Page 40 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

Cassandra smiled softly at Nadine, sensing their shared frustration. “Maybe it’s because they’re worried about you. They want to see you in a stable relationship, and I’m a bit older.”

“That makes sense, but it’s frustrating,” Nadine replied. “I wish they could just see the love we share. It’s real. We’re a team, and we both care for each other.”

“Exactly,” Cassandra agreed. “But it can feel like they’re judging me. Sometimes, I think they see only the age difference.”

Nadine nodded. “I get it. I think they worry about how the world sees us. And what disappoints me even more is that they don’t really know you.”

The room fell silent for a moment as both women processed their feelings.

Cassandra wiped another tear, then took a deep breath. “Maybe we should talk to them again. I want to show them that I’m here for you, that I love you.”

Nadine considered it, her heart racing a little. “I want that, too, but it’s hard. What if they shut down again? What if it doesn’t work?”

Cassandra smiled gently, her confidence shining through the sadness. “We’ll never know unless we try. It would really give us both peace to resolve this.”

The thought stirred hope in Nadine’s heart. “You’re right. They need to see how happy we make each other. There’s so much love and support between us.”

“I can even bring cupcakes,” Cassandra teased with a playful wink.

Nadine chuckled, shaking her head. “That could be a solid bribe.” She paused, feeling her heart lighten at the idea. “Let’s make a plan. We can visit my parents next month.”

“Sure! I’ll be ready,” Cassandra replied, her silver hair catching the light again.

Nadine leaned in, hugging Cassandra tightly. “Thank you for being so brave. We’ll figure this out together.”

Cassandra wrapped her arms around Nadine, breathing in the comforting scent of her partner. “Always, my love. We’re a team, remember?”

“Yes,” Nadine answered, grinning, realizing that together they could tackle anything—even parents who might not quite understand them yet.

Nadine stood outside her parents’ new house, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The big, beautiful home was a symbol of the success she and Cassandra had achieved together. Just a few years ago, merging their companies had given them more money than they’d ever imagined having. They’d decided to use some of their wealth to buy this house for Nadine’s parents, hoping it would make their lives easier.Nadine looked at the house with pride, waiting for her parents to settle into their new surroundings.

As soon as they stepped inside, Nadine noticed her mother, Helen, bustling around, trying to organize the space. Her father, Gary, sat in the living room, looking a bit lost and unsure of what to do. He’d always liked being busy, but now he seemed overwhelmed by the size of the house. Nadine’s heart went out to him as she watched him squirm in his seat.

“Mom, Dad, how are you liking the house?” Nadine asked, trying to lift their spirits.

“It’s...it’s very big,” Gary replied, scratching his head. “I’m just not sure where everything goes.”

“Yeah, and we miss the smaller place,” Helen added, her eyes darting over the piles of boxes that still needed unpacking.

Nadine exchanged a glance with Cassandra. Her presence was calming, and Nadine was grateful for her support.

As they moved deeper into the house, Gary grumbled a bit about the yard and how it needed mowing, along with a few other things. Nadine bit her lip, trying to decide how to approachthe topic. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Dad, if you need it, we can hire some help, like a housekeeper or a landscaper,” she suggested, hoping that would ease his worries.

Gary shrugged, but he looked unconvinced. “We don’t want to spend your money, Nadine.”

Nadine felt a little frustrated. After all, they’d bought this house to help her parents, and she’d hoped they would allow themselves to accept some help. She decided to pull Gary aside for a moment. “Dad, can I ask you something?” she said, her voice quiet as they stepped away from the others.

“Of course, sweetheart,” he replied, looking concerned.

“Why have you and Mom been so unwelcoming to Cassandra?” she asked, wanting to understand. “You two never used to act like this with my partners.”

Gary sighed, looking uncomfortable. “It’s not really me, Nadine. Your mother...she’s feeling all sorts of things with this change.”

Nadine felt her heart race. She turned, then walked back to where her mother was trying to organize some boxes. “Mom, can we talk?” she asked, her voice firm yet calm. Helen looked up, surprised, but nodded, sensing the seriousness in Nadine’s tone.

“Everyone, why don’t we take a break for a minute?” Nadine called out to the others. The atmosphere became tense as everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to watch.

Nadine faced her mother. “I’ve noticed you seem uncomfortable with Cassandra. Can you please tell me what’s going on?”

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