<h4>Chapter 280: Chapter 280 An Awkward Dinner Party</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I nced at my watch while we walked downstairs. Right on six.


    Tang was waiting by the car again, ready to chauffeur us to the g. A smart move, considering we’d likely be drinking tonight.


    The moment I slid into the backseat, Tang’s eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror, his smile warm, a little too knowing.


    "That green dress is a knockout, Cecilia," he said, like a bartenderplimenting a regr.


    "You’ve got a good eye, Tang," I said, shing him a grin.


    The words had barely left my mouth when I remembered something that made my smile falter.


    Sebastian was sitting beside me, silent, his attention glued to his tablet.


    But the second Tang mentioned my dress, his eyes lifted.


    He didn’t say anything, but I felt his gaze settle on me for a beat too long before he turned back to the screen.


    We arrived at the restaurant faster than I expected.


    As we pulled up, I heard Tang ask Sebastian,


    "Surveince team said the footage would be back online by five. Did you get the files?"


    "They did," Sebastian replied simply.


    My ears perked up.


    After we stepped out of the car, curiosity tugged at me like an itch I couldn’t ignore.


    "What was that about?" I asked.


    Sebastian studied me for several seconds before letting out a softugh.


    Then he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.


    His fingers brushed my skin, slow and deliberate.


    " Nothing major," he murmured, voice low." Just caught someone. Ready to go in?"


    I froze.


    "‘Caught someone’?" I echoed in my head. Was he testing me?


    I nced at Tang, who just offered azy shrug, his face the picture of feigned innocence, like a guy pretending he hadn’t just watched a soap opera unfold in his rearview mirror.


    When I didn’t move, Sebastian circled back and took my hand in his.


    "Alpha," I said, pulling my hand back."I can walk just fine."


    This wasn’t a date. This was a PR stunt with wine. Holding hands wasn’t part of the script.


    He let go, and we continued walking.


    On the way in, I kept thinking about telling him. About the footage.


    But I kept my mouth shut.Better to wait until we were alone.


    "Which executive are we meeting tonight?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.


    Sebastian paused, then turned to face me.


    "My father," he said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.


    I felt a chill run down my spine. What?


    Before I could even wrap my head around it, Sebastian had already opened the door and was guiding me inside, his hand firm at the small of my back.


    One quick scan of the room showed three people already seated: Alpha Yardley, Zaria, and a younger guy I guessed had to be York.


    "Oh, Mom just stepped out to thedies’ room," Zaria said quickly." She’ll be right back."


    I was already thinking of ways to bail. Call myself, fake food poisoning or sneak out the bathroom window. Whatever worked.


    I was freaking out on the inside, but my face calm like nothing was wrong.


    "Hello, everyone," I said with a smooth smile I’d practiced in mirrors and awkwardworking events.


    Alpha Yardley looked surprisingly warm for someone with a title like that."No need for formalities, Ms. Moore. Please, make yourselffortable."


    Sebastian pulled out the chair next to Zaria.


    "Sit," he said, too gently to be casual.


    "Thank you," I replied, keeping the smile in ce even as I felt like I might crack in half.


    As soon as I sat down, Zaria turned to me with sparkling eyes. "Cecilia, I’m Zaria. Do you remember me from when you and my brother were at..."


    My shoulders stiffened, heat creeping up my neck like a slow burn.


    [ No, God, no. Don’t bring that up. ]


    "Yes, of course I remember," I cut in quickly. "Your ne is gorgeous, by the way. I love vintage pieces."


    "You like it?" Zaria unsped the diamond pendant and held it out without hesitation. "It’s yours."


    "Wow, you’re so generous," I said, blinking.


    What was this, a debutante offering ceremony?


    Sebastian noticed the tension and shot Zaria a look."Aren’t you thirsty after all that talking?"


    She got the message."Right. Water. I’ll grab some." She leaned back in her seat, slightly deted.


    Across the table, York was watching me. But the second our eyes met, he looked away, bored and disinterested.


    I was ready to give him a polite nod, but after that little snub, I pretended not to see him at all.


    "Zaria, go check on your mother," Alpha Yardley said.


    "Oh, I’ll go see," she said, hopping up and heading out.


    I felt like I was sitting on nails. Nobody was yelling, but the silence had weight.


    I turned to Sebastian with the kind of smile you send your best friend right before you strangle them.


    My eyes said: You absolute traitor!


    Under the table, he reached for my hand and gave my fingers a good squeeze. It was payback.


    Wasn’t he supposed to give me time to think?


    What happened to that very reasonable promise?


    Who spring-traps someone into a family dinner like this? Who treats emotional warfare like it’s part of the itinerary? !


    Sebastian tried to soothe me with a look, but I wasn’t having it.


    And he still didn’t let go. Of course he didn’t.


    As we carried on our silent back-and-forth, I could feel both Alpha Yardley and York watching us with open curiosity.


    York, especially, looked like he’d just spotted a UFO.


    A few minutester, Zaria came back."Mom is... not feeling great. Said she needed a minute and told us to start without her."


    Sebastian’s jaw tightened.


    Alpha Yardley sighed, not even trying to hide his disappointment.


    "Well then," Alpha Yardley said with a tight smile,"shall we?"


    He looked over at me, clearly trying to shift gears."So, Cecilia. How long have you and Sebastian been working together?"


    Grateful for the shift, I answered politely, doing my best to ignore the tension lingering like smoke in the air.


    Truthfully, I didn’t mind Luna Regina’s absence.


    I’d prepped for cold stares, verbal jabs, maybe even a passive-aggressive toast. Compared to that, ghosting the dinner entirely felt like a win.


    If she didn’t show up at all? Even better.


    I picked up my fork and started eating.


    Dinner tasted fine, but the mood? Totally off. Too quiet and stiff.