It had been a long evening—filled with Gloria’s questions, Lucas’s stories, Rafael’s teasing, and the soft sound of Emily’s laughter throughout the dinner.For Cassie, who had just returned from years in the army, it felt surreal. To sit here as part of this family, to watch her daughter play between grandparents, to hear voices that weren’t laced with orders or gunfire... it was overwhelming in the best way.But as the evening wound down, Nikolai suddenly pushed his chair back with a sharp scrape.His tall frame straightened, and his eyes swept the table.Everyone looked at him with a raised brow.“I think it’s time we head back,” he announced, his voice deep and curt as always. “Cassie and Emily need rest. They’ve just returned, and I want them to be comfortable in my penthouse.”Cassie blinked, and her fork paused mid-air. She hadn’t expected him to be so decisive, so… openly protective.Across the table, Rafael nearly choked on his wine, hastily covering it with a cough. “Right,”
Last Updated : 2025-08-26 Read more