Hello dear readers ❤️ I'm so sorry for not updating. Life threw a few unexpected challenges my way, and I couldn't update as much as I wanted. I truly appreciate your patience, love, and support during this time. Your comments and Power Stones mean the world to me, and I promise to get back on track with regular updates. Thank you for sticking with me—you're the reason I keep writing! 💕
The Voss dining room buzzed with warmth, laughter, and old wine. The chandelier flickered like it was trying to keep up with the fire in everyone's voices.
Dominic sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his expression unreadable as his siblings argued over dessert flavors.
Then, Grandfather Voss cleared his throat the old man's voice cutting through the chaos like a sermon.
"I've made a decision."
The room stilled.
Jane groaned playfully. "No one's dying, are they?"
"Only of boredom," Grandfather muttered. "I've decided to celebrate my eighty-sixth birthday with a proper party. None of that five-people-and-a-piano nonsense from last year."
Elias clapped once. "Finally! We've been waiting for you to come out of retirement." Dominic raised an eyebrow. "You hate crowds."
"I hate being forgotten more," the old man smirked. "And I want my entire family there. Including you, Dominic."
Dominic gave a small nod. "Of course."
Across the table, jane nearly choked on her wine. Elias coughed like he'd been punched in the chest.
"Wait… wait… Did the Ice King just agree?" Elias asked. "Someone write that down"
"Do it and I'll break your fingers," Dominic muttered.
But Grandfather wasn't done.
"With a woman."
"What?"
"A woman," his mother added, folding her arms gently. "You need to bring a date. A real one, not one of your models who don't know the name of the wine they're drinking."
Jane burst out laughing. Elias whistled low.
"Did she just say date?" Elias said. "Like the almighty Dominic Voss will show up holding hands with a human being?"
Dominic glared at him. "Shut up
"You'll be bringing the girl who's been living with you, of course."
Dominic froze mid-cut, his knife still pressing into a rare filet.
"What girl?" his mother asked, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
His younger brother Elias leaned back in his chair. "Did Hell finally freeze over?"
Dominic stared at his grandfather. The old man smiled over the rim of his wine glass, like a man who enjoyed watching others lose their footing.
"You forget, boy. I know everything, I have eyes everywhere and of course the old man who taught you everything about life"
Dominic forced his jaw to unclench
He had no choice.
She's my fiancée."
Silence. Stunned, perfect silence.
A fork clattered. His mother gasped.
"Fiancée?" she whispered, eyes suddenly brimming with hope. "Dominic Voss is getting married?"
You're serious?" Elias blinked like he'd just been hit with a brick.
"Is she real?" Amara added. "Like flesh-and-blood, not AI-generated?"
Dominic rolled his shoulders and forced his voice into something calm.
"Yes. Her name is Liana. She's… private. I've kept her out of the spotlight. But she'll be at the party."
His mother reached over and placed her hand over his, eyes soft.
"I'm so happy for you. I always knew, deep down, there was still room in your heart for something more than numbers and contracts."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. A mother's blessing. Gentle. Overwhelming.
Dominic didn't flinch but a strange warmth cracked through his icy control.
A lie that felt far too real.