“Arnav,” she said softly, her voice a tender thread of encouragement. “It’s time. Time to erase the shadows of the past… and end that bitter chain once and for all.
“A delightful surprise,” Mrs. Chyntia said, her voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of curiosity that could slice through glass. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, swept the table as she took her seat, the gold of the chandelier glinting in her hair. “I never imagined my firstborn would invite the entire family to such an extravagant dinner. I can hardly wait to hear what occasion merits such… grandeur.” Her words were accompanied by a small, poised smile, polite, yet distant.
Across the table, Raellyn could feel the tension humming in the air, like the high note of a violin string drawn too tight. Every clink of silverware
