Chapter 192

Cecilia's pov I watched Sebastian's back as he disappeared into the kitchen with Muffin, leaving me stranded in a thick fog of awkward tension. Seriously? After all the effort I'd put into keeping things civil, he had to waltz in and blow it all up with that little crack about us "playing pretend"? The king of terrible timing. Amara and I both pretended we hadn't heard him. She was suddenly very invested in whatever was on her phone, and I became utterly transfixed by the sunset glowing through the floor-to-ceiling windows--as if it were the most fascinating thing on earth. The silence was suffocating. "Cecilia, Amara, shall we have dinner?" Liam's voice broke through like a rescue helicopter, paired with a smile that was trying way too hard to look casual. I bit back what I really wanted to say: This dinner was going to be more awkward than a eulogy at a wedding. Amara stood with infuriating grace. "I'd love to. I barely ate anything on the flight." She glided into the dining room wit