Zeraida had been unusually quiet ever since their luxury vehicle crossed through the grand iron gates of the ancestral Winterland estate. Xaviere sat beside her in the back seat, watching her gaze remain fixed on the dark, tree-lined driveway.
"You have been staring out that window for the past ten minutes without speaking," he observed smoothly, breaking the stillness inside the cabin.
"I am simply preparing myself mentally for what lies ahead," she admitted, her tone carrying a rare, guarded edge.
"Mental preparation for a standard family dinner?" he questioned, turning his head to study her profile.
"No, mental preparation for my family," she corrected, her jaw clenching slightly as the mansion came into view.
That crucial distinction became abundantly clear within twenty minutes of their formal arrival inside the cavernous estate.
