Chapter <b>38 </b>
I stiffened. My mimosa nearly toppled.
Sophia coughed into her hand. “Pineapple skewers, anyone?”
Kelvin leaned closer, his elbow brushing mine. “Just being honest.”
Jay sipped his drink. “Brunch has never been this fun.”
I tried to stay calm. Pretend I wasn’t burning under Liam’s stare. Or noticing the Kelvin
way kept angling his chair a little closer. It was subtle, but deliberate.
Then Uncle Oliver cleared his throat.
“One quick announcement before we all scatter,” he said, folding his hands. “The vi is ready. Starting tonight, we’ll all be staying here at the estate. Luggage will be moved this afternoon.”
The table quieted.
Oliver continued, calm and methodical. “Room assignments are done. Liam, you’re in the east wing suite. Emily, the sunrise room, just across the hall. Sophia, you’re back in the garden suite.”
I blinked.
Across from Liam?
Kelvin raised a brow. “Interesting pairing.”
Liam didn’t respond.
Sophia leaned forward, grinning. “This just keeps getting better.”
Laura pped. “Perfect! That way, Emily can pop over anytime for snacks or chats. Liam won’t mind.”
I wanted to crawl under the table.
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Oliver, oblivious or indifferent, simply nodded. “Sorted. Now, let’s enjoy the rest of breakfast.”
Kelvin leaned toward me, voice low and teasing. “I’ll help you get settledter. Make sure they don’t put you in a room with weird humming walls. There’s one like that.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Liam jumped in before I could get a word out.
“She’s fine.”
He stood, tall and sure, napkin set firmly on the table.
“I’ll take care of it.”
His voice wasn’t raised. But it was final.
He wasn’t looking at Kelvin. <fnef0d> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN()vel</fnef0d>
He was looking at me.
And just like that, the air in the room changed.
Every nce shifted.
Every breath felt sharp.
I nodded, unable to speak.
Kelvin didn’t press, but the slight twitch in his jaw gave him
Sophia looked like she was about to explode with glee.
away.
Jay raised his champagne ss. “Now this… this is entertainment.”
Day one in paradise, and the battle lines were already drawn. Wee to St. Barts.
The brunch buzz had barely faded when I realized I’d left my purse back at the sunroom. Typical. I had been too flustered during brunch, trying not to pass out under Liam’s gaze or get caught in Kelvin’s orbit, to remember something as basic as a handbag.
I sighed and turned back toward the estate.
The walk through the tiled corridors was quiet. Most of the family had scattered, some retreating to their rooms, others lounging by the pool. The silence stretched around me like a
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velvet curtain, the kind that made your own thoughts louder. My heels clicked lightly against the marble as I moved quickly, hoping no one would notice me retracing my steps like a confused guest in a luxury showroom.
Just as I neared the hallway leading to the sunroom, a voice stopped me in my tracks.
“No, I didn’t say that. You’re twisting my words again, Linda.”
It was sharp. Frustrated. Familiar.
<b>I </b>paused, half–shielded behind one of the massive columns. My eyes caught the edge of the veranda where Noah, Liam’s cousin, stood with his phone pressed to his ear, pacing like a storm trapped in a bottle.
“You don’t get to disappear for two days and then call me like nothing happened,” he snapped. “This isn’t the first time, and I’m tired of pretending I’m the only one trying.”
He stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. I shouldn’t be listening. But there was something raw about his voice. Something that made walking away feel wrong.
His tone softened, just barely. “I love you, okay? That’s not the issue. But I can’t propose to someone who vanishes every time we have a real conversation.”
Proposal?
So this was the girlfriend. The one he was supposed to propose to during the trip. The one that hadn’t shown up yet.
He exhaled, the sound heavy. “You know what, Linda? Just… figure yourself out. I’ll be here when you do.”
The call ended. He stood still, phone dangling loosely in his hand, shoulders hunched. Then he turned and saw me.
“Hey,” he said, not startled. Just resigned.
“Sorry,” I said, stepping fully into view. “I was just… heading back. Forgot my purse.”
He gave a half–smile. “This house cats belongings. Happens to the best of us.
I hesitated. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“No one ever does,” he said, slipping his phone into his pocket. “But it doesn’t stop it from
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happening.”
A pause passed. Then, unexpectedly, he tilted his head, eyes narrowing just a little.
“Why are women soplicated?”
I blinked. “Loaded question.”
He chuckled quietly. “Yeah, I guess. You just seem like someone who’d actually give me a real answer. And you’re not emotionally invested in my chaos, so… feels safe.”
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