Chapter 266: Too Peaceful to Trust
Georgia’s POV
We arrived at the Knight estate just in time for dinner. The driveway was already lined with familiar cars—Nick’s siblings, even Oliver’s. Another car was there, but Nick didn’t pay attention to it. The sight of all of them together made my heart flutter with a mix of warmth and nerves.
Nick parked the car and reached for my hand, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. "You okay?" he asked softly after seeing how quiet and nervous I was.
"Yeah," I said, though my voice carried a hint of hesitation. "It’s just... every time I’ve met Violet, it’s not always good. The first time was at that restaurant when she told me to stay away from you. Then during your proposal..." I let out a small, nervous laugh. "It makes me wonder what could happen tonight."
Nick’s gaze softened. "Hey," he said, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "Don’t worry, love. She’s stubborn, but she’s not foolish. You’re my wife now—legally, officially, undeniably a Knight. And if she ever crosses the line again, I’ll handle it. You won’t have to lift a finger."
The way he said it with that quiet certainty and tenderness melted the tension right off my shoulders.
As we approached the grand front door, it swung open before we could even knock.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Knight," a warm voice greeted us.
Mrs. Knight.
The words caught me off guard for a second, but oh... it felt good. Strange, but good, like a title I wasn’t quite used to wearing yet, but one that fit perfectly.
"Alfie!" Nick grinned, immediately wrapping an arm around the older man’s shoulders in a friendly half-hug. "Glad to know you are quite updated, old man."
Alfie chuckled, adjusting his slightly wrinkled coat after Nick’s playful jostle.
"Babe," Nick said, turning to me with a smile that made my heart skip. "This is Alfred, Alfie, for short. He’s my dad’s house manager. The best house manager anyone could ask for."
"Don’t listen to him," Alfie said with a laugh. "I just try to stay on top of things around here. Please, come in. Everyone’s waiting for you in the dining room."
As we stepped into the grand hall, the soft glow of the chandelier reflected off the polished floor, and distant chatter from the dining room drifted toward us. The interior screamed luxury, unlike Prudence’s home, which is warm and cozy, even though it’s not small.
I bet this is not Benjamin’s style; this is more of Violet. This is just like how she handles herself and how she presents herself to the world.
For a moment, standing there hand-in-hand with Nick, I couldn’t help but think, no matter how intimidating this house felt, being by his side made it feel just a little more like home.
When we entered the dining room, the first face I saw was Ella’s—her seat was perfectly aligned with the entrance, so she spotted us right away, too.
"Ella’s here," I whispered to Nick, my lips curving into a small smile. "So, she’s really part of the family now? That’s amazing!"
But the smile faded a little when my gaze drifted across the long table to Reagan, seated beside Sarah... and beside her was Violet. Across from them were Sarah’s parents, looking perfectly at ease.
My heart skipped a beat. What in the world is going on here? I thought this was a family dinner?
Before I could even whisper the question, Nick gave my hand a gentle tug, leading me toward the two empty seats between Sarah’s parents and Vicky. Thankfully, Nick chose the one beside her parents, which left me next to Vicky... a small mercy.
"What took you so long? I’m starving," Vicky whispered as soon as I sat down. "The smell of Isadora’s cooking has been torture!"
I chuckled softly. "I was finishing up interviews for the operations manager position. And guess what? Your brother didn’t even tell me about this dinner until I was done. He just sat there waiting like some calm, patient husband."
Nick smirked beside me, clearly hearing that last part.
Then, my gaze caught Ella’s again. She was sitting across from me, her phone already in her hand, typing quickly. I mouthed, "You’re here too?" but she didn’t reply aloud.
Instead, my phone buzzed.
[I was with Liam earlier in his office, talking about shipping arrangements, when Benjamin arrived. We were all chatting when Reagan texted him asking for dinner. Then Benjamin said we should all join. This is so awkward. Why am I even here?]
I bit back a laugh and quickly replied under the table:
[Isn’t it obvious? They already adore you! They’re testing what it feels like to have you as a daughter-in-law. We’ll be sisters soon, officially family!]
Ella rolled her eyes, her lips twitching as if fighting a smile.
That was when Benjamin entered the room, followed by Oliver, both of them holding bottles of champagne and red wine.
"You’re finally here!" Benjamin’s deep voice carried a warmth that filled the room. He looked genuinely pleased to see us. Then, turning to Alfie, he said, "You can inform Isadora to serve the food."
Within moments, the maids appeared, gracefully placing platters of steaming dishes along the table: garlic butter prawns, roast lamb, fresh salad, and Isadora’s famous truffle mashed potatoes.
The aroma filled the air, and for a brief, perfect moment, it felt like all the tension and confusion melted away.
"I’m really glad everyone could make it tonight, even on such short notice," Benjamin began, his deep, steady voice carrying through the dining room. His eyes swept over the long table, filled with his children and their partners, and there was a glimmer of pride there that softened his usual commanding presence. "My children are truly reliable. You make me a proud father."
He then gestured warmly toward the feast before us, the scent of Isadora’s cooking wrapping around us like comfort. "But before we go to the main reason why we are all here, let’s eat first. I have a feeling this one’s going to be big, and it’s always better to face big things with a full stomach."
Everyone chuckled, easing the quiet tension that had been floating around the table.
"I can already guess what it’s about!" Violet suddenly chimed in, her tone unusually cheerful. Her eyes sparkled with a kind of excitement I wasn’t used to seeing from her. "This is so thrilling. Come on, let’s eat!"
I glanced at Nick, then at Violet again, slightly taken aback. The way she smiled tonight wasn’t the sharp, polite smile I’d gotten used to. It was almost... genuine.
For the first time in Violet’s presence, it didn’t feel like stepping into a battlefield. It felt like sitting at a real family table, warm, curious, and just a little too peaceful to trust.
*******
Thank you for the golden Ticket!
Kris_K16