AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
The red system screen was still glowing above the dining table, its numbers pulsing slowly like a heartbeat that had not yet decided whether the story would survive the night. I could still feel the weight of the ring Terrence had placed on my finger, His hand had not let go of mine, but across the room, something else had begun moving. Xavier Stoneheart was smiling, not the polite aristocratic smile he used for diplomacy, not the cold, strategic expression he used when calculating outcomes, this smile was different.
Slow, sharp, curious, and directed entirely at Bella Hearthstone. Bella noticed about three seconds too late.
"Oh." She said lightly, still standing beside me. "Why is the emotional damage CEO looking at me like that?"
Aiden snorted so violently he nearly inhaled his wine, Michael adjusted his glasses with visible academic excitement. Wanessa leaned back in her chair like she had just bought front row tickets to chaos.
