Chaotic Dinner 

Raeliana’s POV

My mind went completely blank. I was frozen in the doorway, staring at the boy on our porch.

He had a beige bandage taped tightly across the bridge of his nose, and a faint purplish-blue bruise was already blooming over his left cheekbone.

Elias was frozen, too. His icy blue eyes widened in shock the second he recognized me. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

Then, I noticed the couple standing right behind him. A good looking man in a grey suit and a woman wearing a diamond necklace. 

Judging from the stark resemblance, I knew instantly they were his parents.

Before Elias could say a word, my brain slammed into survival mode. 

I smoothed down the front of my  dress and forced my lips into a polite smile.

"Good evening! Welcome," I said smoothly, stepping back to open the door wider. "Please, come right in."

My father strode into the foyer a second later, his face lighting up with a massive grin. "Arthur! Victoria! You made it!"

They walked inside and the adults immediately fell into a round of hugs and handshakes. While they were distracted, Elias kept his glare locked onto me. 

His eyes were burning with hatred, but I just blinked innocently back at him, pretending he didn't exist.

"And this must be Elias," my father said, turning his attention to him. "My goodness, Arthur, he looks just like you. And you go to Pembroke, right? Raeliana just started there today.”

Elias leaned forward slightly, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "Is that so? Funny, because today at school, I actually-"

"I hadn't noticed him around campus yet, Dad," I cut in loudly, stepping right between Elias and his father with a sweet smile. "It's a huge school, after all."

Elias narrowed his eyes at me, but I didn't back down. Luckily, the butler stepped in to announce that dinner was served, cutting off any chance he had to expose me.

We all moved into the dining room. The table was covered in fine china, sparkling crystal glasses, and fancy silver platters. 

Elias sat directly across from me, his eyes tracking my every move like a predator.

I sat quietly, picking at my food while the adults talked. It was sickening watching my parents act like a perfect, lovey-dovey couple across the table. 

Just a few months ago, my mom was crying herself to sleep because of the debt he left us with, and now she was laughing at his stupid jokes as if he had never left.

"So, Elias," my father said, cutting a piece of steak. "Arthur tells me you're top of your class. Captain of the hockey team and valedictorian prospect?"

"Yes, sir," Elias answered, his voice smooth and respectful. "I work hard to balance my academics and the team."

"Oh, he's brilliant," his mother chimed in proudly. "The coaches say he's definitely getting scouted for the pros."

Everyone at the table started showering him with praise. I rolled my eyes, taking a slow sip of my water. 

He was a bully with a pretty face and good grades, nothing more.

Suddenly, Elias cleared his throat. "So, Raeliana," he said, turning those cold blue eyes toward me. 

The entire table went quiet. "What about you? Do you play any sports, or do you just... spend your time taking people down?"

My mother instantly beamed, completely missing the bite in his words. "Oh, Raeliana is a figure skater! She was the regional champion back home before we moved here."

"A champion?" Elias's mother gasped softly. "That's incredible! Figure skating takes so much grace and strength."

"She was supposed to perform in the national showcase this month," my mother added, her voice dropping a little with regret.

Elias raised an eyebrow, a mocking glint in his eye. "Figure skating? Wow. You don't look like a figure skater."

I gripped my fork a little tighter under the table. "Well, looks can be deceiving, Elias."

He smirked while I held myself back from smashing his pretty face again. 

Once dinner finally ended, I pushed my chair back, desperate to escape to my bedroom. But before I could even make it out of the dining room, my father called out to me.

"Raeliana, why don't you show Elias around the house?” He had a bright grin on his face. “Show him the terrace too.” 

I stopped in my tracks. "Dad, I really have some reading to do-"

"Go on, sweetie," my mother urged gently. "It'll be nice for you two to get to know each other."

Elias stood up, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket. "I'd love a tour. Please, Raeliana?"

The sarcasm in his voice made my teeth grind together. I let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. Follow me."

I led him out of the dining room and down the hallway toward the back of the house. 

The second we stepped into the dim corridor near the study, a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my wrist.

Before I could scream, Elias yanked me sideways into the library, slamming my back hard against the wall.

He stepped up close, his face inches from mine. The scent of expensive cologne radiated off him and I almost leaned into him. 

"You think you're funny, don't you?" he hissed, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. 

I batted my lashes at him, smiling sweetly. “Whatever do you mean, Elias?”

He gestured to the bandage on his nose. "You broke my nose, you crazy bitch. Do you have any idea what I'm going to do to you at school tomorrow?” 

His grip tightened around my wrist. “I'll make your life a living hell, I swear it.”

I leaned my head back against the wall and scoffed, looking him dead in the eye. "Oh, I'm terrified. What are you gonna do, Elias?” 

I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Throw another weak insult at me? Because last time I checked, you were the one groaning on the floor like a baby."

His jaw clenched so hard I thought it might shatter. He reached up and wrapped his large fingers tightly around my throat, squeezing just enough to press me firmly against the wall.

"Watch your mouth," he growled out, leaning closer so his breath fanned over my cheek. "You don't know who you're messing with."

I didn't flinch. Even with his hand on my neck, I forced a mocking smile onto my face. "Is that the best you've got, Hockey Captain?"

Before he could answer, a loud buzzing sound cut through the dark room.

Elias froze. He pulled his phone out of his pocket with his free hand, checking the screen.

As the bright light from the phone illuminated his face, my eyes instinctively flicked down to the screen to see who was calling.

My heart instantly stopped and the blood in my veins turned to ice.

Floating on the screen, right above an incoming caller ID, was a picture of a smiling girl with dark hair and bright eyes. A name was typed underneath it.

My breath caught in my chest. Without thinking, I slapped Elias's hand off my throat and snatched the vibrating phone right out of his grip.

"Hey! Give that back!" he snapped, reaching for it.

I stumbled backward, staring at the glowing screen in disbelief. My hands began to shake as panic flooded my system.

"Annalise?" I whispered, my voice barely a breath.