EPISODE 4: Dinner With Wolves
1199 Words
Amara barely slept.
Her first night in the Kane Mansion felt like sleeping in a museum beautiful, cold, and too silent. Every soft creak in the hallway made her sit up. Every shadow on the wall felt like a secret watching her.
By morning, she was exhausted.
Mrs. Roseline knocked briefly before stepping in.
“Your fitting is in thirty minutes,” she said. “Mr. Kane’s family dinner is tonight. You are expected to look… presentable.”
The way she said presentable stung.
Amara forced a smile. “I’ll do my best.”
Mrs. Roseline didn’t smile back.
⸻
•The Transformation
After a long bath and too many beauty products she couldn’t even pronounce, Amara was taken to a room full of dresses sparkling, shimmering, elegant gowns worth more than her life savings.
A stylist circled her like she was a mannequin.
“Too plain.”
“Too soft.”
“Too pretty, but not intimidating enough.”
Finally, they settled on a long black dress that hugged her waist and had a slit running up her left leg. Not too flashy, not too simple perfect balance.
When they finished her makeup, she stared at her reflection in disbelief.
She looked like… someone else.
Someone bold.
Someone powerful.
But inside, she still felt like the girl trying to get a cleaning job.
A knock came at the door.
She expected a maid.
But it was Adrian.
And he froze when he saw her.
Not a big reaction.
Not obvious.
But his eyes sharpened just a fraction and lingered longer than usual.
“Is it too much?” she asked quietly.
“No,” he said instantly.
Then softer: “It looks… right.”
Her cheeks warmed.
Adrian cleared his throat, regained his cold composure, and offered his arm.
“Shall we?”
She placed her hand on his arm, trying to hide how her pulse jumped beneath her skin.
⸻
•Entering the Lion’s Den
The dining hall was enormous long table, crystal lights, servants lined along the sides, portraits of Kane ancestors watching from the walls.
But the real intimidation came from the family seated at the table.
His grandmother, stern and sharp eyed.
His aunt, lips pressed tightly.
His cousin Victor, the one who would take the company if Adrian wasn’t married.
And two other relatives who looked her up and down like she was trash stuck to their shoes.
Adrian pulled out a chair for her.
Whispers erupted immediately.
“She’s so young.”
“She’s not from money.”
“She doesn’t look like she belongs.”
“Is this some prank?”
Amara’s chest tightened.
Adrian heard every word she could see it in his stiff posture but he said nothing.
His grandmother, Mrs. Eleanor Kane, tapped her fork loudly.
“So,” she said, voice sharp enough to cut glass, “this is the girl?”
The girl.
Not your wife.
Not my grandson’s partner.
Just this.
Amara forced a polite smile. “Good evening.”
Eleanor Kane stared at her like she was a stray animal brought into the house.
“Where are your parents?” she asked bluntly.
Amara swallowed. “My father passed away years ago. My mother is in the hospital.”
Aunt Clarissa clicked her tongue.
“Of course she is.”
Amara’s hand curled under the table.
Before she could respond, Victor leaned forward, smirking.
“So Adrian,” he said loudly, “did you find her at a charity center? Or perhaps at a train station? She looks”
“Victor.”
Adrian’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
Cold. Deadly.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Victor’s smirk faltered.
But the damage was done, everyone saw how much they disrespected her.
Eleanor raised a brow. “Adrian, we simply want to understand. A marriage is a big decision. And this young woman seems… unprepared.”
Adrian placed his hand on the table slowly, intentionally, and said:
“She is my wife. That’s all you need to understand.”
The room fell silent.
His words weren’t soft.
They weren’t romantic.
But they were powerful.
And they hit her harder than she expected.
Wife.
Not contract.
Not temporary.
Not placeholder.
Wife.
Something moved in her chest.
⸻
•The Question That Changed Everything
Dinner continued awkwardly.
The family threw subtle insults.
She endured them with dignity.
But then Victor struck again.
“So Amara,” he said loudly, swirling his wine, “what attracted you to Adrian? His… money? His name? Or his face?”
The table went silent.
Her stomach sank.
Every eye turned to her.
Amara’s hands trembled under the table—but she lifted her chin.
“I didn’t pursue Adrian,” she said calmly. “If anything, he found me.”
A few gasps.
Victor’s smirk returned.
“So you’re admitting you had nothing to offer until he came along?”
Eleanor nodded slightly.
“I do wonder what exactly you bring to this family, dear.”
Adrian tensed beside her.
Amara didn’t know where the courage came from but she met Eleanor’s sharp gaze and said:
“I may not come from wealth.
I may not be from your world.
But I am not here for your approval.”
Silence.
Dead, shocked silence.
Even Adrian turned to her, surprise flickering in his eyes.
Amara continued, voice steady:
“I’m here because your grandson chose me. And whether you like it or not… I’m not going anywhere.”
Eleanor’s lips pressed together slowly.
Victor blinked, stunned.
Aunt Clarissa coughed awkwardly.
Adrian…
He stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
Then, finally, he spoke.
“Dinner is over.”
He stood up, placed a hand lightly on Amara’s back, and guided her out of the room.
Not a word from anyone else.
Just wide eyes and disbelief.
⸻
•After the Storm
As soon as they reached the hallway outside the dining room, Amara exhaled sharply, her legs nearly giving out.
“I… I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone,” she murmured, heart pounding.
Adrian turned to her slowly.
His eyes… were not cold anymore.
They were something else entirely.
“You handled yourself better than I expected,” he said. “You surprised me.”
“Is… is that a good thing?” she whispered.
Adrian stepped closer, his hand brushing against her arm barely a touch, but enough to send a shiver racing through her.
“It’s dangerous,” he said softly.
“Because the more I look at you… the more I realize you don’t fit into my world.”
Her heart sank.
“But,” he finished, voice low almost a whisper
“maybe that’s exactly why I chose you.”
Before she could respond, he gently tucked her hair behind her ear again his second time doing it and whispered:
“Stay close to me, Amara.
This family isn’t done testing you.”
Then he turned and walked away, leaving her breathless, trembling… and more confused than ever.
Because for the first time, She wasn’t sure if this was just a contract.
Or something more dangerous.
- Writer
