Alice’s POV
After regaining my balance—and my breath—I finally dragged myself back into the living room.
“I think it’s best Elliott and I go with you,” Mum was saying to Maltina, her voice echoing from the bottom of the staircase as I descended. “He should help you check for better color options. I don’t like this one.”
She looped her arm through Elliott’s, dragging him toward the door like a woman on a mission. “Hilda will make lunch,” she called out behind her. “Don’t wait up for us.”
Maltina and the fashion designer power-walked behind her, looking like two extras in a fashion emergency.
Brian sat on the kitchen counter, arms crossed, legs swinging slightly. His whole aura screamed disinterest. If disapproval had a human form, it’d be him—he clearly didn’t care about the family-pho
