CHAPTER 84: THE DINNER

Pauline shot her mother a sharp look. "Mother."

But Margaret didn’t back down. Her eyes stayed locked on Jack, who merely chuckled like a man trying too hard to seem unaffected.

"I wanted to see you both," Jack said. "It’s been a long time."

Pauline softened again. That was all it took, one gentle tone, one affectionate lie for her to let down her guard.

She touched his cheek, lovingly. "I am glad you came."

Margaret, on the other hand, watched the interaction with suspicion. She was not buying any of the crap that Jack was trying to throw.

Jack continued chatting with Pauline. He started by asking her about her garden, complimenting the décor, talking about how he wanted to ’repair old bridges’ and ’make the family proud.’

Pauline had been listening to him with her heart so she melted easily.

But Margaret?

She watched everything.

The way his jaw tensed when Alexander’s name came up, the flash of bitterness when Pauline mentioned Evelyn and the way his fingers dug into the couch whenever they praised Alexander. She had noticed them all.

He stayed for almost an hour, speaking politely and smiling perfectly. In fact, it was too perfect for Jack’s personality.

Then he stood. "I should get going."

"Won’t you stay for lunch?" Pauline asked.

"Maybe next time mom, I have some work today."

Pauline hugged him tightly. "Come again soon, Jack."

He smiled at her, the closest thing to sincerity he showed that day.

"I will."

Margaret only gave him a curt nod and Jack left, closing the door softly.

Pauline walked to the window to watch his car drive away. She stood very still, waiting until the engine faded down the street and could no longer see even a glimpse of him.

And then her entire expression collapsed.

The warmth drained from her eyes, replaced by a deep, unsettled dread.

"Mother," she whispered.

Margaret was already watching her.

"He is planning something," Pauline said shakily. "I don’t know what it is and I can’t explain it but I felt it."

Margaret exhaled, her eyes turning sharp as steel and her grip tightened around her cane.

"You are not wrong," she answered, her eyes dripping with concern.

Pauline’s voice trembled. "He wasn’t being Jack. It felt like he was trying to impress us. Trying to appear stable and definitely trying to hide something."

Margaret nodded once.

"That boy didn’t come here for love," she said. "He came because he wanted something and I feel it’s something to do with Alexander. And Evelyn."

Pauline’s breath hitched. "Mother, I am scared," she said, placing her hand on her chest. "I don’t want him to do anything stupid."

Margaret placed a hand on Pauline’s shoulder. It wasn’t gentle but firm.

"Let him try," she said. "Let him scheme."

Her eyes darkened with a quiet, lethal promise. "He will find out very soon that this family only bends when I say it bends."

Pauline swallowed hard. She trusted Margaret’s strength but her heart, a mother’s heart, whispered a warning she couldn’t ignore.

Jack was spiraling again and spiraling men were dangerous especially toward the ones they had lost.

....

[Carter Mansion]

The Carter mansion felt different. It wasn’t tense or heavy as it had been for the past few weeks.

When Evelyn walked in wearing a soft lavender blouse, Melissa immediately softened while Gregory pretended not to stare.

When Gregory asked Evelyn to invite Alexander, she immediately asked him to come over for dinner.

This was the first time he was visiting after their marriage was officially announced and she was both excited and nervous about it.

She really wanted things to go well and also hoped Gregory would somehow warm up to Alexander.

Melissa had lit the soft overhead lights, letting the warm glow paint the dining room in a comforting honey-gold. The table was set neatly because she had redone the placement four times out of nervous excitement.

Gregory, however, sat stiffly at the head of the table, flipping through a newspaper he wasn’t really reading.

Just then the doorbell rang.

Melissa brightened and Evelyn’s heart flopped.

"He is early," Gregory muttered under his breath.

A moment later, the butler opened the door and Alexander stepped in.

He had left his usual guarded expression behind tonight. His eyes brightened the very second he saw Evelyn and her shoulders relaxed the instant she met his gaze.

"Good evening," Alexander greeted politely, giving Melissa a respectful nod and Gregory a formal, almost old-fashioned bow of his head.

"Alexander," Melissa greeted warmly, smiling. "Welcome."

He smiled and handed her the bouquet of lilies. "These are for you."

Melissa smiled. "Oh, you didn’t have to," she said, taking them.

Gregory glanced at the bouquet once before looking at Alexander.

"Sit," he said but it sounded more like a grunt.

Melissa shot him a glare.

Alexander pretended not to notice and took his seat beside Evelyn.

The first few minutes went slowly. It was full awkward small talk and clinking of cutlery while Gregory was busy pretending the soup was far more interesting than the man sitting across from him.

Evelyn nudged Alexander’s arm under the table asking him to say something but Melissa beat him to it.

"So, Alexander," she began, smiling, "I heard you spoke to Margaret about keeping the wedding small."

Gregory’s spoon froze midair and Evelyn stiffened.

She looked at her father and gave him an awkward smile. She completely forgot to inform her father about her decision to have a small wedding.

Alexander nodded. "Yes. Evelyn prefers something intimate. I want her to be comfortable."

Melissa’s smile grew softer. "That is very thoughtful of you."

Gregory’s jaw worked but he quickly composed himself. "I have one daughter and you want a small wedding?"

But when Mellisa shot him a glance, he awkwardly cleared his throat. "Small doesn’t mean unrespectable. There will still be important people attending."

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

"Of course, sir," Alexander answered. "Whatever you feel is appropriate and as long as Evelyn is happy."

Gregory went silent.

Evelyn glanced at her father, eyes wide because that wasn’t the reaction she expected. Gregory didn’t snap back or scold back. He simply looked at Alexander for a long moment and then something very close to respect passed through his eyes.

Melissa also noticed and her smile softened even more.

She cleared her throat. "Alexander, how is work? You must be very busy with preparations and travel."

"Busy but manageable," he admitted lightly. "I am used to balancing too many things at once."

"That is not something to flex," Gregory remarked. "Tyring to balance too many things at once can result in chaos."

....