Côte Korean Steakhouse glowed with the polished elegance of a place where the meat was expensive and emotional damage was free. Warm amber lighting, marble tables, servers who moved like trained assassins. Normally, Sophia loved everything about this restaurant.
Tonight, it felt like a trial.
Alex sat across from her with the calm intensity of a man preparing to cross-examine his own sister. Dominic sat beside Sophia, posture stiff, eyes wide, as if he were attending his own sentencing.
Sophia smiled brightly and held up her glass. “It is so nice seeing you Lex. Really. Truly. My heart is full.”
Alex nodded, watching her closely. “It is good to see you too, Soph.”
Dominic swallowed hard.
Sophia kept smiling. “And earlier, the meeting was… emotional. Very emotional. But I just want to
