The dining room was nothing short of extravagant—high ceilings adorned with intricate crown molding, soft golden lighting casting a warm glow, and a long mahogany table that could easily seat twenty. But tonight, only five chairs were occupied.
Isabelle sat with Elliott and Amelia between her and Sophia, a deliberate arrangement meant to keep the peace. At the head of the table, Sebastian watched the twins with an unreadable expression, his fingers lightly tapping against the stem of his wine glass.
The air was thick with something unspoken.
Something more than just the scent of rosemary chicken and roasted potatoes.
It was tension—subtle, yet impossible to ignore.
Sebastian cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence. “So,” he said, setting down his glass of water, “how was scho
