CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER-73. (A ROYAL BANQUET).

Several questions started to cloud my senses as my gaze played ping-pong between Caroline and Grace.

Do they know each other? If yes, then how?

Did they just get to know each other recently, or have they known each other for a long time?

And why had Caroline never told me about her?

Caroline finally took a step forward as she walked towards the empty seat between Nicole and Dave. She did not look at either of us and just sat there keeping her head down.

While Dave did not move. Calm and unreadable, like he was waiting for the pieces to fall into place, just like an audience sitting in a freaking opera.

On the other hand, Nicole, who until now leaned back in his chair, sat straight. His eyes got narrowed as his jaw clenched tight enough that I thought he might shatter his teeth if he bit down any harder.

His hands flexed against the table, as if they were itching for something...words. And if I say more precisely, he waited for the answers to be disclosed by any of the ladies sitting beside him.

As his gaze then focused on his sister, she blinked her eyes as if she were the most innocent person alive, which clearly was a big fat lie.

"What? I just made your work easy for you." Her words were too sugar-coated for my liking. Her sweet tone sounded so sugary that it could give a normal person diabetes.

Nicole’s one eyebrow shot up as he tilted his head and spat out, "How? Care to explain?"

Grace’s smile did not budge; instead, it grew wider as she replied, "With pleasure." Just as she said those words, the door of the room got opened.

Several waiters walked in carrying trays of food and drinks. They arranged the dishes on the table in a precise manner, their movements so swift and smooth that I almost lost focus just watching them work.

She clinked her glass as she announced, "Now, the food is here. We shall start the meeting." Her face brightened up as if she was just about to host a royal banquet.

Her gaze kept shifting to each of the members sitting there before it finally stopped on Caroline. She relaxed on her chair, putting her foot on another when she pointed out, "Ms. Bennett, would you like to start when you met my...brother?"

Caroline’s whole body shuddered as those words fell into her ear. For the first time, her eyes moved from her hands to Grace. Her expression changed from frozen shock to pleading.

Her eyes were wide, shining with fear, almost begging Grace to stop.

But of course, Grace did not stop there.

She leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on her hand like this was some amusing film. That smug smile on her face was so thick I wanted to wipe it off myself.

"Go on, we all are waiting for you," Grace said in that fake-sweet tone. "Tell us. When did you two meet and in what circumstances? I am sure the story will be... interesting than this steak."

Caroline opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat bobbed, her hands twisting in her lap like she was holding herself together. She looked trapped, and Grace was enjoying cornering her.

My stomach hurt just watching her. I glanced at Dave to react to it. He also knew the whole story then, why in the world did he remain quiet, just watching this whole drama unveiling?

I kept clenching and unclenching my hands, trying to calm myself, but when my gaze again fell on Caroline, who was on the verge of crying, I knew the limit had been crossed.

I shot up from my chair, my voice cutting through the room louder than I expected, "Enough." My voice echoed through the whole room. Even the people outside might have heard me, but did I care? Not one bit.

Everyone’s heads turned to me. Grace shot up her eyebrows at me while Nicole gave me a frustrated look, but my gaze stopped at Dave.

I expected him to stay cold, or at best, throw me a scowl for daring to interrupt. But that was not what happened. His face stayed carefully blank, yet his eyes told a different story.

The gaze that had been icy just a minute ago now held a surprising warmth. And in that flicker, I caught something else too... pride? Was he actually proud of me?

My breath caught, and I almost looked away, worried the moment would disappear. But it didn’t. His eyes stayed on me, steady, as if he was silently admitting something.

As much as I liked having this warmth inside me, I jerked those thoughts away and refocused on Caroline, who kept staring at me with wide eyes.

I walked up to her and hugged her from the side. The moment I took her in my embrace, she started to sob, and in no time, those sobs turned into ugly cries.

Her body shook in my arms, her cries muffled against my shoulder. I could feel her pain pouring out, raw and messy, like she had been holding it in for too long.

My own chest tightened, and for a second, I forgot everyone else in the room. It was just me and Caroline, my friend who had been dragged into this nightmare.

"It’s okay," I whispered, rubbing her back even though I knew it wasn’t okay. "You don’t have to say anything right now. Not like this."

She clung to me tighter, her fingers digging into my sleeve as if she was scared I would let go.

But of course, the room wasn’t going to stay silent for long.

Grace cleared her throat loudly, her smirk still plastered on her face. "Oh, how touching. Sisterhood at its finest." She dragged out the words, fake sympathy dripping from every syllable.

I shot her a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Shut up, Grace. This isn’t your stage."

Her smile faltered just a little, but she didn’t back down. Instead, she leaned lazily against her chair, twirling the stem of her glass like she had all the time in the world.