I should have known the family dinner would be a disaster.
The moment I walked into the dining room, I knew.
Marcus was already sitting at the head of the table.
Adrian sat beside him.
Ethan stood near the windows, speaking quietly with someone on the phone.
I stopped.
“Is he eating with us?”
Adrian looked at Ethan.
“He’s working.”
Ethan raised his phone.
“Unfortunately.”
Marcus looked at me.
“Sit.”
Not please.
Just sit.
I took the chair beside Adrian.
Dinner began in silence.
The first five minutes were almost peaceful.
Then Marcus put down his glass.
“So.”
I looked up.
“You’re Victor Carter’s daughter.”
“Yes.”
“How much did your father tell you about Blackwood International?”
“Almost nothing.”
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
“Of course.”
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“Father.”
“What?”
“She doesn’t know.”
“That has never stopped her family from benefiting from our secrets.”
I put down my fork.
“I didn’t ask my father for anything.”
Marcus looked at me.
“Your family didn’t need to ask.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
Adrian looked at his father.
Marcus leaned back.
“Your father made a deal.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of deal?”
I glanced at Adrian.
“And then?”
Marcus’s eyes hardened.
“Then he betrayed us.”
The room went silent.
“My father wouldn’t—”
“You don’t know what your father would do.”
I felt heat rise in my face.
“I know my father.”
“No.”
Marcus’s voice was cold.
“You know the father who came home every night and told you everything was fine.”
Adrian stood.
“That’s enough.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You’re defending her?”
“Yes.”
“She is a Carter.”
“She is my wife.”
The words hit the room like a gunshot.
Marcus stared at his son.
Then at me.
I wasn’t sure why, but my chest tightened.
Adrian sat back down.
Marcus stood.
“You’ll regret this.”
Adrian didn’t move.
“I make my own decisions.”
Marcus walked away.
The door closed.
I stared at my plate.
“I didn’t need you to defend me.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because he was wrong.”
I looked at him.
“About my family?”
“About you.”
I didn’t know what to say.
Ethan finally ended his call.
“Well.”
We both looked at him.
“That was pleasant.”
I almost laughed.
Adrian gave him a warning look.
“I’m just saying.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Adrian.”
“What?”
“We need to discuss tomorrow.”
“Later.”
Ethan nodded.
His eyes moved briefly to me.
Then he left.
I turned toward Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
“Business.”
“You’re lying.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
He didn’t even bother denying it.
I stood.
“Goodnight.”
I walked halfway across the room.
Then Adrian spoke.
“Elena.”
I turned.
“My mother.”
“What about her?”
He looked toward the hallway.
“She knew your mother.”
My heart skipped.
“You said that before.”
“I didn’t say everything.”
I waited.
“She warned me about your family.”
“What did she say?”
His eyes held mine.
“Never trust the Blackwoods.”
I froze.
“My mother said that?”
“Yes.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
I touched the bracelet.
“Why?”
Adrian’s face became unreadable.
“I don’t know.”
But something in his eyes told me he did.