“Whatever is happening between us… we cannot upset her tonight.”
There it was.
The unspoken agreement.
Temporary peace.
For Grandma.
Because everyone in this family revolved around protecting Old Madam Grant’s fragile health like she was the final thread holding the empire together.
And maybe she was.
I closed the box slowly.
“I understand.”
My tone remained calm.
Controlled.
Detached.
But something unreadable flickered briefly across Harrison’s face anyway.
“Get ready,” he said quietly. “I’ll wait downstairs.”
He didn’t linger afterward.
Just turned and left.
Like maybe he understood staying longer would ruin whatever fragile truce we accidentally built tonight.
I stared at the gown for another moment before finally exhaling softly.
Then I changed.
The silk glided acros
