A thick silence draped over the room like a cloak, the atmosphere growing tenser with each passing second. Gracie and Vincent exchanged worried glances. Zara sat quietly, emotionally distant from the brewing storm. But Riya’s heart fluttered with a thrill she could barely contain.
Nathaniel’s disapproval had ignited a spark of hope in her chest. The way he had openly criticized his own friend just to oppose her marriage—it had to an sothing.
’He doesn’t want to see with another man. It ans he likes .’ Her lips curled into a faint smile.
For a mont, she forgot about Zachary and the contract that bound her to him. All she could think of was Nathaniel. His conflicted expression, his protective tone made her heart flutter.
If he truly harbored feelings for her, she would make sure to turn those feelings into sothing real, sothing permanent.
"Nathaniel, how can you speak of your friend like that?" Paulina snapped. "Liam may have been involved in casual relationships, but that doesn’t an he is incapable of commitnt. Maybe he is waiting for the right match—soone his family approves of. I believe he’ll be faithful once he is married."
She lifted her chin and added proudly, "The Lawsons are more than willing to proceed with this marriage. We plan to announce their engagent soon. It’s better if Riya starts getting to know Liam."
Nathaniel slamd the fork against the plate. "Why is no one listening to ?" he snapped with rising irritation. "He is not right for Riya. I know exactly what kind of person Liam is—far more than any of you."
"Lower your voice," Vincent said coldly, his brows pinching tightly with disapproval. "We haven’t made any final decisions. We are only discussing. The Lawsons are a respected family. Many would jump at the chance to marry into them. This alliance could be beneficial for us."
With a more asured seriousness, Vincent added, "Of course, we won’t force Riya into anything she doesn’t want. There is no harm in them eting and talking. If she doesn’t like him after that, we’ll drop the proposal."
He turned to Riya. "What do you think of Liam? Do you want to et him? Or—is there soone else you are interested in? If there is soone you are seeing, we’d love to et your boyfriend."
Riya’s gaze imdiately flicked toward Nathaniel. Her chest tightened painfully. He was the man she wanted. But how could she say that out loud?
And as for a boyfriend... she didn’t have one. What she did have was an illicit, passionate affair with Zachary, the illegitimate son of the Grant family. If her family ever discovered that she was Zachary’s secret lover, they’d disown her.
Panic crept in, and her face lost its color. She shook her head. "I... I don’t have a boyfriend."
Vincent nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Then, do you have any objection to eting Liam?" he asked kindly. "If you are uncomfortable, just say the word. We won’t pressure you."
Riya’s eyes instinctively darted toward Nathaniel again. He looked far from pleased. The sight sent a thrill through her.
’Is he... jealous?’ The thought made her pulse quicken with anticipation.
’If eting Liam makes him angry, he might finally lose his cool,’ she mused. ’Maybe even divorce Zara out of frustration.’
The image of Nathaniel confessing his feelings to her, unable to suppress his possessiveness anymore, lit a fire in her chest.
’If he loves , I won’t need to fear Zachary anymore. I won’t need to hide my feelings.’
Though her mind was spinning with wild hopes, Riya kept her expression composed. She dipped her head, hiding the gleam in her eyes.
"I’m truly grateful for how much this family loves ," she murmured. "To even consider marrying into a family like the Lawsons... it’s more than I’ve ever imagined."
She made a pitiful look. "If you hadn’t taken in back then, if you hadn’t raised like one of your own, soone like could never dream of marrying Liam."
Her tone was gentle, and her expression humble, drawing sympathy from everyone. "I’m just the adopted daughter. I know where I co from. I don’t deserve soone like Liam. Why would I object to sothing this honorable?"
"Don’t say such things," Gracie cut in. "You are as much a part of this family as anyone else. We’ve never treated you any differently."
"I know, Mom," Riya said, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand. "You’ve always treated like your princess. I’m forever grateful for your love and support. Everything I’ve achieved... it’s because of you."
She paused, casting a glance at Vincent. "I want to show my filial duty. I’ll et Liam."
Gracie’s face lit up with delight. "That’s wonderful. We’ll speak with the Lawsons."
The mood around the table shifted instantly. Smiles returned, and the atmosphere turned lively again—except for Nathaniel. His gaze remained fixed on his plate, his jaw tight, his mind far away. The idea of Riya with soone like Liam left a bitter taste in his mouth.
’Liam is not right for her,’ he muttered angrily in his mind. ’I’ll talk to him. I’ll make sure he knows not to ss with her.’
Across from him, Zara remained quiet. As she resud eating, her eyes moved to Riya from ti to ti, studying her every move. She didn’t care who Riya married, but watching her performance was nothing short of astonishing.
The way she spoke humbly, the way her eyes brimd with perfectly tid tears, the way she played the grateful daughter—it was all masterfully done.
If she hadn’t already known Riya’s true nature, she might have been moved too.
’Filial duty?’ she nearly scoffed aloud. ’What a joke.’
She wondered how Gracie would react if she ever discovered how Riya felt about Nathaniel and what dark desires were hidden behind that sweet, innocent smile.
Dinner concluded without further incident. As the family began to disperse, Vincent asked Nathaniel to co to the study. While they disappeared into the study, Zara took Zane into the room.
"Mommy, read a story," Zane chirped, holding up his favorite book.
Zara smiled, smoothing down his hair. "Of course." She took the book and settled beside him as she began to read.
Inside the study...
Vincent sat down behind the desk, his features etched with thought. He studied Nathaniel carefully, noting the tightness in his son’s expression.
"Is sothing wrong on the business front?" Vincent asked, his tone probing. "Have the Lawsons caused any issues? Is the deal with them still on track?"
Nathaniel imdiately understood where this was going. He t his father’s gaze evenly. "There is no problem with the business. Everything is going as planned."
Vincent’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Then why are you so against the marriage proposal?" he asked, confused. "Your reaction at the dinner table was unexpected."
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