The meal ended, but the night lingered. Lanterns still glowed in the courtyard as the cousins and friends settled into smaller circles, talking and laughing. Adrian leaned back in his chair, his thoughts heavy, while Aiden joined a group in easy conversation.
Amara stayed close to Julian, though her eyes wandered elsewhere. Julian, however, refused to let her go. He followed her every step, his arm looping around her shoulders, pulling her into hugs that felt more like chains than comfort.
At first, Amara forced a smile, pretending it didn't bother her. But as Julian's grip tightened, the warmth of his touch turned cold. His laughter rang too loud, his closeness too suffocating. For the first time, she felt a wave of discomfort — and beneath it, disgust.
Then, without warning, Julian leaned in and kissed her cheek. The gesture was new — not only for Amara, but for everyone watching. Conversations faltered, eyes turned, and the moment hung heavy in the air.
Amara's smile vanished. She pulled back, retreating from his embrace. Her voice dropped to a whisper, sharp with disbelief. "Julian… what are you doing?"
But Julian was stubborn. He caught her hands, holding them tightly so she couldn't pull away. His face drew closer, his voice low but insistent. "I love you, Amara. I love you," he repeated, each word pressing against her resistance.
Amara struggled, her eyes wide with disgust. "Let me go," she hissed, trying to retreat, but Julian only leaned closer, his grip refusing to loosen.
That was when Adrian rose from his seat. His calm expression hardened, his voice low but firm. "Enough, Julian."
The courtyard fell silent. Cassian's grin faded, Orion's teasing stopped, and even Selene's sharp words died on her lips. All eyes turned to Adrian, who stood tall, his presence commanding.
Julian blinked, startled by the sudden intervention. "I was only—"
Adrian's gaze cut him off. "She said stop."
Julian hesitated, then finally released her hands. Amara wasted no time — she turned and fled, her steps quick and uneven. The courtyard doors swung shut behind her as she disappeared into the bathroom, her breath trembling, her heart pounding.
Adrian's eyes followed her, his calm mask hiding the storm inside. The cousins murmured, the atmosphere broken, but none dared speak against him.
The night carried on, but the air had shifted. What once seemed like harmless affection now revealed cracks — in Julian's stubbornness, in Amara's devotion, and in Adrian's silence.