By the time Sylvia reached the end of the hallway, her eyes narrowed slightly.
The Evercrest dining hall was brightly illuminated, its enormous crystal chandelier casting warm light across the room.
Every member of the family was already seated around the long, polished mahogany table.
The table was filled to the brim with carefully prepared dishes, expensive drinks, and an assortment of desserts.
Sylvia glanced over her shoulder.
Damian was still several metres away with Mark.
She hesitated for a moment before deciding to wait for him.
While she stood there, she allowed her gaze to travel discreetly across the faces of everyone seated around the table.
The more she observed, the more she began to understand the arrangement.
They seemed to have been seated according to their positions within the family.
Valen occupied the head of the table as the Patriarch.
On his right sat Kyle, Damian’s father, beside a woman Sylvia had never seen before.
Sylvia allowed her gaze to linger on the unfamiliar woman for a moment, wondering who she was and what her relationship with Kyle was.
However, she quickly looked away when she realized she might attract unnecessary attention.
On the Old Man’s left sat Morris, his wife, Theresa, and their children.
Beyond them sat the other members of the second branch.
Sylvia was still observing the room when Damian’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts.
“Afraid to go in?” Sylvia slowly turned around.
She looked at him for a moment, her expression unreadable.
Then, without bothering to respond, she simply turned away and walked into the dining hall.
Damian’s lips curled upward.
Mark, who had been watching the exchange, silently followed behind him.
“I am sorry we’re late,” Sylvia said as she stepped into the dining hall.
‘That should be enough courtesy for being late…it was all the fault of their son.’ Valen immediately smiled warmly.
“It’s okay.
Mary said you were asleep.
What about Damian?” Before Sylvia could answer, the faint sound of approaching wheels came from behind her.
Kieran hurriedly rose from his chair when he saw his older brother approaching.
“Come and sit down,” Valen called to Sylvia, gesturing toward the empty seat after the space beside the unfamiliar woman.
Sylvia nodded and moved toward the indicated seat.
She glanced briefly at the empty space.
It seems he would be sitting here.’ Meanwhile, Kieran stopped in front of Damian.
“Brother, you’re here.” “When did you come back?” Damian asked, his face completely expressionless.
“This afternoon.” Kieran scratched his head nervously before continuing.
“Grandpa said you got married, so…I…” His voice trailed off.
It was obvious that he was still very much afraid of his older brother.
He had returned to the country without informing Damian, and judging by Damian’s expression, he already knew.
“Grandpa?” Damian repeated coldly.
“Yes,” Kieran answered immediately.
He swallowed before adding, “But I will go back soon.” “You don’t have to scare the child,” Valen said calmly.
“You don’t expect me to keep something like this a secret from him.
Besides, he can’t be away on such an important day.” “And you let him come?” Damian’s cold voice swept across the dining room.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Sylvia noticed several people stiffen in their seats while others lowered their heads, suddenly finding the food in front of them extremely interesting.
Her eyes flickered with surprise.
‘Why is everyone so afraid of him?’ “Damian, it’s okay.
It’s only for a few days, and then he will go back,” Kyle interrupted.
Yet Kieran remained rooted to the spot.
He didn’t dare move until Damian gave him permission.
“We will settle this later.” Damian waved his hand dismissively.
Mark immediately stepped away, and Kieran hurried behind the wheelchair.
He carefully pushed Damian toward the empty space beside his mother before helping him settle into his seat.
He adjusted the wheelchair several times until Damian was comfortable.
Then Kieran began moving Damian’s favorite dishes closer to him, arranging them carefully within easy reach.
Once he was satisfied, he turned toward Sylvia.
“Sister-in-law, you can help my brother with his meal.
The dishes in front of him are his favorites.” Sylvia followed his gaze toward the row of dishes Kieran had arranged.
Then her gaze swept across the faces around the table.
‘Do I still have to babysit him while he eats?’ In response, each of them lowered their head unwilling to be involved.
She sighed inwardly.
‘Forget it.
It’s only for a few minutes.’ She nodded.
“I understand,” she replied curtly.
Across the table, Mark exhaled with visible relief.
He hadn’t realized how worried he had been until Kieran began arranging Damian’s food.
He had been wondering who would help Damian with his meal because he knew his boss’s pride would never allow him to ask for assistance.
Unfortunately, Mark couldn’t remain beside him throughout dinner, especially with Sylvia sitting next to him.
Who would have thought Kieran would handle the situation so naturally?
No doubt Damian cared deeply about him.
“Miss Quinn,” Damian suddenly called, his voice carrying a faint smile.
“I will have to trouble you.” Sylvia’s brow furrowed.
She stared at him for a moment.
She couldn’t possibly have heard it wrong.
He was definitely taunting her.
The next moment she smiled sweetly.
“Of course, dear husband.” The words came out almost too naturally that Damian felt goosebumps.
The moment she said them, she leaned slightly toward his ear, making sure no one else could hear her.
“Be sure to keep that smile on your face at the end of the meal.” The smile on Damian’s lips gradually disappeared.
He slowly turned his head toward her.
However, before either of them could react, his lips accidentally brushed against hers as Sylvia pulled away from his ear.
Everything froze.
Damian’s breath caught.
Sylvia’s mind went completely blank.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Around the table, several pairs of eyes widened in shock as everyone held their breath.
No one seemed willing to make a sound.
Sylvia finally noticed the unnatural silence surrounding them.
She snapped out of her daze.Her eyes widened.
‘Oh no!
My first kiss!’ She hastily pulled away from him.
“Damian Evercrest…” she gasped, her voice filled with disbelief and fury.
Damian slowly regained his composure.
Then, to her absolute astonishment, he leaned closer.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
“I wouldn’t disappoint you.” Once he said it, he leisurely pulled away as though nothing had happened.
His expression returned to its usual calmness.
But Mark didn’t miss the faintest smile lingering at the corner of Damian’s lips.
Even more suspiciously, Damian pressed his lips together for a brief moment, almost as though he were savoring the lingering sensation of hers.
Mark’s eyes widened.
‘Did he just…?’ For Sylvia, however, there was nothing amusing about the situation.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as fury surged through her.
She was completely speechless.
‘How could this man be so shameless?
Shouldn’t he apologize?’ And that unexpected kiss…She really wanted to make Damian pay for it.
“Let’s eat,” Damian said casually, effectively cutting through the stunned silence and ending whatever fantasies had begun forming in everyone’s minds.
He slowly picked up his cutlery before extending it toward Sylvia.
“Miss Quinn…”