "So, Evric, I will accept you. Not for my sake, but for his. Take care of Zayn, and do not give me a reason to regret this trust."

Evric straightened in his seat, his expression softening with both relief and respect. He leaned forward slightly, his tone steady and heartfelt.

"Thank you," he said quietly but firmly. "I won’t take your trust lightly. Zayn means more to me than I can ever put into words, and I promise you, I will protect him, stand by him, and make sure he never has to face this world alone. You won’t regret giving me this chance."

His eyes lingered on hers, unwavering, making sure she felt the weight of his sincerity.

"Alright, Evric," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Just keep all your promises to me."

For a moment, I couldn’t move. My mother’s words echoed in my head, but it felt almost unreal, like I had imagined them out of desperation. She had accepted him. She had accepted us.

My chest tightened, and before I knew it, my eyes found Evric across the table. Relief washed over me so hard I almost laughed and cried at the same time. He looked steady, calm in that way he always was, but to me he felt like the one thing keeping me from falling apart.

I slipped my hand under the table, fingers brushing his hand before gripping tight. I didn’t care if my mom saw. Right now, I needed him to feel how much this moment meant to me.

"Mom..." My voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "Thank you."

I turned back to Evric and smiled, small, shaky, but real. I’d never felt so proud of him, or so sure that no matter what storms came next, we’d face them together.

My mom leaned back slightly, her gaze soft but firm. "Take care of each other," she said gently. "Love is more than feelings it’s patience, understanding, and respect. Always listen, always be honest, and never let pride come between you, and remember that love is a choice you make every single day."

Hearing her advice, I looked at Evric, my heart swelling with both relief and determination.

She continued "Learn to forgive quickly, speak kindly even when it’s hard, and never let anger linger. Protect your love, support each other.

Her words were simple but powerful, I knew we had a lot to live up to, but with her blessing, it felt like the right path.

After talking to my mom, we both stood up and went inside.