His Father;My Obsession

Chapter 2: Shadows Between Walls

The dining room was drenched in shadows as the last traces of daylight vanished behind the heavy curtains. The thick velvet walls absorbed every sound except the sharp scrape of knives and forks against porcelain.

I sat beside Adrian, across from his father, Richard Thornwood, in a chair too grand for my nerves. The chandelier’s crystals sparkled coldly overhead, casting fractured light across the table set with gleaming silverware and crystal glasses filled with deep red wine.

The air smelled faintly of polished wood and something metallic—an unshakable chill, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

Richard broke the silence first, his voice low but cutting. “So, Adrian, how long have you been engaged?”

Adrian’s eyes met his father’s, cool and steady. “Almost a year now.”

A nod, curt and unreadable. “Good. Elise, is it? Your name suits you.”

I blinked at the unexpected compliment, unsure how to respond. “Thank you, sir.”

Richard glanced away, eyes scanning the ornate walls as if searching for a better topic. “London must be different from here.”

Adrian shrugged, “It’s home.”

“Not quite yours for a long time,” Richard said, his gaze sharpening.

I bit my lip. The tension between father and son was like a taut wire ready to snap. I could almost hear the silent accusations swirling in the space between them.

Richard turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And what brings you to Thornwood Estate tonight? Besides the obvious.”

I forced a smile, “To meet the family, of course. I’m eager to learn more about Adrian’s roots.”

He raised a brow but said nothing.

The waiter moved silently, filling our plates with roasted lamb bathed in a rich rosemary sauce, accompanied by mint-scented peas and creamy mashed potatoes. The aromas were almost comforting—if only the company wasn’t so cold.

Adrian cut into his lamb, then looked up. “How is the company’s expansion going, Father?”

Richard’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, perhaps annoyance. “Challenging. The market shifts faster than I anticipated.”

There was a pause. Then, Adrian said, “Perhaps you should delegate more. You’ve been stretched thin.”

Richard’s jaw tightened. “And you think you know better?”

Adrian met the challenge evenly. “I’m just trying to help.”

A faint smirk tugged at Richard’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Help is a luxury I can’t always afford.”

The air grew heavier. I reached for my water glass, the cool liquid a small refuge.

Trying to ease the tension, I ventured, “Richard, you must miss London sometimes. It’s vibrant, alive.”

He shrugged, “I miss little I left behind.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened. “You left a lot behind, Father.”

Richard’s fork paused mid-air. “I did what I had to do.”

The dinner continued with sharp glances and clipped words, conversations that danced around years of silence and resentment.

When the meal finally ended, Richard stood abruptly. “I have an early morning meeting.”

Adrian rose as well, a storm brewing behind his calm facade. “Goodnight, Father.”

Richard’s reply was cold, “Goodnight, Adrian.”

The door closed behind him, leaving an echo of finality hanging in the room.

Outside, the night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. I exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the chill that had settled into my bones.

In the car, the quiet returned, but this time it felt less suffocating.

I reached out, my hand brushing Adrian’s. “You didn’t tell me the whole story back there.”

His jaw clenched. “It’s not easy.”

I squeezed his hand gently. “Try me.”

He hesitated, then began. “My grandmother raised me as her son. I thought she was my mother for eighteen years.”

Shock swirled inside me. “Why?”

“Because my father was young—seventeen when my mother died giving birth to me. Grandma wanted to protect me from the truth.”

“And your father?”

“He didn’t want me. Left me to be raised by maids and butlers while he built his empire.”

Silence wrapped around us again.

“But you’re here now,” I said sof

tly. “And I’m with you.”

Adrian’s eyes met mine, fierce and vulnerable all at once. “Thank you, Elise. More than you know.”