Uriel's POV
The Martins' Family Reunion had always been a big deal—an honored tradition celebrated by both my mom's and dad's sides of the family. It happened every two years without fail, and this year, it was scheduled during Thanksgiving. My parents' house had been chosen as the venue, so naturally, I had to come home from school. I brought some of my schoolwork with me, just in case I needed an excuse to escape any awkward conversations or overwhelming family energy.
Mom didn't stress much about preparations; everything had been taken care of well in advance. Guests started arriving a day before the event, especially those coming from distant places. My dad had two sisters, each with two kids, and my mom had only one brother—he had a daughter named Lara, my cousin.
The day of the reunion was vibrant and full of energy. Each family made sure they looked presentable—flawless outfits, wide smiles, the whole nine yards. My mom had ordered a beautiful dress for me ahead of time. Still, even with all the excitement buzzing through the house, my mind was elsewhere.
Larry.
I couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to have him here, among all these people. The thought made my heart flutter and my stomach twist. I caught myself staring into the bathroom mirror, lost in the whirlwind of emotions.
"Hey, Uriel!" my mother's voice cut through my thoughts.
"We're all waiting at the dinner table. Go take a shower and put on that sexy green silk dress I bought you the other day!"
"Sexy?" I teased from the doorway.
"Since when did you let me wear anything sexy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
My mom smirked. "Since you turned nineteen and got into college. Uu, you're a grown woman now, and it's okay to look like one."
Just then, my younger brother barged in. "Okay, Uriel the grown woman, hurry up! Everyone's here—even Lara—and she's hot as ever."
My mom turned sharply toward him. "And don't you know to knock before entering a lady's room?"
"But the door was open!" he stammered, trying to defend himself.
"So? That doesn't mean you walk in," she scolded as their voices trailed down the hallway.
I rolled my eyes and tried to refocus, but my thoughts shifted to Lara. My cousin—my mom's only niece—was undeniably beautiful. Honestly, probably the most striking of all my cousins. My mom never hid her envy of Lara's looks or her admiration for her sister's luck. She'd often say things like, "I hope you grow fast so I can lavish all of this on you too."
Lara had graduated college a year before and was currently undergoing training to take over her mother's successful cosmetics business. I didn't know much about her, mostly because my parents rarely talked about extended family in depth. Still, there was something about Lara that made people notice—and today, it seemed like all eyes were on me
I took my time, did my makeup slowly, carefully—making sure every detail was just right. Once I was satisfied, I reached for the green silky dress my mom had picked out.
As I slipped it on, I couldn't help but pause and admire how sexy it looked. The back dipped daringly low, stopping just above my waistline. The soft fabric hugged my figure perfectly, highlighting my cleavage and cinching my little waist like it was made just for me.
I styled my hair with a light bang in front and swept the rest into a high ponytail. The mirror smiled back at me with approval. I grabbed my handbag and headed toward the stairwell, my phone buzzing with message after message asking about my whereabouts.
As I descended the stairs, I felt it—eyes. All of them. On me.
Their gazes trailed from my head to my heels, and for a second, the air seemed to pause. I could feel their thoughts, their judgment, their admiration—even their shock. But I held my head high, my heels clicking steadily against the steps as I made my way to the gathering.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, my eyes met Lara's.
She was seated on one of the living room couches, dressed in a fitted red dress that hugged her curves. Her makeup was flawless, her lips coated in a glossy shade that matched her nails. But when she saw me—really saw me—her expression shifted ever so slightly. Her smile tightened, her gaze dropped for a second, and then she straightened her posture like she was trying to remind the room she was still the one to be noticed.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and leaned back with a little too much grace, sipping from her wine glass like she wasn't watching my every move. But I saw it. The flicker of envy. The silent competition.
I walked past her with a slight smile, one that said, I see you too, and took my seat at the table beside my mom.
The night carried on with laughter, conversations, and loud clinking of cutlery. But something—or rather someone—was missing.
And then the front door opened.
All heads turned.
Larry walked in, tall and effortlessly confident, dressed in a navy-blue tailored suit that hugged his frame in all the right places. His white shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, just enough to show a hint of his chest and give him that casual yet commanding look. His wristwatch gleamed under the chandelier light, and the scent of his cologne reached me before he even made it halfway into the room.
My heart stilled.
His eyes scanned the crowd as he offered polite greetings to everyone, but then—he saw me.
And just like that, he paused.
Our eyes locked, and for a moment, he forgot to blink. His gaze swept over me from head to toe, slow and deliberate. I watched his throat move as he swallowed hard, then tried to hide it with a short breath and a faint, knowing smile. But it was there—that look of awe and something else he couldn't quite hide.
Desire.
Lara, still seated in her corner, noticed his lingering gaze too. She looked from me to Larry, then back again, and her jaw subtly tightened.
She knew.
They all knew something had shifted.