PTE

E'S

pproached the dining room. My mind was still reeling from earlier, my

ushed whispers floated toward m

Mother," Damien said, his voi

skipped

h

d unfamiliar rushed through me. Then

ose. It's just for the de

ous thought as I adjusted my dress one la

me. Evelyn's sharp eyes scanned me critically,

said, her tone neutral b

all smile as I sat down. My hands fidgeted in

ble with dishes I couldn't even begin to name. The ar

velyn turned to me. "Would y

uickly, folding my ha

ited a short, simple prayer. When I

aid briskly, picki

s I took a small bite. The food was incredi

r's favorite dish the previous night. I really should've asked the head chef for he

cut with a knife. I focused on my plate, desp

ps and the dining room door

mother

om. She was tall and striking, with wavy auburn hair cascading down

d sharply, though her tone so

both cheeks. "My beautiful, beautiful mother,"

Ster

ving him a playful peck on th

, his expression darkening. "Why am I getting

gainst my plate as

0,0

s quirking into an amused s

nce practically radiating off her in waves. She was gorgeous, with a

, my cheeks heating as I

orable?" Diana said,

g his temples. "Diana.

y, plopping down into an empty chair

0 question,"

smissively. "Relax, Damien. It's just a little

his voice dangerously low. "Do you ha

you sound right now?" Diana sho

se. "Diana, you can't just waltz in here, ca

," Diana said sweetly. "I'm ju

ying to suppress

amused. He glared at Diana, his f

onsibility for your ac

up," Diana retorted, fla

tion back to me. "So, Rose, tell me-how on earth di

ff guard by the que

r games, Diana," Damien in

, smirking. "Oh, protec

velyn said

hrowing up her hands in moc

ugh her amused glances in my direction didn't go unnoticed. I could

n Evelyn's scrutiny and Diana's playful jabs, I fel

etching lazily. "Well, this has been fun," she said

erwise, but she ignored him, turning to me w

hundred hidden meanings. My lips quirked upward despite myself,

rmured, offering

d back toward Damien, clearly not

are you still this uptight? What happened to the brother who used to sneak ou

r grew up and learned how to manage his money inste

est in mock outrage. "I am a Sterling, Dami

way through a fashion boutique popped into my head,

na asked, swiveling to face

re I could explain, Eve

through my amusement instantly, and I snapped my

Mother, don't look at her like th

didn't have to. The icy loo

one shifting to something softer, almost conspiratorial, "you really shouldn't take my brother too

u, Diana," Dam

" she replie

was impossible. The combination of Damien's deadpan t

r," Damien said, turning to

her grin widening. "Rose, I

aid, unsure how

ulders, "we really need to do something about your wardrobe. You've been wearing the same boring suits f

s. "I'm not giving yo

patting his chest affectionately

hing I couldn't quite hear, I notic

y eyes widening as I rea

leek black credit card and slipping i

h, trying and failing to stif

ien asked, turning to

hough my shoulders shook wit

, this has been lovely," she said, flashing me a dazzling smile. "Rose, you're a delight

ntly, unsure whether to f

"You're the first person in this house who h

sing only to blow a kiss to Evelyn and toss

hold it in anymore. I burst into laughter, doubl

demanded, his tone a mix o

g for breath. "She-she

is eyes narrowi

I repeated, laughing even ha

know why you let her get away with this

pulling out his phone. "I'm c

d another one,"

y eyes as I looked at Damien. "You know, for someon

as no real heat behind it. "You

le," I admitt

p. "I'll be in the sitting room," she said, her tone

Damien said, his voic

efore leaving the room, her heels

n slumped back in his chair, r

e this much chaos?" I

a sigh. "And she enjo

aid. "She's... a lot

orrected, though there was a

"I think I'm going to need so