Benjamin sat in front of his mirror, carefully buttoning up the shirt he had chosen for the evening. His reflection stared back at him, smug and calculated. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he adjusted the collar and straightened the cuffs. His movements were slow, almost ceremonial. This wasn’t just another evening—it was the evening he had been waiting for.He reached for his phone lying on the dresser. The call with his mother from earlier echoed in his mind, each word replaying itself in his mind.It had started innocently enough. His mother’s voice, as always, had been soft and warm.“Benjamin, darling,” she had said over the phone, her tone filled with that familiar motherly affection. “Don’t forget, tomorrow night is family dinner. I would really love for you to be there this time. It’s been far too long since you sat at the table with all of us.”Normally, he would have sighed dramatically, muttered some excuse about work or prior commitments, and tried to wriggle his way o

It was finally dinner time. Everyone was seated now.Their mother tried to soften the evening with small talk. She smiled gently at each of them in turn, her voice light as she spoke about trivial things: the weather that had been oddly chilly for the season, the flowers blooming too early in the garden, the memory of a family trip years ago that still made her laugh.Benjamin sat further down the table, his posture straight, his face carefully composed. Tonight, he wasn’t going to rise to Marcus’s bait. He had promised himself that. He wanted every single ounce of energy saved for the moment he had been waiting for—the moment when everything Marcus had built in their father’s eyes would begin to crumble.Marcus, of course, couldn’t help himself. He leaned slightly toward Benjamin with a small smirk on his face.“So, Benjamin,” Marcus drawled, slicing his lamb slowly. “I’m honestly surprised you showed up tonight. You usually have something more ‘important’ to do, don’t you? Or was it

The dinner had ended in an explosive fashion, with their father storming out of the dining room, his voice still ringing in everyone’s ears.Benjamin walked slowly across the front courtyard toward where his car was parked. The faint smirk curling on his lips betrayed his satisfaction. He could still see the look on Marcus’s face, the way his brother’s confident mask had shattered the moment their father slammed his hand on the table and called him incompetent. It was a picture Benjamin knew he would carry with him for a long time.His fingers tapped lightly against the key fob as he drew closer to his car, but just as he reached for the door handle, a shadow moved in front of him.It was Marcus.He stepped directly into Benjamin’s path, blocking him with a look so fierce his jaw seemed locked. His eyes burned with restrained fury, his fists clenched at his sides, his shoulders rigid.Benjamin raised an eyebrow, pretending surprise as though Marcus had appeared out of nowhere. He tilt

SCOTT'S GUEST HOUSEScott adjusted the cuff of his jacket and glanced at the tall clock in the living room. He had been waiting patiently. He knew Lisa never rushed when it came to appearances, and today was no exception. He leaned casually against the arm of the sofa, his eyes trained on the staircase, waiting for her.Finally, Lisa appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed elegantly, her gown flowing gracefully with each step. Her hair was styled neatly, her makeup subtle yet flawless. As she descended, Scott’s smirk deepened into a genuine smile. When she reached the last step, he stepped forward without hesitation.“You look gorgeous,” Scott said, his voice low and steady.Lisa’s cheeks flushed at once, a rosy warmth blooming across her skin. “You don’t look bad yourself,” she murmured softly, her eyes flicking up to his before darting away.Scott leaned closer, pressing a brief kiss to her cheek. Lisa’s blush deepened, and though she tried to compose herself, her lips curved i

Leah was checking a set of ribbons near the main entrance when Scott and Lisa walked back inside.At once, Leah’s sharp eyes caught the uneasy look on Lisa’s face. Lisa tried to mask it with a small smile, but it did not fool either Leah or Aunt Kate. Aunt Kate, who was near one of the tables adjusting some cutlery, noticed immediately. She paused, setting the fork down slowly, and turned her full attention toward Lisa.Her voice carried her usual warmth. “Lisa, dear, what is the matter? You look like you just saw something troubling outside. Did something happen?”Lisa hesitated, her fingers tightening around the small box she carried from the car. She glanced at Scott for reassurance, and though he gave her a calm nod, the tension still lingered in her shoulders. She finally let out a slow breath and confessed in a quiet voice, “It was Gale and Laura. They were here. They’re the ones who rented the fourth floor.”Leah’s head snapped up at once, her expression shifting from curiosity