The dining room at Grant Estate was unusually lively that evening.
Warm golden light spilled from the chandelier above the long walnut dining table, casting soft reflections across polished silverware and crystal glasses. The scent of roasted herbs and garlic lingered in the air, mingling with the faint perfume of fresh-cut roses arranged in a centerpiece.
It wasn't often the entire Grant family gathered under one roof.
But tonight was different.
Lucas's parents had returned from a three-month trip through Europe. Officially, they had been attending charity galas and cultural events connected to the Grant Foundation. They'd sent postcards from Vienna, Milan, and Paris… each one bearing his mother's elegant handwriting and his father's scrawled signature.
Unofficially, Bianca Grant simply enjoyed traveling. She thrived on new experiences, fine dining in foreign cities, and the freedom that came with being away from the expectations of Silvermont society.
