Chapter 78
The View is Exceptional
Grandmother Halton's dry remark hung in the air, a spark that ignited the already charged atmosphere. My blush felt like it had set my skin permanently aflame. Dafa's own rare moment of discomfiture was a fleeting victory, quickly masked by a respectful dip of his head.
"The view is exceptional, Grandmother," he replied, his voice now smoothed into a neutral, polite tone.
My heart skipped a beat, and a blush crept up my own cheeks. I lowered my gaze, suddenly self-conscious under Grandmother Halton's knowing scrutiny. Was it that obvious? Did everyone see the way Dafa looked at me, the way my heart responded in kind?
"Come," Grandmother Halton continued, her voice regaining its usual crispness. "Let's eat. I'm sure Alayna is famished after her adventures in the storage room." She rose gracefully from her chair and gestured towards the dining room. "Dafa, be a dear and lead the way. I'll follow shortly."
