Cole's POV
Dinner was already on the table when we walked into the dining room. My mother had planned it that way. No cocktail hour, no lingering in the foyer making small talk. She wanted everyone seated and contained where she could watch us.
Noah was standing by the window with a drink in his hand. He turned when we entered and his eyes went straight to Zara's left hand. The ring caught the light exactly the way it was designed to.
"Well," he said. "That's new."
"Sit down, Noah," my mother said. She was already at the head of the table, positioned where she could see every face at once. "Let's not pretend you didn't already know your brother was bringing someone."
Noah sat. I pulled out Zara's chair and she took it without hesitation. I sat beside her and felt my mother's eyes trac
