Chapter 8: The New Mrs. Lancaster

The Lancaster estate's grand dining hall had seen decades of wealth, power, and legacy. It had hosted kings of industry, politicians, and socialites.

But today, it hosted something far more dangerous—me.

The first official family gathering since my marriage had been called at Vivian Lancaster's insistence. She hadn't spoken to me directly, of course. The invitation had been sent through one of the house staff, a silent slap in the face.

She wanted me to know I wasn't really one of them.

Too bad for her—I hadn't married into this family to fit in.

I had married in to take over.

So I didn't slink into the dining room like an unwanted guest.

I owned my entrance.

The double doors swung open as I stepped inside, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. I wore an ivory silk dress that clung to my figure, its elegance impossible to ignore. My makeup was flawless, my hair a cascade of polished waves.

I looked like money.

Like power.

Like a problem.

The conversation at the table ceased.

Every Lancaster in the room turned toward me—Vivian, Daniel, his younger sister Caroline, a few distant cousins I had barely spoken to over the years.

And, of course, Nathaniel, who sat at the head of the table, watching with that unreadable smirk.

I took my time, letting the silence stretch as I approached the empty seat beside him. My seat.

The head of the Lancaster family's wife didn't sit at the far end like an afterthought.

She sat next to the king.

Vivian's lips thinned, but she said nothing as I gracefully lowered myself into the chair.

I reached for my napkin, unfolding it with deliberate ease. Then, I looked up, letting my gaze sweep across the room, my expression cool.

No one spoke.

I smiled. "Well. Don't all look so thrilled at once."

Caroline scoffed. "You have some nerve showing up here like you belong."

I lifted a perfectly arched brow. "Sweetheart, I don't show up anywhere. I arrive."

Her face burned red.

Daniel let out a low, bitter laugh. "This is a joke." His eyes locked onto me with pure hatred. "You think sitting at this table makes you one of us?"

I tilted my head. "Silly me—I thought marrying into the family and taking your last name made that clear."

Vivian's fork clattered against her plate. "This isn't a game, Evelyn." Her voice was razor-sharp. "You don't understand how things work in this family."

I turned to her smoothly. "Oh, but I do, Vivian." I leaned forward, my tone silky. "I understand that this family chose to turn its back on me after your son humiliated me. I understand that you expected me to disappear like some discarded mistress."

My smile turned razor-sharp. "And yet, here I am."

Silence.

Then Daniel's chair scraped loudly as he shoved back from the table. "I can't do this."

I sighed. "Sit down, Daniel."

His eyes flashed. "You don't give me orders."

I shrugged. "I do now."

The veins in his neck strained. "You don't deserve to be here."

I folded my hands on the table, utterly unbothered. "And yet, I'm Mrs. Lancaster." I let that sink in before adding, "Your stepmother."

The fury in his eyes was delicious.

Vivian cut in before he could explode. "Let me be clear, Evelyn." Her voice was ice. "Whatever this is—" she gestured toward me, toward Nathaniel, toward the entire scandal I had become "—it won't last. Nathaniel will get bored. You'll be forgotten. And when that happens, you'll have nothing."

I stared at her for a long, deliberate moment. Then, I reached for my water glass and took a slow sip before setting it down with a soft clink.

"I think you misunderstand something, Vivian." My voice was velvet-wrapped steel.

I leaned forward slightly, my gaze locked onto hers.

"This isn't a temporary arrangement."

I let my next words drip with meaning.

"I'm here to stay."

Nathaniel smirked beside me, amusement glinting in his eyes.

Vivian's expression cracked for the first time.

And Daniel?

Oh, he looked ready to murder me.

Good.

Let them seethe.

Because the new Mrs. Lancaster had just declared war.