Unwelcome Dinner

Thea sat in her apartment, still shaken by her encounter with Aiden. She hated how easily he could unravel her, how his words lingered in her mind. She was lost in thought when her phone buzzed.

Andrew: Back in town. Dinner at my place tonight. Don't be late.

She hesitated before replying. I'll be there.

Andrew had always been steady, reliable. But lately, even with him, she felt unsettled.

That evening, she arrived at Andrew's house dressed in a simple yet elegant navy-blue dress. As soon as she stepped inside, she could feel the tension. His family never truly welcomed her. They were polite but distant, their smiles too forced, their words laced with sarcasm.

"Thea," Andrew's mother greeted, her eyes scanning Thea's dress as if assessing her worth. "You look… different."

"Thank you," Thea replied, refusing to take the bait.

Dinner was a lavish affair, the table adorned with exquisite dishes. Thea's stomach tightened when she saw the main course—grilled fish. She had never liked fish, and Andrew knew that.

His mother smiled. "I hope you'll at least try it, dear. After all, one must learn to appreciate finer things."

Thea picked up her fork but said nothing. She wasn't going to let them see her discomfort. She forced herself to take a small bite, the taste immediately making her stomach turn.

As if things weren't tense enough, Andrew's childhood friend, Clara, was seated next to him. She was beautiful, graceful—everything his family wanted for him. And Andrew, for some reason, seemed particularly attentive to her tonight.

Clara laughed at something he said, touching his arm lightly. Thea clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the way Andrew smiled at her.

"Thea," Andrew's father spoke, pulling her attention back to him. "Andrew mentioned you're still working on your research. But shouldn't you be focusing on something more stable? Perhaps supporting Andrew with his business?"

She swallowed her irritation. "I enjoy what I do, sir."

His mother chimed in. "But is it practical? We all know academia doesn't offer much in the long run."

Before Thea could respond, Andrew chuckled. "You know Thea, she's stubborn. Always chasing after things with no certainty."

Thea froze, hurt flickering in her chest. He said it so lightly, but the meaning behind it cut deep.

Before she could say something she might regret, her phone rang.

Silvia.

She quickly answered. "Hey."

We found someone," Silvia's voice was urgent. "Someone who can unlock Ariana's phone."

Thea stood abruptly, ignoring the questioning gazes around her. "I have to go," she said quickly.

Andrew frowned. "Thea, we're having dinner."

She grabbed her bag. "I'll see you later."

Ignoring his family's disapproving looks, she walked out, her heart racing. Whatever secrets Ariana's phone held, they were finally one step closer to the truth.

And Thea had a feeling those secrets would change everything.