Chapter 14: Family Trap

When I got back to the office, the excitement from the senator’s contract was still bubbling inside me. I called all the available staff into the main conference room. Sarah, James, Lisa, and about twelve other team members gathered around the long table, looking at me with curious eyes.

“Everyone, listen up,” I said, standing at the head of the table. “We just secured a million-dollar contract for the senator’s daughter’s birthday. This is one of the biggest we’ve ever landed. It means we have a very big week ahead of us. Planning, vendor meetings, site visits, design approvals, and full-scale preparations. I need all of you focused and ready. No delays, no excuses. This event has to be perfect.”

Sarah leaned forward. “When do we start the initial proposals?”

“Today,” I replied. “James, I want lighting and stage concepts by tomorrow afternoon. Lisa, start researching high-end catering options and imported flowers. The rest of you, review the brief I’ll send in the next hour. We’ll have a full team meeting first thing tomorrow morning to divide tasks. This is our chance to show why Aurora is number one.”

The room filled with excited chatter. People asked questions about timelines, budget allocation, and specific client requests. I answered each one carefully, making sure everyone understood the high standards we needed to meet. The meeting lasted nearly an hour as we brainstormed ideas and assigned responsibilities. By the time we finished, the team was pumped and ready to work.

After they left, I spent some more time at my desk organizing notes. By evening, I remembered Mum’s call from earlier. I locked up my office and drove over to the house, still carrying that positive energy from the new contract.

The moment I stepped inside, I noticed the tension in the air. The lights were warm, but something felt off. Mum was moving around the living room a bit too quickly, arranging cushions that didn’t need arranging. Something was cooking in the kitchen. Mark sat on the couch, looking relaxed, but his eyes followed me as soon as I walked in.

I really hoped Mum had called me for something reasonable. I didn’t want anything to sweep away the good mood I was carrying.

“Evie, darling! You came,” Mum said, pulling me into a tight hug. Her voice was extra sweet. “Come sit down. I'm making your favorite tea.”

We settled on the couch. Mark stayed quiet, flipping through a magazine like he wasn’t paying attention. Mum took my hands in hers and started talking in that gentle tone she used when she really wanted something.

“Evie, I’ve been thinking a lot since the engagement party. I want us all to be close again. Like a real family. After everything we’ve been through, it would mean so much to me to have you here more often. To see us together under one roof. I miss having you around.”

I blinked, confused. “Mum, where is this coming from?”

She leaned closer, squeezing my hands. “I want you to pack your things and come stay with us. At least for a while. This house is so big, and you’re always alone in your apartment. Here, we can have breakfast together, talk in the evenings. Mark agrees it would be good for all of us. You wouldn’t have to worry about being lonely. It would make me so happy, darling. Please think about it.”

I was shocked. My eyes darted to Mark. He pretended to be focused on the magazine, but I knew he was listening to every word. “Mum, I can’t–”

Before I could finish, Mum cut in, her voice pleading. “It would mean the world to me, Evie. I’ve been alone for so long. Now that I have Mark, I want my daughter close too. We can be a proper family. You won’t have to drive back and forth. Please, just say you’ll consider it.”

I sat there with my mouth open, wondering what Mark had told her to make her this desperate. He must have filled her head with sweet words about family unity and support. I could see it in her eyes, she really believed this was the best thing for me.

While we were still talking, Mum suddenly stood up. “Oh, I left water boiling in the kitchen. Let me check it before it spills over.”

She hurried off, leaving me alone with Mark in the living room. The silence felt heavy.

Just then, Mum’s phone brightened up on the couch beside me. It was locked, but the notification preview showed a video file from an unknown number. The message below it read something that made my blood run cold.

“What the fuck?” I whispered under my breath, staring at the screen in disbelief.