Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Grandpa Birthday III
SOPHIA’S POV
Dinner was ready an hour later.
Everyone sat down around the long dining table. George sat at the head of the table. Damien sat across from us with Tiffany next to him. Helen and several other family mbers filled the remaining seats. Declan sat near the other end, still looking annoyed about the limited nu.
"This slls amazing, Sophia." George said with a smile. He inhaled deeply. "Just like I rember. You’re too good to us."
"It’s my pleasure." I served him first, making sure he got the best pieces. "Happy birthday, sir."
"Best birthday gift I could ask for." He smiled at
then he looked at Damien. "So people don’t appreciate what they have until it’s gone."
Damien’s jaw tightened but he didn’t respond. Tiffany reached under the table and squeezed his hand. Everyone noticed what she did.
We started eating. George made happy sounds with each bite, clearly enjoying the food.
Declan pushed his food around his plate. He took a few bites. His expression was sour and disgusted but I ignored him. Finally, he set his fork down with more force than necessary.
"Is sothing wrong with your al, Declan?" Helen asked.
"It’s just not what I was expecting." He looked at
directly. "No offense, Sophia, but this is pretty basic. You used to make incredible spreads with lots of courses and desserts. This is just... pot roast. For Grandfather’s eightieth birthday? Co on now.”
"The pot roast is delicious," George said. "And it’s exactly what I wanted."
"But it’s not about just you, is it?" Declan spoke again. "There are twenty people here. We all drove from different places. We were expecting sothing more... special with more effort." He pointed at the simple table setting. "This feels lazy honestly, like you couldn’t be bothered."
I squeezed the napkin on my lap, trying my best to control myself. My wolf growled low in my chest. I’d been holding back all evening, swallowing comnts and letting things slide. But sothing about Declan’s entitled tone pushed
past my limit.
"Lazy?" I looked at him. "I worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital today, Declan. Then I ca here and cooked George’s favorite al from scratch. And you call that lazy.”
"You used to do more-"
"I used to do more when I lived here, when I was part of this family." I snapped. "When I had a husband who appreciated what I did instead of replacing
the mont I left. Things change, Declan. My priorities have changed. If you have a problem with that, maybe you should talk to your brother about why."
The place was silent. Everyone stopped eating. Damien’s expression was unreadable, but I saw his hands clench into fists on the table.
Declan’s face flushed red. "That’s not fair. I was just saying-"
"You were being disrespectful." I didn’t let him finish. "You were implying I owe you sothing, that I owe this family so grand performance. I don’t owe anyone here anything except basic courtesy. Which is more than you’ve shown
tonight."
"Sophia-" Declan started again.
"ENOUGH!" George raised his voice. His cane hit the floor hard. The sound echoed through the dining room. Everyone jumped.
George’s face was red with anger. He glared at Declan.
"How dare you? How dare you sit at my table, eat food that this woman prepared after working all day, and complain that it’s not good enough for you?."
Declan blinked in shock "Grandfather, I didn’t an-"
"You ant every word and I’m ashad of you." George’s voice shook with anger "This woman drove here exhausted to make
happy on my birthday. She brought
thoughtful gifts. She made exactly what I asked for, yet you have the nerve to insult her cooking? To suggest she’s lazy?"
Declan kept quiet. I’d never seen George this angry before. Neither had anyone else apparently.
"The Stone family does not treat its daughter-in-law this way." George looked around the table. He looked at Damien. "Sophia is still Ashley’s mother. She is still part of this family whether certain people want to acknowledge it or not, and she will be treated with respect in my ho."
His words were clearly directed at more than just Declan. It seed like he was talking directly to Damien. Tiffany suddenly beca very interested in her plate.
"She’s not really-" Declan tried one more ti.
"She cooked for
when she had every right to refuse after how this family has treated her." George’s cane hit the floor again. "She showed up. She rembered what I liked. She put love and care into every bite of this al. If that’s not good enough for you, then you don’t deserve to eat it. Apologize to her now."
Declan’s face went from red to white. His self-esteem was clearly hurt. He was being scolded like a child in front of everyone. His pride couldn’t take it. He stood up.
"I’ve lost my appetite." His voice was cold. "Excuse ."
He stord out of the dining room. Then, we heard the slam of a door sowhere deeper in the manor.
Helen stood. "I should go talk to him"
"Sit down, Helen." George said "Let him sulk. Maybe it’ll teach him so manners."
“Dad, he’s upset-"
"And Sophia wasn’t upset? After being insulted repeatedly for trying to do sothing nice?" George shook his head. "No. You stay here. Declan is a grown man. He can handle his own hurt feelings for once."
Helen sat in her chair. She looked angry but didn’t say anything.
"I’m sorry," I said quietly to George. "I didn’t an to ruin your dinner."
"You didn’t ruin anything." George reached across the table and patted my hand. "You made it special. Don’t apologize for standing up for yourself. You should have done it years ago."
He looked at Damien again. The ssage was clear. This wasn’t just about Declan’s rudeness. This was about how the entire family had allowed
to be treated.
I looked at my plate. I wasn’t hungry anymore. My wolf was exhausted from the emotional roller coaster. Standing up to Declan had felt good in the mont but now I just felt tired.
I was tired of fighting.
I was tired of defending my worth to people who should have valued
without needing to be scolded into it.
Right now? I just wanted dinner to end
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