Chapter 37: The Night After the Confession

**Thelma Zane’s POV** Aldrich seemed hesitant as he looked at me, his brow furrowed with uncertainty. “Is this really the right time? What if they kick me out?” I couldn’t help but laugh at his sudden nervousness. No matter how brave and composed someone appeared, meeting their partner’s family seemed to bring out a more timid side. If only he knew who my parents truly were—he might have fainted on the spot. I waved at him, watching as he walked away, his figure fading into the distance. As I returned to the palace, I found myself grinning uncontrollably. The thought of him staying for dinner tonight was amusing, but it also made me uneasy. If he had joined us, the truth might have slipped out, and my parents, with their authoritative presence, might have overwhelmed him. At the dinner table, my mother kept commenting on how radiant I looked. Perhaps this was the magic of love—a transformation that worked from the inside out. I felt like a plant that had finally been nur