e living room, buried memories rose to the s

on her face. The heat of the fire contrasted cruelly with the cold that had settled between her and Ethan. He, leaning against the wall, arms cr

reath, breaking t

women you're dating? she began, her voice bare

n eyebrow, but

... She hesitated, searching for words. My father was obsessed with control. Eve

e tried to hide. Ethan stood still, his expression

She was soft, like a light in the darkness. But she wasn't st

n. Ethan, still frozen, seemed

ly asked, his voice

p quiet, to play the role he expected of me. Until the d

hed in Ethan's eyes, but he

on her lips. Married to a man who despises me,

mind. He turned on his heel and left the room wit

for him, seated in a worn leather armchair. He sat up sl

Lucas riske

ass of whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing gently agains

t tonight," he finally said

d an eyebro

o w

ather, Ethan replied, playing with his gl

expression becom

hink she p

, his gaze fixed on t

But I can't let my guard down. Not

rd, resting his el

cious. But sometimes people tell the

s Beta, a glint of do

afford to trust a w

there was no point in trying to convince

finally said. This could be a good opport

shadow of distrust l

e of this rare opportunity to celebrate after the tensions of the past few days. Alayna, dressed in a blue

me curious, others hostile. She

corner of the room, a drink in his hand. He wat

ion of several guests. He was tall, blond, with a cocky

ucas asked, app

ied, his eyes narrowing as he s

ront of her, a mocki

oice full of condescensi

d pale when

whispered, her

wn his glass and quickly stepped forwar

here, he said in a cal

to him, a smir

re you? His

ists, but remained i

e ordered, h

the warning, placed a

he whispered, loud eno

Thomas by the collar and lift

t walk out of here whole, he growled, his

ch the scene, a tense sil

er senses, placed a

e whispered. It

ventually released Tho

ked for mercy, he spa

ted, left the room unde

ds trembling, t

ou, she s

still wary,

whispered, more for

to normal, an invisible tension