The living room buzzed with a kind of energy that only came when something important was about to happen. Elizabeth stood near the doorway, smoothing invisible creases from her outfit for the third time in two minutes.
"Relax," Jacob murmured beside her, his voice calm, steady. "It is just your family, not a board of directors."
Elizabeth shot him a look. "Exactly. My family is worse."
He chuckled softly, but before he could say anything else, the door swung open.
"Elizabeth!" her mother's voice rang out, warm and excited as she pulled her into a tight hug. "You did not even tell me you were bringing someone special."
Elizabeth laughed nervously. "Mum, I did tell you."
"Not properly," her mother said, already turning her attention to Jacob. Her eyes lit up immediately, scanning him from head to toe with open curiosity. "Ah, so this is him."
Jacob stepped forward politely. "Good afternoon, ma. It is nice to finally meet you."
That was all it took.
Elizabeth's mother beamed like she had just won something. "Such manners," she said, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. "Elizabeth, you did well."
"Mum," Elizabeth groaned, her cheeks flushing.
Before things could get more embarrassing, a deep voice cut through the moment.
"So this is the young man."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Elizabeth's father stood by the hallway entrance, arms folded, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. The kind of look that could make even confident people rethink their life choices.
Jacob straightened slightly. "Good afternoon, sir."
Her father nodded once, slowly walking closer. He circled Jacob in a way that made Elizabeth want to disappear into the floor.
"Hm," he muttered. "You look… strong."
Elizabeth blinked. "Dad, what does that even mean?"
"It means," he said calmly, still studying Jacob, "that you look like trouble."
Jacob did not flinch. If anything, the corner of his mouth lifted just slightly. "I assure you, sir, I am only trouble when necessary."
That answer seemed to amuse him for a split second, though he quickly masked it.
"My daughter," he began, glancing at Elizabeth, "has always had good judgment." He paused, then added, "I hope she has not suddenly lost it."
"Dad!"
"I like him," her mother cut in quickly, linking her arm with Jacob's like they had known each other for years. "He is polite. That is enough for me."
"That is not enough," her father replied flatly.
Before the tension could build further, a loud voice echoed from the back.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Cole burst into the room, basketball tucked under his arm, his eyes locked on Jacob like he had just found his next mission.
"So you are the guy," he said, walking closer with a grin that was anything but innocent.
Elizabeth sighed. "Cole, please do not start."
"Oh, I have to," he replied, spinning the ball on his finger. "No random guy is dating my sister without proving himself."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "And how do you suggest I do that?"
Cole's grin widened. "One on one. Basketball. If you win, I will accept you."
"And if I lose?" Jacob asked.
"Then I will make your life very difficult," Cole said casually.
Elizabeth groaned. "This is ridiculous."
"I think it is fair," her father added, clearly entertained now.
Jacob looked at Elizabeth for a second, then back at Cole. "Alright. You have a deal."
Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Jacob, you do not have to do this."
He leaned slightly toward her, his voice low. "It is fine. I like a challenge."
Her mother clapped her hands excitedly. "This is going to be fun."
"Fun for who?" Elizabeth muttered.
A short while later, they were outside. The small court behind the house suddenly felt like a battlefield.
Cole bounced the ball confidently. "First to ten," he said. "No excuses."
Jacob nodded, rolling his shoulders slightly as if warming up.
The game started fast.
Cole was quick, energetic, determined to prove a point. But Jacob was calm, calculated. He moved with a quiet confidence that slowly began to shift the energy of the game.
At first, Cole scored easily, celebrating each point like he had already won.
"You see that?" he shouted. "Too easy!"
But Jacob only smiled.
Then things changed.
A clean steal. A smooth shot. Another point.
Elizabeth watched from the sidelines, her hands clasped tightly together. "Come on," she whispered, though she was not even sure who she was rooting for anymore.
By the time the score reached nine to nine, even her father was fully invested, leaning forward slightly.
"Last point," Cole said, determination flashing in his eyes.
He charged forward, but Jacob anticipated it, stepping in at just the right moment to intercept the ball. In one fluid motion, he turned and took the final shot.
The ball swished cleanly through the net.
Silence.
Then—
"No way," Cole said, staring at the hoop like it had betrayed him.
Jacob let out a small breath, handing him the ball. "Good game."
Cole studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine. You are not bad." He paused, then added, "I guess you can date my sister."
Elizabeth laughed in relief, walking over to Jacob. "You did not have to win that dramatically."
He smiled. "I had an audience."
Her father stepped forward, nodding once. "You are acceptable," he said simply.
Her mother rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. You are more than acceptable."
Jacob laughed softly, and for the first time that evening, Elizabeth felt completely at ease.
Later that night, Amelia sat across from them in a lively restaurant, watching everything unfold with quiet amusement.
Elizabeth leaned into Jacob slightly, laughing at something he whispered in her ear. It was effortless. Natural. A kind of softness Amelia had never really seen in her before.
"I cannot believe you two," Amelia said, shaking her head. "You actually look happy."
Elizabeth glanced at her, her smile warm and genuine. "We are. It took a while, but… he was worth it."
Jacob reached for Elizabeth's hand as he passed behind her chair, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was such a small gesture, but it said everything.
Amelia noticed.
And for a brief second, something twisted in her chest.
Not jealousy.
Something more complicated.
Her mind drifted, uninvited, to Xavier. To the tension, the fire, the unpredictability. Nothing about them was soft or simple. It was intense, messy, dangerous.
Completely different from this.
"Amelia?"
She blinked, realizing Elizabeth was watching her now.
"You have been quiet," Elizabeth said softly. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine," Amelia replied quickly, offering a small smile.
But she was not.
Not really.
Before the conversation could continue, her phone rang.
The sound was sharp, cutting through the moment. Amelia frowned slightly before picking it up.
"Hello?"
There was a pause.
Then a voice.
"Miss Winters."
Her body went still.
The voice was slow, deliberate, unfamiliar in a way that immediately set her on edge.
"Yes. Who is this?" she asked, her tone steady despite the sudden unease crawling up her spine.
"You need to be careful," the voice continued. "Kale's death was not random."
Her grip on the phone tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
"It was a warning," the voice said calmly. "For you."
A chill ran through her.
"Do not try to be clever," the voice added. "You are already in more danger than you understand."
"Wait," Amelia said quickly. "Who is this? What do you want?"
"Watch your back."
The line went dead.
Amelia lowered the phone slowly, her heart pounding hard against her chest.
The noise of the restaurant came rushing back, but everything felt distant.
"Amelia?" Elizabeth's voice was closer now, filled with concern. "What happened?"
She hesitated, then looked at her.
"It is nothing," she started, but the words felt empty even to her.
Elizabeth did not buy it.
"Is this about Xavier?" she asked gently.
Amelia exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I do not even know anymore," she admitted. "I cannot tell if I want to fight him… or if I am already too deep in whatever this is."
Elizabeth reached for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "You are not alone," she said. "Whatever this turns into, we will handle it together."
Jacob nodded in agreement. "You have people on your side."
Amelia looked between them, something softening in her expression.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Outside, the city lights shimmered through the glass, bright and distant. Beautiful, but hiding things beneath the surface.
Just like her life.
Just like Xavier.
And deep down, Amelia knew one thing for certain.
No matter how hard she tried to stay in control, no matter how much she told herself to stay away, Xavier Steel was already at the center of everything.
And walking away from that storm was not going to be easy.