Page 32 of Accidental Orc Daddy

But I also see the love in their eyes when they look at their daughter, and I know that they only want what's best for her. That's why I'm determined to win them over, to show them that I'm not just some random guy Meiko picked up at a bar.

"I know it might seem sudden," I say, looking each of them in the eyes. "But I've never been more certain of anything in my life. Meiko is the one for me. And I'll do whatever it takes to make her happy,” I insist. “Her and the baby.”

There's a collective gasp in the room, and I can see the shock on Meiko's parents' faces. Her mother's hand flies to her mouth, and she looks at her daughter with wide eyes.

"What! When did this happen? How could you not have told us sooner?" she asks, her voice filled with disbelief.

Meiko looks down at her feet, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She fidgets with the hem of her shirt, avoiding eye contact with her parents.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't know how to tell you. And I was scared of what you would think," she says softly.

Her father is silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on his daughter. Then he speaks up, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Well, this changes things. We need to talk about what's going to happen next."

I can see the fear in Meiko's eyes, and I take her hand in mine. "We've already talked about it, and we've decided that we want to raise this child together. And as we said, I’ve proposed to her."

Meiko's mother covers her mouth with her hand. "But you barely know each other!"

I look at Meiko, and she nods, giving me the strength to continue. "Again, I know it might seem sudden, but we know it's the right thing to do. We love each other, and we want to be a family."

Meiko's parents look at each other, and then at us. I can see the uncertainty in their expressions, but I also see a glimmer of hope.

Her father stares at me for a long moment, then nods. "Fair enough.”

Wrapped in my arm, my fiance’s body relaxes into mine. I rub gentle circles into the back of her hand, hoping to lend her some support. Then I start to fiddle with the ring on her finger– the one that I put there. The possessive sense that this woman is as much mine as the child growing in her womb is too strong to ignore.

My heart swells as I close my eyes, pulling Meiko closer and pressing her into me. I missed this, but I also notice how much it calms the storm inside of me. I realize then and there that I don’t just want her - I need her.

CHAPTER 19

Meiko

“Can I refill your glass, miss?” The waiter stands over me, a linen cloth draped over his arm as he offers his best bottle of wine.

“No,” Mom interrupts just as I’m about to speak. “She didn’t have wine, she had a virgin cranberry cocktail. Don’t you remember?”

The man scrambles to right his error, cowering under my mother’s intense gaze. “Of course, my apologies. I’ll get you another cocktail, miss.”

I turn to her with a gentle frown. “That wasn’t necessary, Mom, really.”

She reaches up to adjust my hair, fixing the strands to her liking. “Hush, now, Meiko. He should’ve paid closer attention.”

I purse my lips together, averting my gaze and finding myself longing for Mustaf’s comforting presence. Wishing that simple need was enough to bring him through the door, I tap my foot on the cool flooring while I wait for him to do just that. As awkward as all of this has been, he’s become my anchor. He lets me really believe that things are going to be okay.

Practically on cue, Mustaf comes in with the Sato family barreling after him. Boisterous laughter immediately fills the space as the lot of them rush toward us to start making introductions.

"Meiko, my dear, these are my parents, Segar and Elora, and my younger siblings, Amina and Omar," Mustaf introduces, gesturing towards his family with a proud smile.

His father, a tall orc with a thick mustache and kind eyes, reaches out to shake my father's hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Fanning. Mustaf has told us so much about your family."

My father, ever the polite academic, returns the handshake with a firm grip. "Please, call me Alton. And this is my wife, Keiko, and our daughter, Meiko."

As my mother and Mustaf's mother exchange pleasantries, I can't help but notice the stark contrast between the two families. My family, dressed in formal attire, exudes an air of sophistication and restraint, while Mustaf's family, with their casual clothes and boisterous laughter, seems much more laid-back and carefree.

But as Mustaf's younger sister, Amina, approaches me with a friendly smile, I begin to feel a sense of ease wash over me. "Meiko, I'm so excited to finally meet you.”

I smile back, grateful for her kind words. "It's nice to meet you, too. Please, have a seat.”

As we all take our seats at the table, the sense of tension is palpable. My mother and Mustaf's mother, Elora, exchange polite smiles, but I can tell they are both sizing each other up. Mustaf's father, Seger, tries to lighten the mood by making a joke, but it falls a little flat as the two mothers continue their subtle battle of wills.

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