Ethan Valencia arrived no later than the hour of twelve at noon. He was sat opposite Valerie and her husband. Ethan stared at Valerie, admiring how good she looked. Seemed she was the one fit for the Grand Duke after all.
"Father, it is lovely to see you again." It was not, and she never wanted to see him again. But she had to compose herself; just the mention of his name had almost put her in panic mode before Raelyth. It was not that she wanted to portray her father as a horrible man—although he was—she wanted him to have a little bit of face before the Grand Duke of Nor'east.
"Indeed, my darling." He should have used her name. She had done nothing wrong for him to be angry. Valerie unknowingly squeezed Raelyth's hand that was holding hers. Ethan's gaze caught the movement; his jaw tightened, and a sly smirk tilted his lips.
