The family dinner was an ambush.
Liam should have seen it coming. His mother had been too insistent, too specific about the time and location. Not their usual private dining room at the club, but her penthouse—intimate, controlled, strategic.
When Liam arrived at exactly 7 PM, he found not just his mother and brother, but also his uncle Marcus and Chloe Montgomery, dressed to kill in a designer dress that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent.
"Ah, Liam," his mother said, her smile sharp. "Perfect timing. Chloe was just telling us about the charity gala next week. You'll be attending together, of course."
"Of course not," Liam said flatly, remaining standing despite the empty chair clearly meant for him. "I haven't agreed to attend anything with anyone."
"Don't be difficult," Margaret said, her voice taking on that steel undertone that had terrified him as a child. "Your... arrangement has ended. It's time to move forward with appropriate connections."
