Chapter Five

The dining hall glitters like something out of a royal movie. Golden chandeliers, crystal glasses, and silver cutlery are arranged so perfectly it makes me nervous just to reach for water.

I sit stiffly at the long table, dressed in an off-shoulder black dress. My hair is curled perfectly, makeup light but sharp. I tried to look normal, but my heart races.

Across from me sits Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, sharing quiet laughs with the Lawsons’s family, their billionaire neighbors and family too. Their mansion is literally a driveway away from the Lancasters’, and tonight, both families have come together for a formal dinner.

I try to blend in, nodding when necessary, smiling when spoken to, chewing slowly, carefully, like one wrong move would reveal I don’t belong.

But that isn’t the worst part.

What truly made my stomach twist isn’t the pressure or the pretense, it was Ryan.

He sits two seats away, calm, quiet, and eating like he hasn't once promised me forever. Ryan Lawson. Asher’s cousin. My ex-fiancé.

I haven’t seen him since he ghosted me a year ago with no explanations, no closure. And now, here he is in a tailored suit, acting like I didn’t exist.

Our eyes meet once.

He blinks first. I look away, clenching my napkin under the table.

Asher, sitting next to me, leans in and whispers, “What’s wrong?”

I force a smile. “Nothing. Just nervous”

“ You don't have to be. Just act real like it's never a deal “, he whispers 

Sitting between two powerful families, I’m not just a maid anymore, but I’m a pawn in something bigger.

I force myself to chew slowly, ignoring the stares around the dinner table. The Lancaster mansion's grand dining hall feels colder than usual tonight.

Then, Camilla, Ryan's older sister breaks the silence with her usual soft tone. “Lila… sorry if this is too forward, but are you the same Lila who was once engaged to my brother Ryan?”

My stomach twists. I glance up, every eye now on me. My voice comes out barely steady. “Yes. I am.”

A short silence follows. Camilla nods slowly. “I thought so. I liked you. You know. Still do.”

A small awkward smile tugs at my lips 

“Thanks.”

 Ryan’s mother, Vanessa Lawson, suddenly cuts in, “Ryan, darling, have you said hello to Lila?”

That’s when he speaks. Loud enough for everyone to hear, but with a lazy cruelty that makes my skin crawl.

“I didn’t realize we were greeting former fiancées now,” Ryan says, setting his wine glass down. “Especially ones who spend their time scrubbing floors and cleaning toilets.”

I feel like I can't breathe anymore. A few gasps float around the table. No one laughs. But Ryan doesn’t stop.

“ Ryan!,” Camilla fumes.

“ There's no need to greet each other, we have both moved on,don’t you think?” He smirks. “Besides, she seems comfortable in her new position .”

I freeze, stunned. Heat floods my face, not from shame but fury. He feels okay to insult me this much, in front of everyone!

I sit straightly, blinking hard to keep my eyes dry. Let him talk. Let him dig his grave with his silver spoon.

I glance at Asher, who’s now gripping his knife too tightly. He hasn't said anything yet.

As we eat, Mrs Savannah Lancaster, Asher's mom clears her throat gently and offers me a warm smile.

“Well,” she says lightly, folding her napkin, “We’re glad you’re here tonight, Lila. Official or not, you’re welcome to the family.”

Her voice softens, like she’s smoothing the cracks of Ryan’s words. “We believe in fresh starts.”

I nod politely, my heart still racing from the sting of Ryan’s jab. I murmur a quiet, “Thank you,” trying to swallow down the lump in my throat.

Then Asher’s father, Richard Lancaster, leans forward, elbows resting on the edge of the polished table. His eyes narrow slightly, and his deep voice cuts through the remaining silence.

“Tell me, Lila,” he says, gazing steadily. “Do you really believe you can be happy with my son?”

I blink. Everyone’s heads turn again.

He doesn’t wait. “Because loving him won’t be enough, not in this world. Our name, this life, comes with pressure and sacrifices.”

I hesitate, fingers tightening around my fork. My voice trembles at first, but I find something to say.

“I don’t know everything about your world,” I say. “But I do know myself. And I don’t run from things that matter. And your son matters so I'll never leave him.”

Asher smiles to his father who smiles back then to me, he gives me a quick glance that says ‘You’re doing it right.’

Just as the silence settles, Zara scoffs from across the table.

“Belong?” she says with a bitter laugh. “Let’s not kid ourselves. You can dress her up, but she’s still just the help. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”

My chest tightens, but I keep my eyes on my plate. This is just the introduction of my marriage with Asher and things are already like this!

“Elise would never have to answer questions like this,” Zara goes on, her voice rising. “She’s elegant and actually from our world. Not someone who scrubs floors and sneaks around kitchens.”

I feel my face burn and a pang of shame crawling inside me . I don’t dare look up.

“Zara.” Mr. Lancaster’s voice snaps through the air like thunder.

She freezes.

“That’s enough,” he says firmly. “You may be my daughter, but you’ll speak with respect in this house. Especially at this table.”

Zara’s mouth opens in disbelief. “Dad…”

“I said enough!” he growls, his voice low and final.

She pushes back her chair harshly, her heels clicking as she storms out of the dining room.

I finally lift my eyes, and for a moment, they meet Asher’s.

He seems unbothered as he bites into an apple. How can I marry a creep like this who doesn't even care?

As the trouble gradually fades away in the room, Savannah offers a soft, graceful smile in my direction. “Lila, I’m so sorry for Zara’s behavior,” she says gently. “She can be impulsive but that’s no excuse for rudeness.”

I nod slowly, unsure of what to say. “It’s okay, ma’am.”

“No, it isn’t,” she says firmly. “You’re a guest in this house and part of this family now. You deserve to be treated with respect.”

Mr. Lancaster clears his throat. “Now,” he says, placing his glass down, “let’s talk about the wedding.”

I freeze.

My heart skips. Already?!

Asher leans back slightly in his chair, calm and unreadable as he eats a carrot. No one is as indifferent as him.

Savannah clasps her hands together. “We were thinking something elegant but private. Nothing too much unless you both want something deluxe.”

Asher speaks before I can. “She’s not the type for a show. Simple is fine.”

I blink at him. He says it so casually, like he’s known me for years. But his eyes flicker toward me for just a second and I wonder if he really meant what he said.

“Have you thought of a date yet?” Savannah asks, smiling again. “We’d love to start planning soon. The press is already circling.”

I force a smile, nodding slightly, my mind spinning.

A wedding.