Chapter 4 Anabella

After his mother walked off, still determined to matchmake her only son, Mr. Fernando burst into laughter.

"Your mother will never change. She had always been that way," he said, shaking his head with a wide grin.

Tristan, still dumbfounded by her antics, stared at his father in disbelief. "Did she seriously just threaten me with house arrest if I left the wedding early? I'm I still a baby to her?"

Mr. Fernando chuckled, sipping from his glass. "You will always be a baby to your mother. Son, I've been married to that woman for over thirty years. The trick is to pick your battles and learn to stay out of her way. She's always poking her nose in every direction."

"Dad," Tristan leaned forward, voice heavy with frustration. "How do you cope all these years? I mean, she's always planning something."

His father gave a knowing nod. "She's a passionate woman. A little overbearing sometimes-but believe me, she means well. Your mom just wants to see you settled. She may go about it the wrong way, but it all comes from love."

Tristan snorted. "Love? More like obsession. She's practically stalking me with potential brides."

Mr. Fernando smiled. "That's your mother's way. She's got a big heart, and sometimes, that heart spills over into everyone else's business."

Tristan exhaled deeply. "I just want peace, Dad. I'm exhausted. If you know a way to shut this down, I'm all ears."

Mr. Fernando leaned forward conspiratorially. "Actually, I've been thinking. There is a way to get her off your back, but I don't know if you'll like it."

Tristan's eyes widened. "Dad, I'll do anything! I can't keep doing this. Don't you think I'm tired of all the setups, the interrogations, the blind dates from hell?"

"Calm down," his father said, patting his hand. "You're not a boy anymore. You're a man. You've achieved everything a man can dream of-success, wealth, fame-but son, the only thing left is companionship."

Tristan groaned. "It's not that simple, Dad. I've tried. Most women I meet... they just want the money."

"Or maybe," Mr. Fernando said gently, "you're chasing perfection."

Tristan blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You're looking for a woman who ticks every single box. But no one's perfect, son. Marriage isn't about finding the perfect person-it's about choosing someone imperfect and still deciding they're the one you want to love and grow with."

Tristan sank back in his seat, quiet. His father was making sense.

Mr. Fernando continued, "Let me tell you a secret. When your mother and I were newly married, I had a problem. Women were always around me. And for a while, I didn't always say no."

Tristan's eyes shot open. "Wait. What?!"

His father laughed softly. "Relax. Your mom found out. Do you know what she did? Nothing. She didn't scream, didn't fight. She acted like she didn't notice anything."

Tristan was stunned. "That doesn't sound like Mom."

"I'm telling you," Mr. Fernando nodded. "Instead, she loved me even more. She went out of her way to make me feel cared for. And the guilt? It crushed me. I stopped. Years later, I asked her why she never said anything. And she said, 'Sometimes, when people cheat, it's not always because they're evil. It might be because their emotional tank is empty. So instead of shouting, I chose to fill yours with love.'"

He paused, then added, "Now, don't get me wrong-cheating isn't okay. But sometimes, we need to look deeper. That's what your mother did. She chose love over pride."

Tristan just stared at him. "I can't believe you just told me all that. Mom really did that?"

Mr. Fernando nodded. "Your mom is a lioness when she wants something-but she's also one of the most loving people I know."

Tristan sighed. "She wants me to settle down. But what if she doesn't like the woman I choose? What if it becomes another mess?"

His father stood up and placed a hand on Tristan's shoulder. "Let me worry about your mother. Your job is to find someone who makes you happy. Stop chasing the ideal. Open your heart, and maybe, just maybe, love will surprise you."

Tristan nodded slowly. "Thanks, Dad. You're really something."

Mr. Fernando smiled. "Someone's coming to take your order. Eat. We'll talk more later."

He walked off, leaving Tristan to stew in his thoughts.

And then he saw her.

She was fair, tall, graceful. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her stride was purposeful-like she ruled every room she entered. She was stunning. And unknowingly, she had just walked into his heart.

"Good day, sir. May I take your order?" her voice floated to him, silken and warm.

Tristan blinked.

He stared at her. Was this real? Was this woman even human? Her voice felt like honey-thick, soothing, impossibly sweet.

She repeated herself. "Good day, sir. May I take your order?"

Tristan finally snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Oh-I'm so sorry. I must've zoned out for a second. May I know your name?"

She smiled politely. "My name is Anabelle. But my friends call me Bella. Now... what would you like to order?"

Tristan was still reeling, his eyes fixed on her. He offered a handshake. "Hi, I'm Tristan. Can I call you Bella too?"

Anabelle laughed lightly, still professional. "Like I said, only my friends call me Bella. You can stick with Anabelle. I'm here to take your order, not be your friend."

Tristan chuckled. "Fair enough. But what do I have to do to become your friend?"

Anabelle sighed inwardly. He was handsome, no doubt. But she knew his type. Rich, smooth-talking, playboy energy. She'd seen it before, and she wasn't falling for it.

Still, her voice remained calm. "Why would you want to be my friend? You don't even know me."

Tristan leaned in just slightly, flashing a disarming smile. "Let's just say... I really like the name Bella."

And just like that-his world shifted.