“But it’s fine,” Lucas said quietly, his tone calm but steady. “We’ll just take it as it comes. We’re already here. No point in turning back now.”

Aurora nodded after a brief pause. “You’re right.”

She straightened her shoulders. Whatever this dinner turned out to be, better to face it head-on than let it drag on later. They were already at the gate; leaving now would only make things awkward.

Sure enough, as soon as they stepped inside, Grace’s cheerful voice carried across the courtyard. “You two finally made it! I’ve been waiting so long.”

“Mom, I’m here now, aren’t I?” Aurora replied evenly, her expression unreadable.

Lucas stood quietly beside her, saying nothing, perfectly composed as if he were just part of the background.

Grace didn’t mind his silence. He was, after all, the wealthiest man in Ravenshore, and his empire stretched across industries. A bit of aloofness was practically expected. The rich were entitled to their eccentricities, and with her own goals in mind, Grace was willing to overlook every minor slight.

“Good, good,” she said warmly. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I think about you every day, wondering why you never call me.”

Aurora’s tone stayed calm, almost cool. “We’ve never been the kind to call often. Why start now?”

Grace’s smile faltered, her face tightening. She hadn’t expected her daughter to embarrass her in front of Lucas. To be dismissed like that, right in front of her son-in-law, was utterly humiliating.

Before the silence grew too heavy, Tessa stepped in smoothly, her voice soft and diplomatic. “Aurora, you’ve misunderstood. Mom just wanted more time with you, that’s all. Ever since you moved out, she’s been talking about you nonstop.”

She played the perfect peacemaker, her tone light, her smile gentle, trying to please everyone at once.

Aurora, however, didn’t even bother to hide her irritation. “Tessa, I don’t think our mother and I need a mediator. You don’t have to involve yourself in our conversation.”

Tessa blinked, feigning surprise. “Sister, why are you saying that? Do you have something against me?” Tessa’s eyes shimmered with sudden tears. “Can’t we sisters just talk nicely for once? Mom’s right here watching. Do you really want to make her sad, too?”

As expected, Grace quickly took her younger daughter’s side, frowning as she turned to Aurora. “She’s your sister. How can you speak to her like that?”

Aurora’s lips curved into a faint, ironic smile. “So that’s why you asked me to dinner? To lecture me before I even set foot inside the house?”

She took a deliberate step back toward the door. “If that’s the case, then I can save you the trouble. I’ll leave now. You won’t have to put up with me for dinner.” Her gaze locked onto Grace’s, cool and unwavering.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Grace’s face before she forced a laugh and shot Tessa a quick warning glance. “Aurora, you’re misunderstanding again. I didn’t mean it like that. We’re family. It’s been so long since we were all together. Must we turn it into something unpleasant?”

Aurora gave a soft, humorless laugh. “Wasn’t that your intention from the start?”

That left Grace momentarily speechless. Realizing she’d lost control of the situation, she turned her attention sharply to Tessa.

“Tessa, that’s enough. Couldn’t you have just spoken kindly to your sister? Why bring up things that upset everyone? Enough talking. Let’s all sit down and eat. The food’s ready.”