Chapter 296

Joseph's POV "Joseph, my boy, there you are!" Steward exclaimed, his arms spread wide. "Martha told me you were here with a guest." My jaw clenched involuntarily. "Father. This is unexpected." "A father doesn't need an invitation to visit his son, surely?" His eyes shifted to Ava, scrutinizing her with an intensity that made my skin tingle unpleasantly. "And who is this lovely creature?" "This is Ava Flynn," I stated curtly. "Ava, this is my father, Steward Garcia." "Enchanted," he declared, taking her hand and kissing it before I could react. "Truly enchanted." Dean growled menacingly inside me, and I fought to keep him contained. My father's presence always triggered the worst in me. "We were just leaving," I lied, placing a protective hand on Ava's lower back. "Nonsense! Flora tells me dinner is almost ready." He settled into a chair, clearly intending to stay. "So, Ava, tell me about yourself. How did you manage to capture my son's attention? He's notoriously difficult to pin down.