Chapter 4 The dinner

The Millers arrived promptly just after seven. The house smelled faintly of roasted rosemary chicken and candles Melissa had lit to make everything seem more “welcoming.” I stood by the staircase as my father greeted them at the door, his smile unusually bright.

“Ah, come in, come in,” he said, his voice cheerful. “This is my daughter, Rose.”

He turned toward me and motioned for me to step closer. “Rose, this is Connor, your fiancée,” he said, his tone casual, as if the words didn’t completely shift the course of my life. “And this is Sean, your brother-in-law.”

I offered a polite smile and nodded, though my heart thudded once, sharply, in my chest. Connor gave a slight nod in return, his face calm but cold, his eyes unreadable. Sean, on the other hand, smiled faintly—a quiet, composed gesture that didn’t feel forced.

Behind them stood their mother, elegant and poised. Her presence carried a calm authority that filled the room without effort. “Rose,” she said warmly, stepping forward to take my hand. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. I’ve heard many good things.”

I smiled politely. “It’s an honor to meet you as well.”

The polite introductions settled quickly, and we all made our way toward the dining room.

Melissa floated around the table, making sure every plate and napkin was perfectly aligned. I took my seat beside the Millers’ mother, while Anna hurried to sit beside Connor, a little too eagerly. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor as she pushed it closer to him.

Dinner began with light conversation. Or, rather, attempts at it. Connor remained silent, only speaking when directly addressed, and even then, his replies were short. Sean occasionally added a comment or question, his tone measured and polite.

Anna, however, made sure the silence didn’t last.

She laughed too loudly, talked too much, and seemed determined to pull Connor into her chatter. “You should really teach me how to handle corporate meetings, Connor,” she said at one point, twirling her hair around a finger. “I bet you’re amazing under pressure.”

He didn’t respond. His expression didn’t even flicker.

Unfazed, Anna tried again. “Or maybe you could give me some tips on how to impress your brother-in-law.” She laughed at her own words, but no one joined in.

Melissa chuckled nervously. “Anna, dear, not now.”

My father waved his hand dismissively, smiling as though this was all harmless fun. “Don’t mind her,” he said with a light laugh. “She’s just carefree.”

Carefree, I thought bitterly. That was their favorite excuse for her.

I focused on my plate, ignoring the awkwardness that hung between us. Sean’s gaze occasionally drifted across the table, quiet and observant, as if he was watching everything but saying nothing.

As the night wore on, the conversation turned to work, family, and polite small talk. Anna didn’t stop trying to draw Connor’s attention, her laugh growing higher-pitched each time he ignored her. My father kept the conversation afloat with forced cheer.

When dessert was served, the Millers’ mother turned to me. “Rose,” she said softly. “I’ve been meaning to give you something.”

She opened a small velvet box, revealing a delicate heirloom pendant that shimmered faintly in the light. “This has been passed down in our family for generations. I’d like you to have it.”

I hesitated, surprised. “I… thank you,” I said, my voice quiet.

As she fastened it around my neck, I could feel Connor’s eyes on me. His jaw tightened. He opened his mouth as if to say something—but before he could, Sean turned his head slightly, fixing his younger brother with a cold, warning look.

Whatever words Connor had died instantly.

I adjusted the pendant, pretending not to notice. “It’s beautiful,” I said softly, and the Millers’ mother smiled kindly.

The rest of the evening moved slowly. The atmosphere remained strained but civil. When it was finally time to leave, the Millers stood, thanked my father for the meal, and exchanged polite farewells. Connor offered a formal handshake before walking out, his expression still distant.

The moment the door closed behind them, my father’s tone shifted.

“Anna!” he barked, his voice sharp. “Is this how a lady should act? Flirting with guests at the dinner table? Do you even know how foolish you looked?”

Anna’s smile vanished. “I was just talking!” she protested, crossing her arms.

Melissa quickly stepped in, her tone sugary. “She was just playing around, dear. You know how she is. Don’t make such a fuss over nothing.”

“Nothing?” my father muttered, glaring at Anna. “You embarrassed me in front of them.”

I said nothing. I simply rose from the table, ignoring the argument, and walked upstairs. I could still hear their voices rising and falling behind me as I entered my room and closed the door quietly.

For a long moment, I sat at the edge of my bed, my reflection faintly visible in the dark window. The heirloom pendant rested against my collarbone, cool and unfamiliar. I traced my fingers over it slowly.

Something about it—about the gesture—had caught me off guard. No one had given me something meaningful in a long time.

Curiosity stirred, and I reached for my phone. Typing “The Miller Group” into the search bar, I skimmed through the results.

They are wealthy beyond anything I had imagined.

For the first time that evening, a flicker of practicality cut through the lingering discomfort. I didn’t want to get married, but maybe I could use this to my advantage. If life had already decided to throw me into this situation, I would at least learn to benefit from it.

I sighed softly, lying back on the bed. The faint glow of the phone screen dimmed, leaving the room in muted shadows.

As I touched the heirloom again, the door creaked open.

Anna stepped in without knocking. She leaned against the doorframe, her smirk faintly visible under the dim light.

“You think wearing that necklace makes you one of them?” she asked, her tone dripping with disdain. “You really believe you belong in their world?”

I stayed silent, my eyes still on the ceiling.

She stepped closer, her voice low but venomous. “You know, everything that’s yours will eventually be mine. I took your dad, didn’t I? I can take your husband too.”

Her words hung in the air, sharp and childish.

I finally turned my head, meeting her gaze. My tone was calm, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Why is this dog barking in my room?”

Her face flushed with anger. She huffed like a spoiled child caught in her own game and spun around, slamming the door behind her as she left.

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes.