<h4>Chapter 154: ept the fact ..</h4>


    Jessica wheeled Davis back to the dining hall, her heart thudding in her chest. The moment they stepped through the doorway, every pair of eyes at the table turned toward them.


    It felt as if the entire room was holding its breath, waiting for something to unfold. They weren’t just looking at Davis, though. They were looking at her.


    Her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment as she felt the weight of their gaze. It was as though their eyes were peeling her open, searching for every little detail about what had kept them so long in the kitchen. What had happened between them?


    Jessica tried to ignore the heavy silence that followed them. She didn’t expect Davis to be so unfazed, but there he was—his expression a perfect mask of stoicism. He didn’t seem to care that everyone was staring, or if they were reading into their dy.


    If anything, he seemed to enjoy the difort, though he kept it hidden behind hisposed exterior.


    As they made their way to the table, Jessica wheeled him to the seat at the right hand of Elliot Raven, the patriarch of the group. She took her own seat beside him, her movements stiff as she tried to keep her embarrassment in check.


    But it was hard to shake the feeling that everyone knew. They could sense something had changed. The quiet smirks on their faces made it clear that they were no strangers to reading between the lines.


    The clink of cutlery was the only sound that broke the silence as dinner was finally served. It was a quiet moment before Elliot cleared his throat lightly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.


    His eyes shifted around the table, taking in the familiar faces of those he had dined with countless times. But tonight, everything felt different because their identities had changed. His gaze on them filled with emotions simmering just beneath the surface.


    Elliot took a deep breath, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the announcement he was about to make.


    "This evening," he began, his voice calm but with an edge of something else, "we’ve gathered here like we do every weekend, expecting a little peace after our busy schedules.


    But tonight... tonight is different. We’ve been summoned here, not just for dinner, but because of something we all need to address know and address."


    Ethan and Richard exchanged nces. Their brows furrowed, confusion clear in their eyes. It seems every other person is privy to the impending announcement leaving them both wondering.


    "What could Elliot be talking about? "


    Elliot paused, his eyes briefly meeting Jessica’s as if seeking her permission, though there was nothing he needed to ask for. His voice dropped in volume, as if to make sure everyone was listening closely.


    "The announcement I’m making tonight is something... unexpected." He looked at Davis, then Be, his gaze unwavering. "After a series of investigations and tests though surprising , it turns out that Davis and Be... are siblings. And I... I’m their grandfather."


    The room went dead silent for a brief second followed by the tter of cutlery as they echoed sharply through the stillness, the sound of forks and knives dropping to tes, as they were forgotten in the shock of the revtion.


    Ethan and Richard’s mouths hung open, eyes wide with disbelief. They couldn’t quite grasp what they were hearing.


    Was this a joke? A cruel trick? Or a prank? Ethan’s mind raced as he turned slowly to look at Be, trying to find any trace of simrity. But there was nothing.


    "Boss," Ethan said, his voice thick with shock. "Are you saying... Dr. Be is your lost sister?" His eyes darted from Elliot to Davis and from Davis to Be, still searching for any sign, any hint of truth in the situation. His disbelief was palpable. Davis nodded in affirmation.


    The truth struck Ethan like a blow to the chest. Dr. Be turned out to be Davis’s sister, the one had been searching for.


    His heart sank. A dramatic, crushing thud of disappointment echoed in his chest. He didn’t even try to hide it. He whispered under his breath, "Of all the women in the world..."


    Elliot didn’t flinch under Ethan’s questioning gaze. His eyes stayed steady, his voice calm despite the storm of emotions that have been swirling within him. "Yes," he confirmed softly. "Be is my granddaughter daughter. And Davis... Davis is my grandson."


    The words hung in the air, thick and heavy.


    Ethan looked at Davis, then back to Be, his mind struggling toprehend what had just been revealed.


    This is the woman he had been secretly hoping to pursue...and possibly make her his wife. But now... now this?


    The thought of Be being his boss’s sister made everythingplicated but now she had turned into a powerful heiress—with the Allen on one hand and on the other is the Ravensdale.


    She had turned out to bepletely off-limits.


    He had worked alongside these people, been in their lives for so long, but this was something no one had expected. Not in their wildest dreams. How could things change so quickly? How could he have missed all the signs?


    Richard, sitting at the table, couldn’t contain his nervous energy. His fingers were trembling slightly as he reached for his ss of water.


    He gulped down the contents, trying to calm the panic that was building in his chest. His thoughts weren’t on the unexpected family revtion; no, his mind was fixed on Jessica. She has been caught in the middle of this changes. How would she react?


    Richard couldn’t imagine the kind of emotional turmoil Jessica must have felt as she got the news of her sworn sister bing her sister-inw and her godfather taking the identity of grandfather iw.


    One moment, she was just trying to keep her life together, to survive the chaos of her marriage to Davis and the whirlwind of emotions that had surrounded their rtionship. And now... now she was tangled up in a family rtionship that no one sawing.


    He couldn’t help but wonder how fate ys in one’s life. He had always known that Jessica preferred the quiet life than anything else but then Looking at her quite, collectedposure he felt himself worrying too much when it seems she had already epted her fate.


    Seated beside Davis, her face was expressionless as though it is no big deal, as though it was a situation worth it.


    "How... how long have you known?" He asked, his voice quiet but edged with uncertainty. He looked at Elliot, then at the trio—Jessica, Davis and Be and sighed deeply.


    Elliot sighed deeply, a sadness creeping into his expression. "I didn’t know until a few minutes to hour ago." His voice wavered slightly. "But now that the truth hase to light, it affects everything. I know it’s a lot to take in, but I wanted you all to know."


    Richard nced at Davis. His face was unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes were filled with emotions unpredictable . Was it resignation? Was it fear? Or was it something else entirely?


    Davis sat quietly andposed, his heart thinking hard on his options while his steady gaze rested on Jessica, his hand sping hers tightly as though seeking a confirmation from her. "This changes nothing, right," he asked quietly. "We’ve been through a lot together already. We can handle this too."


    Richard wasn’t sure what to think. But one thing was clear. Things would never be the same.


    Ethan finally broke the silence. His voice was tight with both disbelief and worries. "So, what does this mean for us?" He looked around the table at everyone, as if searching for an answer. "What does this mean for our future?"


    Elliot’s face grew serious. "what it means for each of us... will have to be determined as we move forward." He paused, his gaze locking on Richard and Ethan.


    "But I can assure you, nothing will change in terms of my expectations. I expect the same loyalty, the same dedication, from each of you. But now... we’re a family." He concluded.


    Ethan didn’t respond immediately. His mind was still reeling from the revtion.


    But Richard’s thoughts were entirely different. He didn’t know how she felt—how could he?


    But he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. She had been thrown into the deep end of a situation she couldn’t control, a situation that would alter the course of her life.


    And in that moment, Richard made a silent promise to himself. He would protect her, no matter what. Whatever this family drama entailed, Jessica would not face it alone.


    Elliot’s voice broke through Richard’s thoughts again, this time softer, but with an undercurrent of finality. "We’ll face these changes together. The past is behind us. But now, we begin anew."


    For Jessica, She wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring. But as she sat beside Davis, her hand still resting in his, she knew one thing for sure.


    The world was changing. And she would have to change with it.