Chapter 167

The crash thundered through the dining room. Plates shattered, cutlery clattered, wine glasses burst. The cake landed face-down on the floor, half-covered by the tablecloth, mashed flat under its own weight. Someone screamed—Gwendolyn, I think. A maid shouted something. The others shouted too. Reginald caught a flying fork to the shoulder. Edouard took a ceramic plate to the chest. Glass nicked Reginald’s hand—a thin red line down the knuckle. He bolted over to Edouard and caught his chair before it tipped. Chairs scraped, servants rushed forward. Someone started shouting for heart pills. The whole place fell apart in under ten seconds. Even Declan got hit in the face with a spoon. Only I came out untouched. Ashton had dragged me clear before he lost it. He turned to me. ‘Why the hell are you here?’ My mouth opened, but nothing came out. His face was inches from mine, eyes locked, fists still clenched. Gwendolyn stepped in before I could find words. ‘I invited her. I thought we could h