#Chapter 40- Love

Cora “Ah, glad you both finally made it back!” Daisy squealed with mock-excitement we we stepped back into the dining room. I was clutching my bag’s straps hard enough to turn my knuckles white as I sat back down, holding back some retort. “You look... quaint,” Daisy said to me lightly, pouring wine into my glass. “So glad you could join us. I wanted this to feel like a family gathering.” That word—family—curled in my gut like something rotten. I forced a strained, polite smile while glancing at Kingston, who looked tense in his seat across from me. I couldn’t help noticing the faint furrow between his brows every time Daisy spoke. She turned to Kingston, her gaze raking him up and down. “And you look so handsome, Kingston. As always, of course.” My fingers clenched even harder, pain springing up my knuckles from the pressure. “And you look… well, Daisy,” Kingston said, clearly trying to be polite to the mother of his child, yet he did not look her in the eyes as