Twisted Night

The evening had finally begun to settle. The last of the guests had departed, and now only family remained. It was a rare moment of peace, one that Adeline wished she could hold onto for just a little longer. The warmth of the celebration still lingered in the air, laughter echoing faintly from earlier festivities.

Who cared about those two unwelcome guests? The rest of the evening was perfect. 

The family, now including Isabelle, sat around in the Kendrick estate's grand backyard, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating their faces.

The newlyweds, Alaric and Isabelle, sat side by side, fingers intertwined, basking in the comfort of their new reality.

Then, of course, there was Aaron. He had been drinking for a while now, and at this point, it was impossible to ignore just how much alcohol had loosened his tongue.