Dinner Gone Wrong

The grand dining room was lit by a stunning chandelier, its golden glow illuminating the lavish table set for dinner. Amelia nervously smoothed her dress as she followed Lucas into the room. Tonight was an important event a formal family dinner that included some of Lucas's relatives and a few close associates. Lucas had insisted she attend, and Amelia knew this was more than just a meal. It was a test, a way for Lucas's family to evaluate her.

As they approached the table, Amelia couldn't help but notice the way everyone's eyes shifted toward her. Some were curious, others cold and judgmental. Lucas's aunt, Victoria, sat near the head of the table, her piercing gaze scanning Amelia like a predator assessing its prey. The tension in the room was almost suffocating, but Amelia squared her shoulders and tried to appear confident.

"Amelia, you're looking lovely," Victoria said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Lucas has told us so little about you. I'm curious how did you two meet?"

Amelia felt her pulse quicken. She glanced at Lucas, hoping he would take over, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable. It was clear she was on her own.

"We met through mutual acquaintances," Amelia said carefully, her voice steady. "It was unexpected but... meaningful."

Victoria arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the vague answer. "How interesting. And what do you do, dear? Before you became Mrs. Blackwood, of course."

Amelia hesitated. Admitting that she had been a struggling artist didn't seem like the right move, given the judgmental stares around the table. "I've dabbled in a few things," she said, trying to sound casual. "I enjoy creative pursuits."

Victoria's smile grew colder. "Dabbled? How charming."

The conversation shifted to business matters, and Amelia took a small breath of relief. But she wasn't out of the woods yet. As the courses were served, the tension in the room grew thicker. The family's polite chatter was laced with subtle barbs and veiled insults, most of them directed at Lucas. It became clear to Amelia that Lucas's relationship with his relatives was strained, to say the least.

Halfway through the meal, an older man at the table, one of Lucas's uncles, turned to him with a sneer. "Lucas, I heard about the deal with the Kessler Group. Is it true you're thinking of pulling out?"

Lucas set down his fork, his expression calm but his tone sharp. "I'm considering all options. The Kessler Group has been less than transparent in their dealings."

The uncle scoffed. "Less than transparent? Or are you just afraid to take risks?"

Amelia watched as Lucas's jaw tightened. She could see he was trying to maintain his composure, but the provocation was getting to him. Before he could respond, Victoria chimed in.

"Lucas has always been... cautious," she said with a sly smile. "It's both a strength and a weakness, wouldn't you agree?"

The table fell silent, everyone waiting to see how Lucas would react. Amelia's heart ached for him, but she knew stepping in would only make things worse. Lucas met Victoria's gaze, his voice cold. "Caution is what keeps this family's empire intact, Aunt Victoria. Perhaps you'd prefer recklessness?"

Victoria's smile faltered, and for a moment, Amelia thought Lucas had won the round. But then another voice cut through the silence.

"What about your wife?" It was one of the associates, a man with slicked-back hair and a smug grin. "Does she share your cautious nature, or is she the bold one in the relationship?"

All eyes turned to Amelia, and she felt the weight of their scrutiny. Forcing a smile, she replied, "I believe balance is important in any partnership. Lucas and I complement each other."

The man chuckled, clearly not expecting such a poised response. "Diplomatic. I like that."

Amelia hoped that would be the end of it, but Victoria wasn't done. "Tell me, Amelia," she said sweetly, "how do you find life with Lucas? He can be... demanding, can't he?"

Amelia could feel Lucas stiffen beside her. She knew this was a trap, but she refused to let Victoria rattle her. "Lucas has high standards," she said evenly. "But I see that as a good thing. It pushes me to be my best."

Victoria's smile became even more forced. "How lovely. I hope you'll be able to keep up."

The meal continued, but the atmosphere was growing more hostile by the minute. Just when Amelia thought things couldn't get worse, one of the servers accidentally spilled a glass of wine. The red liquid splashed across the table, staining the pristine white tablecloth and narrowly missing Victoria's dress.

The room fell silent as the server stammered an apology, their hands trembling. Victoria's face twisted in anger. "Do you have any idea how much this dress costs?" she snapped, her voice icy.

Before the server could respond, Lucas spoke up. "It was an accident, Aunt Victoria. There's no need to make a scene."

Victoria glared at him, her eyes flashing with fury. "This is your staff, Lucas. Their incompetence reflects on you."

Lucas's expression darkened, and Amelia could see he was barely holding back his anger. Without thinking, she stepped in. "Mistakes happen," she said gently, addressing both Victoria and the server. "What matters is how we handle them. Let's not let a small mishap ruin the evening."

Victoria's eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. The server quickly cleaned up the spill, and the dinner resumed. However, the damage had been done. The tension was now palpable, and Amelia could feel the judgment in every glance cast her way.

After the meal, Lucas and Amelia retreated to their private quarters. As soon as the door closed behind them, Lucas let out a frustrated sigh. "That was a disaster."

"It wasn't your fault," Amelia said, placing a hand on his arm. "Your family... they're impossible to please."

Lucas shook his head. "They thrive on tearing people down, Amelia. It's how they maintain control. I shouldn't have put you through that."

Amelia stepped closer, her voice firm. "Lucas, I'm not afraid of them. I knew what I was walking into when I agreed to this marriage. I can handle a few sharp words and cold stares."

Lucas looked at her, his expression softening. "You handled yourself well tonight. Better than I expected."

Amelia smiled. "Is that your way of saying thank you?"

A small smirk played on Lucas's lips. "Maybe."

Despite the rocky evening, Amelia felt a flicker of hope. She had stood her ground and earned a sliver of respect, if not from Victoria, then at least from Lucas. The dinner may have gone wrong, but it had revealed something important: Amelia wasn't just a pawn in this game. She was a player, and she was determined to win.

Just as she was about to leave the room, a soft voice behind her spoke, freezing her in place. "You think you've won, don't you?" Amelia turned slowly, her pulse quickening, as Lucas stepped out from the shadows, his expression unreadable. "You haven't seen anything yet."