Page 114 of The Devil's Chaos

He walked over to me and cupped my face in his hands. “You’ll be fine,” he assured me, kissing my forehead gently. “Just be yourself, and they’ll love you as much as I do.”

“You love me, huh?” I teased.

He grinned and pulled me into his arms. “I thought that was obvious after last night.”

“I love you too,” I whispered while I leaned in to capture his lips in a tender kiss.

An hour later, I found myself in Mila's room, surrounded by a whirlwind of dresses, shoes, and accessories. She had taken it upon herself to play stylist, determined to find the perfect outfit for my meeting with Archer's parents.

“What about this one?” she asked, holding up a sleek, black cocktail dress with a plunging neckline.

I shook my head. “Too revealing. I want to make a good impression, not give them a heart attack.”

Mila sighed and tossed the dress aside. “Fine, how about this?” She pulled out a sleek emerald green, floor-length gown.

I eyed it appreciatively. The rich color and elegant cut seemed perfect for a formal dinner with Archer’s esteemed parents. “That could work,” I said, reaching out to feel the luxurious fabric between my fingers.

Mila grinned triumphantly. “I knew you’d love it. The color will bring out your eyes, and the style is classy but still shows off your figure.” She shooed me toward the bathroom. “Go try it on so I can see how it looks.”

A few minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom. The gown hugged my curves in all the right places.

Mila let out a low whistle. “Damn, girl! You look stunning. Kai won’t be able to keep his hands off of you.”

I blushed and smoothed out the skirt self-consciously. “I’m more concerned about impressing Archer’s parents than turning Kai on,” I reminded her.

We spent the next hour perfecting my hair and makeup. Mila insisted on a sleek, sophisticated updo and a smokey eye that made my eyes look even more striking. By the time we were finished, I barely recognized the woman who stared back at me in the mirror.

Kai waited for us in the foyer, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean physique. His eyes widened as he took in my appearance, and a slow, appreciative smile spread across his face.

“You look incredible,” he murmured as he pulled me into his arms and pressed a soft kiss to my lips, careful not to smudge my lipstick.

“You clean up pretty well yourself,” I teased as I straightened his tie and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

Archer cleared his throat pointedly. “As much as I hate to interrupt this adorable moment, we need to get going. My parents aren’t exactly known for their patience.”

Kai nodded, offering me his arm. “Shall we?”

The drive to the King estate was shorter than I’d anticipated, and before I knew it, we pulled up to an imposing wrought-iron gate. The property beyond was vast and immaculately landscaped. The house was a massive, Tudor-style mansion with ivy-covered walls and a circular driveway lined with perfectly manicured hedges.

“Wow,” I breathed.

A stern butler greeted us, his expression impassive as he ushered us inside. The foyer was even more impressive than the exterior, with a sweeping marble staircase, crystal chandeliers, and priceless works of art adorning the walls.

“Archer, darling!” A melodic voice echoed through the cavernous space, and I turned to see an elegant woman who descended the stairs, her arms outstretched.

Archer stepped forward to embrace her, a genuine smile lit up his face. “Mother, it’s wonderful to see you.”

Evelyn King was a vision of sophistication, her black hair swept up into an intricate chignon, and her slender figure draped in a shimmering champagne-colored gown. She turned to Mila, enveloping her in a warm hug.

“Mila, my dear, you look positively radiant,” Evelyn gushed while she held Mila at arm’s length to admire her. “That ring suits you perfectly.”

Mila beamed, her eyes sparkled with happiness. “Thank you, Evelyn. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Evelyn’s gaze shifted to me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Her eyes, the same striking shade of green as Archer’s and mine, seemed to pierce right through me as she assessed and evaluated me. She approached me, her mouth slightly ajar as she looked at me. She shifted her gaze from Archer to me and back again before quickly replacing whatever expression she had with one that was unreadable.

“And you must be the infamous Haven Benson—the girl who saved my daughter-in-law from her own family,” she said, her tone pleasant but guarded. “Archer has told us so much about you.”

I swallowed hard, willing my nerves to settle. The way she looked at me still jarred me a bit. I struggled to bury it back down, but something felt off. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. King. Thank you for inviting me into your home.”

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