Is this destiny?

The Garden was filling in with guests who trickled in for Emma's baby shower (which turned into a massive party at the Smith family's villa).

Two maids stood at the main entrance to the Smith villa and they accepted the presents that all got neatly arranged in one side room on the main floor.

An array of staff was ready to show guests to the garden and the ballroom, with an explanation that the garden is for the afternoon, while the ballroom will be used later in the evening for dinner and dancing.

Corey and Merve didn't act as guests. They went to Corey's room first because Corey needed to change into his suit for the party.

Merve dressed up in advance in a peach-colored cocktail dress. She was feeling awkward to reach in her causal wear because she didn't want to give people reason to gossip when they see she is so familiar with this mansion that she is changing clothes here.

One section of the closet in Corey's room has her clothes because sometimes she and Corey spend the night here, but others don't need to know about it.

Merve was touched that Corey accepted her in his life with his arms open wide, and she loves him very much. However, part of her fears that they are moving too fast. Merve has no regrets, but how she sees it, relationships should start slowly with dating and holding hands and kissing, and then when both parties involved are ready, the intimacy will go to the next level. With her and Corey, after only a few months of confessing their feelings for each other, the two of them are already at the point of her clothes being in his apartment and in this mansion. Merve doubts if their foundation is solid.

Additional weight on Merve's mind is that Corey is a Smith by birth while she is just a no-name village girl who was unfortunate to be kidnapped, rescued, returned home, hurt by her own father only to be rescued again. No matter how she looks at it, Corey should end up with a girl who is matching his status, and Merve does not feel that she is the one.

Merve does not know that Corey thinks they are a match made in heaven. How Corey sees them, both Corey and Merve came from messed up families, and even though he grew up with a loving mother, she was always working and not there for him. Both his and her fathers were despicable in their own way, and Corey and Merve ended up being rescued and brought up in a better environment where they found each other.

Corey is confident that he and Merve are destined to be together, and he wants to rush finishing school and marrying Merve before she realizes that he is not prince Smith but only Corey, a boy who grew up in a poor part of Los Angeles.

Corey saw that Merve expression is complex and he had to ask… "What are you thinking?"

Corey's question pulled Merve out of her thoughts of how she is not good enough for him.

"Nothing much…", she didn't want to lie, but this was not the time to talk about serious topics either. And she already knew that he will tell her that her fears are unfounded because he loves her to bits, just how she loves him, and how that is the only thing that matters.

Merve saw that he was putting a necktie on, and she was not sure if he suddenly got clumsy, or if he wants her to help. In either case, she had to step in. "Let me do it."

Corey watched Merve flip the silky fabric of his necktie with a dreamy smile on his face. When he sees her like this, up-close, focused on getting him ready, tying the necktie, adjusting his collar… there is a sense of intimacy and tenderness that fills him to the brim.

His mother was busy, and Corey grew up alone, missing the closeness of a family, and with Merve he found it and he would not change it for anything in the world. Merve is his safe harbor, his home, everything that matters, and he has no intention of letting her go.

Merve finished with his necktie and Corey's arms wrapped around her waist. He buried his face at the crook of her neck and took a deep breath.

"Don't."

Merve didn't understand. "Don't, what?"

"I need you to stop thinking what you are thinking.", he said. "Your expression is telling me that you are doubting yourself again. You are amazing, and I am just a regular guy who loves you. There is nothing more to it. Stop worrying about the uncertain future because what is certain is right now."

After a moment of surprise, Merve smiled a little. His perception always amazed her. "You are going to be a fine Master of the Smith family, one day."

"I don't have such desires.", Corey admitted. "I want to learn things and help Charlie because he acknowledged me when everyone else ignored me. He gave me this identity of a Smith and opportunities that I couldn't have otherwise, and I want him to know that I'm grateful. But a Master…", Corey paused. "It's a burden and I don't think I want it."

"Fair enough.", Merve said. "Let's see if you think the same five or ten years from now."

"I will not change my mind. Don't you see that even though Charlie and Emma love each other, they are barely enjoying their time together because they are too busy with family politics? Ten years from now I don't want to think about random Uncles and Cousins who only want to trip me. I want to focus on my family, the two of us, and our two kids. Maybe three."

Merve blushed, making Corey chuckle.

He decided to slowly plant into her mind ideas of their future together so that she gets used to it. 

"Get used to that idea, Merve White. Soon, you will be Merve Smith.", he said cheekily and kissed her on the lips.

Corey was playful and charming, and she didn't want to ruin the mood, but… "This is all wrong. You should get on your knees and ask me to marry you with pleading eyes full of love, and not order me around."

Corey narrowed his eyes at her. "Smiths do things differently. We order our women what to do." He stifled a laugh at Merve's outraged expression. "The important thing is that you didn't reject the idea, but only my approach to it. I can do pleading and love with words and action, and more than that... I will promise you a lifetime of devotion. I will be faithful and not look at any other woman. Corey Smith will be exclusively yours forever. How does that sound?"

Merve's lips lifted into a smile.

"That sounds wonderful...", she admitted her thoughts.

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