My fork stills mid-air. My sister’s fingers curl intoher napkin.
Father continues, unfazed. “It’s time we secured something… appropriate.”
My chest tightens. “Appropriate how?”
My father’s gaze slides to me, cold and warning. “This isn’t about you.”
“It never is,” I quip.
A beat of silence. Father’s jaw tightens, but he lets it go. For now.
Nico shifts. Rowan stares into his plate. Alex taps his fingers on the table.
My father smiles without warmth. “Tawny will be engaged by the end of the quarter.”
The room tilts.
“To whom?” I ask, already knowing I won’t like the answer.
Before Victor can respond, the door opens.
The shift is immediate. Like the air itself recalibrates. I don’t even have to look to know Liam Stone stepped inside.
What is he doing? It’s been hardly forty minutes. What is he hoping to achieve?
I look up. Dark suit. No tie. That familiar, dangerous calm wrapped tightly around him.
Our eyes meet. He holds my gaze for a brief moment, as if scanning to make sure I’m still in one piece.
After an almost imperceptible nod, his attention turns to the room.
Everyone stares at him.
“Liam,” my father drawls, leaning back in his chair. “This is a surprise. You missed your engagement dinner, and now you show up to my birthday. How did you even know?”
“I’m here,” Liam says, his words cutting through the room like a blade.
Father gestures lazily toward the table. “Well then. Take a seat. Roxy, move.” He gestures so Liam can sit beside Tee.
“I’m fine just here.” Liam takes the chair beside me. He squeezes my thigh, and I almost whimper with relief.
I didn’t want him here. I should be mad he didn’t respect my wishes, but the evening has been taxing enough. And for the first time, I finally acknowledge to myself how much his support means.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.” He leans back and drapes his arm over the backrest of my chair, claiming me silently.
“What are you doing here, Liam?” Father asks, his eyes roaming the room, landing on my brothers like they should have the answer.
I can imagine someone will pay for the lack of security at the door.
Liam reaches for a water carafe and helps himself like a guest of honor instead of an interloper. “I thought it was agreed I’m marrying into the family.”
I snap my head toward him. I’m going to kill him. What is he doing? I fight the urge to drag him out of here.
But Tee was discussed before he barged in, and I need to understand the threat.
Nico snickers, which earns him Father’s glare.
“Is that the reason you didn’t show up for your engagement dinner?” My father picks up a bread roll like his dinner wasn’t just hijacked. The slight tremor in his other hand, gripping the butter knife, is almost imperceptible, but it’s there.
