(Author's POV)
She pulled her knees to her chest and said nothing.
Richard stayed until her breathing evened out. Then he stood, squeezed her shoulder once, and left her to herself.
Meanwhile, at the Everett estate, the evening had taken on an entirely different character.
The family had gathered for a late dinner, and Aurora sat beside Phineas at the long table while the conversation moved around them. Serena sat across the way, and she had been looking at Aurora all evening with an expression that sat somewhere between resentment and calculation.
Phineas noticed. He always noticed.
He set his fork down and looked at his niece. "Serena."
Serena blinked. "What?"
"You know what." His tone was even, but there was no softness in it. "She's family. Act like it."
Serena's jaw tightened
