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Chapter Twelve
Author: The Ink of D
last update2025-08-02 23:59:10

The dining hall had never looked so grand.

Tonight’s gathering was for no one in particular, just one of Aunt Marjorie’s spontaneous family dinners that she insisted on every few weeks. A dinner of unity, she called it. To Nathan, it didn't feel like unity.

He sat at the far end of the long table, directly across from Liam. Their eyes met briefly before Liam smirked and raised his wine glass in mock salute.

“To family,” Liam said loudly, his voice warm and theatrical. A few cousins clapped, even Uncle Jerome chuckled, oblivious to the tension between the brothers.

Nathan did not raise his glass; he watched Cassandra, who sat two seats away from Liam, her eyes cast downward. Her hands trembled as she tried to cut into a roasted duck breast, the knife barely making a cut. Her lips were perfectly done, and her dress looked flawless, but her face didn't look happy.

Nathan cleared his throat.

“I have a question,” he said.

Marjorie looked up from her soup, raising one eyebrow in silent cu
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