252Lily’s heart pounded in her chest, her eyes scanning the crowded room. The laughter and chatter of the guests around her felt like a distant echo, her mind fixed solely on one thing—Allvar. He had promised to bring the antique clock, the one she’d been dying to give her grandmother, but with every passing second, her anxiety mounted. What if he didn’t show up? What if he had forgotten?Her gaze swept over the guests again, her fingers twitching at her sides. She tried to calm her breath, but the tightness in her chest grew. Where was he?"Relax, Lily, he’ll be here," she whispered to herself, though the reassurance felt hollow.But as if to mock her thoughts, a voice broke through the noise, sharp and unmistakable. Tobias."Still waiting for that prince charming, Lily?" he drawled, his voice smooth and condescending. Lily stiffened, her back straightening in defiance as she turned to face him."Tobias," she said with a strained smile, her tone icy. "I told you already, stay away f

254The tension in the room grew thicker as the noise of Tobias's shouting reverberated through the walls. People began to gather at the doorway, whispering amongst themselves, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Isn’t that Tobias?” someone murmured. “He’s completely lost it,” another whispered back. Tobias’s face was red with rage, his voice echoing over the quiet hum of the spectators. “You think you’re better than me, Allvar? Strutting around here like you own the place with your smug face and pompous attitude!” Allvar tilted his head slightly, his calm composure unbroken. “Smug? Pompous? My dear Tobias, if confidence and composure offend you so deeply, I shudder to think how you handle everyday life.” His voice was as smooth as silk, laced with a subtle arrogance that made Tobias’s fists clench even tighter. Lily’s temper flared once again. “Tobias, stop this! You’re acting like a child throwing a tantrum,” she snapped, stepping forward and placing herself f

256As the door to the dining room shut behind Mrs. Penrose and Tobias, Lily turned to Allvar, her voice trembling with frustration. “He’s wormed his way into her trust for years, and she always believes him over me. Always.”Allvar folded his arms, his gaze still fixed on the now-closed door. “Trust me, Lily. Tobias just played his hand. The more desperate he gets, the sloppier his lies will become. We’ll catch him.”Lily frowned, shaking her head. “It won’t matter. Grandma’s too stubborn to see reason when it comes to Tobias. He could light the house on fire, and she’d still blame me.”Before Allvar could respond, the door creaked open, and a soft voice interrupted them. “Lily?”Lily turned to see her younger cousin, Clara, peeking into the room, her wide eyes darting nervously between Lily and Allvar. “I... I think I saw something,” Clara whispered.“What did you see?” Lily asked, stepping toward her.Clara hesitated, wringing her hands. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier becau

258 The atmosphere in the dining room remained thick with tension after Lily and Allvar's abrupt departure. Mrs. Penrose, now calm and collected, surveyed the table with her usual air of authority. Her steely gaze dared anyone to speak out of turn, the weight of her presence ensuring no one did—at least, not immediately. Finally, one of the guests, an older man with a finely tailored suit and a sharp nose, cleared his throat. “Mrs. Penrose, if I may,” he began, his voice oozing with faux diplomacy, “I can’t help but agree with you. Tobias has been nothing but a loyal and upstanding gentleman in every interaction I’ve had with him. This... Allvar fellow, on the other hand—well, who even is he?” A ripple of murmured agreement passed around the table. The other guests, emboldened by his words, exchanged knowing glances, their expressions laced with thinly veiled contempt. “He’s no one,” chimed in a woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a diamond necklace that sparkled under the chand

260**Back in the Dining Room...**The murmurs among the guests had only just begun to subside when the door to the dining room opened. All eyes turned expectantly as Thomas returned, stepping aside to allow Lily and Allvar to enter. Lily walked in with her chin held high, her eyes scanning the room with steely defiance. Allvar followed closely behind, his hands tucked into his pockets, his stance casual but his eyes sharp as they landed on Tobias. “Ah, Lily,” Mrs. Penrose greeted, her voice icy yet polite. “I trust Thomas delivered my message.” “Oh, he did,” Lily replied smoothly, the edges of her tone cutting through the room. “I just wasn’t sure why I should bother returning, considering the lovely discussion you were having about me.” A faint ripple of unease passed through the room, and Mrs. Penrose’s lips tightened. “This is a family matter, dear. It requires all of us to be present.” “Does it?” Lily countered, folding her arms. “Because it sounded more like a gossip c