5#05

5

It had been a long time since I'd laid eyes on him, but the years had only enhanced his allure. The once approachable older brother I knew had transformed into a man of undeniable sophistication and charisma.

As soon as he entered, everyone in the room rose to their feet.

Over time, Daniel had established a remarkable corporate empire abroad. Even the main office of Hughes Enterprises in San Francisco had come to rely heavily on his expertise.

It was no wonder that when he stepped into the room, all attention was focused on him. However, instead of acknowledging the crowd, his eyes immediately found mine. For a split second, I noticed his gaze flicker towards us when he spotted Simon beside me.

I was about to explain the situation when Simon's phone suddenly vibrated.

He answered it, mumbling something about needing to leave for a moment.

I glanced nervously at Daniel, but before I could utter a word, he calmly approached and took the seat next to me—the one Simon had just left.

"Well then," Daniel said with a refined smile, his tone smooth and collected, "I assume you're all quite hungry. Shall we begin our meal?"

He motioned for me to sit and started peeling shrimp for me, the delicate shells coming off effortlessly.

Before I could object, he filled my plate with shrimp and began adding other dishes—surprisingly, all my favorites.

I couldn't help but grin, feeling the tension ease as I started eating. The shrimp was exquisite, the fish fillets tender, boneless, and arranged carefully on my plate, each piece a small work of art.

I was so engrossed in the food that I almost missed the sudden opening of the door.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie!" Audrey's voice rang out—overly cheerful and bright.

The atmosphere in the room instantly changed. Everyone's smiles vanished, replaced by uncomfortable silence. Audrey was my uncle's illegitimate daughter from an affair, and she wasn't exactly welcomed by San Francisco's elite. In fact, if it weren't for our family's influence, she wouldn't have been allowed to set foot in here.

My father's expression darkened as he looked at Simon. "Why did you bring an outsider to a family dinner?"

Audrey blinked back a few fake tears, appearing like a startled fawn. She quickly hid behind Simon, clearly playing the victim.

Simon, naturally, was quick to defend her. "Audrey is like a sister to me, and by extension, she's your family, too. She's more than welcome to join our family dinner."

He said it with such assurance that I nearly choked on my food. It made me feel queasy.

His gaze shifted to the seat next to me—now occupied by Daniel—and his face instantly froze, an icy glare replacing his smirk. He remained silent, but I could sense the temperature in the room plummet.

I glanced at Daniel, who was still focused on serving me. The way Simon was looking at us, though, was truly unnerving. It felt as if his gaze could burn right through me.

As I reached for my phone, it vibrated.

A message from Simon:

[What's your game? Just because I brought Audrey, now you're bringing my uncle into this little drama to spite me?!]

I didn't bother finishing the text. I flipped my phone over and set it aside.

Across from me, Simon's glare could've melted steel. His eyes blazed with rage and disbelief, and his jaw clenched tightly in anger.

Meanwhile, my father cleared his throat and raised his glass, commanding attention. "I'm sure you're all aware of the big news lately—our family has a major celebration coming up, and it's been the talk of the town."

The whole room leaned in, hanging on his every word. "Tonight's dinner is to make this official."

He was about to continue, but Simon couldn't wait. He interjected with a forced smile. "Don't worry, Dad. The marriage preparations are almost complete. We've got everything under control. You don't need to concern yourself."

He turned to me, his eyes cold and calculating. "Right, Bianca?"

I didn't look up. I kept my gaze down, focusing on my food, pretending not to hear him.

I wasn't marrying him—so why should I support him?

Simon's face darkened, his anger almost palpable. He sent another text.

[Say something! If you keep acting like this, I'm going to call off the wedding!]

[Don't push me, Bianca!]

I was at my limit. I couldn't take it anymore. I opened my phone, blocked his number, and tossed it aside without a second thought.

Simon's reaction was instantaneous. His eyes widened in disbelief. His fists clenched, the veins on his hands bulging as he stared at me, utterly shocked by what I'd just done.