Alice followed them into the dining hall, every step dragging like iron at her ankles.
The table, set for ten, gleamed under the soft glow of a chandelier. Ten forks, ten knives, ten glasses, all laid with military precision, each one glittering like a weapon.
Suzy's parents were already there, chatting on a couch beside the main table. Alice noticed the immediate tension between Suzy and her parents. Suzy didn't even spare them a glance. Dawin, on the other hand, was all warmth and gentleness. He smiled, spoke to them kindly, and they looked ready to adopt him on the spot.
