chapter 10

CHAPTER 10: THE FAMILY DINNER

Mia POV

The invitation came the next morning.

A white envelope, with gold letters. From the Carter family.

"Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carter request the pleasure of your company for a Family Dinner. Saturday, 7pm."

Martha handed it to me. "Mrs. Cole, are you going to go?"

I looked at Adrian. He was reading the invitation over my shoulder.

"It is a trap," he said simply. "Your father does not invite people for dinner. He invites them for war."

"I know," I said. "But if we don't go, he will say we are afraid. We have to go."

Adrian nodded. "Then we go together. And we do not let go of each other's hand. Not once."

On Saturday night, we arrived at the Carter house. My old house.

I had lived there for twenty-four years. But when I stepped out of the car, it felt like a stranger's house.

Adrian held my hand tightly. "Remember. Smile. You are the queen. They are small people."

We walked in.

The dining room was beautiful. Candles. White tablecloth. Expensive wine. Everything looked perfect.

My father, Richard Carter, sat at the head of the table. He looked older than I remembered. But his eyes were still sharp. Still cold.

Daniel sat on his right. Lily sat on his left, wearing a red dress, smiling like she owned the place.

And Sophia, my best friend, sat at the far end. She smiled at me, a small, worried smile. She was the only real friend I had left.

"Mia," my father said, standing up. "Welcome home."

His voice was calm. Too calm.

"Thank you, Dad," I said. "This is my husband, Adrian Cole."

Adrian shook his hand. "Good evening, father-in-law."

My father did not smile. "Sit."

We sat down.

For the first ten minutes, no one talked about anything real. Just weather. Just business. Just fake smiles.

Then Lily spoke.

"Mia, I have wonderful news," she said, holding up her hand. A diamond ring sparkled on her finger. "Daniel and I are engaged! We want you to be our bridesmaid. After all, you are my sister."

The whole table went quiet.

I could feel Adrian's hand tighten on mine under the table.

I smiled. A slow, queen smile. The smile I had practiced in the mirror.

"Of course, Lily," I said. "I will wear white. So everyone will remember who was the real bride."

Sophia almost choked on her wine. Daniel's face turned red. Lily's smile froze.

My father put his fork down loudly. "Mia, watch your manners. This is my house."

I looked at him straight in the eye. For the first time in my life, I was not afraid of him.

"Dad, I am being polite," I said. "I am congratulating them. Is that not what a good daughter does?"

Adrian put his hand on my waist. "Baby, are you okay? Do you want to leave?"

Baby. He called me baby again. My heart skipped, but I kept my face calm.

"I am fine, baby," I said. "I am just enjoying dinner with old friends."

Daniel could not take it anymore. He stood up. "Mia, do you think you have won? Adrian will leave you too! He does not love you! It is all money! It is all fake!"

Adrian stood up slowly. His voice was ice cold.

"Daniel, if you speak to my wife like that again, I will buy your father's company tomorrow morning and fire you by evening. Do you understand?"

Daniel went silent. He sat down. His hands were shaking.

After dinner, my father pulled Adrian aside into his study. I followed quietly and stood behind the door, listening.

"You think you can destroy me using my daughter?" my father hissed. "I will destroy you first, Adrian Cole. Just like I destroyed your father."

Adrian smiled coldly. "Try, Richard. But this time, your daughter is on my side. And she knows the truth about the will."

There was a long silence.

When Adrian came out, he took my hand again.

"Let's go home," he said.

In the car, my legs were shaking. I almost fell into his arms.

"You did well," Adrian whispered. "You did very well."

I laughed, but tears were in my eyes. "I did it. I really did it. I stood up to my father."

Adrian wiped one tear from my cheek with his thumb. It was a small thing, but it was soft. It was real.

"Come," he said. "Let's go home. The war has started. And we have won the second round."

I leaned my head on his shoulder in the car. I did not care about Rule 3. I did not care about the cameras.

For tonight, I was just Mia Carter. And he was just Adrian. And we had survived the family dinner together.