Chapter 29
The dining room was nothing short of majestic, even with the changes Izzy noticed immediately. The last time she’d been here, the table stretched almost the entire length of the room, seating twenty or more. Now, it had been replaced with a smaller, more intimate table, crafted from polished mahogany with a stunning centerpiece of fresh white orchids.
The opulent chandelier above bathed the room warmly, its crystals sparkling like stars. The walls were adorned with artwork -classic oil paintings of pastoral scenes framed in gold.
At the head of the table, Philip Horvath, Liam’s grandfather, silently sliced into his steak with the precision of a surgeon. His movements were deliberate, the faint sound of his knife meeting the plate the only noise in the room. The silence was familiar, almost nostalgic.
It triggered a memory in Izzy, one of her own grandfather sitting across from Philip at this very mansion, both men enjoying their meals in shared silence before retreating to the garden with cups of steaming tea.
In the past, Izzy and her grandfather would sometimes visit the old man during weekends and holidays.
izzy glanced toward the large glass windows, catching a glimpse of the garden she remembered so vividly. It was still there, its hedges perfectly manicured, the fountain in the center softly illuminated. She wondered if Philip still took his tea there after meals.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Liam slid a plate toward her. The steak had already been expertly sliced into neat pieces, the pink center of the meat glistening under the light. She gave him a small smile, grateful for the gesture, and picked up her fork to start eating.
“Why did you agree to marry Liam?” Philip’s voice suddenly cut through the silence like a knife.
Izzy’s fork froze mid–air. She hadn’t expected the question to come so bluntly. She set it down slowly, glancing at Liam, whose face was unreadable. He leaned back in his chair, watching her as if curious how she’d handle the question.
Izzy straightened, meeting Philip’s sharp gaze. “It was… a practical decision,” she said carefully, trying to gauge his reaction. Izzy wanted to say she had fallen for Liam, but she knew that the old man would immediately know they were lies.
Philip didn’t respond immediately. He finished chewing a bite of his steak, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and placed it neatly beside his plate. “Practical. That’s an interesting way to describe a marriage,” he said. This time, he stared at her as if trying to read her face.
“Practicality…” he mumbled.
“That and because he is handsome,” Izzy said. She wasn’t surprised when she saw the old man’s eyebrow lift. Izzy continued, “It’s easier to be with someone good–looking for the rest of your life.”
“Ha…” the old man started to chuckle. “It seems that you are becoming more and more like Augustus,” he said.
Augustus Rossi.
Izzy’s paternal grandfather, an old friend of Philip Horvath, was known for his bluntness. He was never one to sugarcoat his words or feign a smile. Wasn’t this the very reason Izzy disliked him in the past? The old man had never hidden his disdain for both Amalia and Monica and to a young Izzy, that was reason enough to resent him. As she grew older, she spent less time with him, largely because he refused to allow Monica to accompany her.
Now, Izzy realized it had been a foolish mistake.
Seeing Izzy’s reaction, old Mr. Horvath smiled. “Augustus would have laughed so hard if he heard your answer but he would agree. After all, your grandmother was a very beautiful woman.”
Izzy nodded and said nothing. Her grandmother died before she was even born. However, she had seen images of her and
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Chapter 29
she was indeed a very stunning woman. In fact, Izzy’s grandfather never remarried after his wife died.
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“So….. the two of you are really married?” the old man asked. This time, he turned his attention to Liam. His wizened face scrutinized him.
“Are you going to ask me why I married her?” Liam asked.
“Oh no…” the old man shook his head. “I knew you always liked her.”
“Grandfather!” Liam’s face turned ugly.
“What is not to like? She’s a beautiful, accomplished woman. You two suit each other,” the old man calmly said. “So, when are you planning to announce this marriage?”
“Do we need to?” Liam asked.
Once again, the old man lifted an eyebrow. “You plan to keep this marriage a secret… then divorce in secret once Izzy turns twenty–six?”
Izzy nearly choked on her food, coughing as Liam’s hand pressed against her back, gently patting to steady her. He quickly handed her a glass of water, which she drank in a single gulp. Catching her breath, she shot a glance at the old man, a sudden realization striking her–Philip was every bit as blunt as her own grandfather!
“I know about the contents of the will,” Philip said without hiding the nonchalance in his voice. “At least half of it. Now that you are married, you should probably know the other half, no?”
“What other half?” Izzy asked.
“Miss Alcaraz will be with us on Monday,” he suddenly got up. “Let us talk about this in her presence. As of now…” he looked at Izzy. “I will be waiting for you in the back gardens. Let’s have some tea.”
Philip paused at the door and turned back, pointing a finger at Liam. “You come too. You’ll brew the tea. I’ve had enough of that weak tea you served me last time.”
Liam straightened in his seat. “Grandfather, I’m not—”
“Ten minutes,” Philip interrupted, ignoring him as he exited the dining room with deliberate steps.
Izzy stared at the door, then back at Liam, still processing what had just happened. “Did he just say you’re brewing the tea?”
Liam sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “He’s been obsessed with this idea since I botched a pot of tea two years ago. Keeps bringing it up.”
Izzy suppressed a laugh but couldn’t hide the amusement in her eyes. “A part of me knew you would be bad at brewing tea.”
“Don’t start,” Liam muttered, cutting another bite of his steak.
“Did you know about this ‘other half‘ of the will?” Izzy asked.
Liam set his knife down and finally met her gaze. “I have no idea what he’s talking about. Your grandfather and mine–let’s just say they had a habit of keeping secrets. Wouldn’t be surprising if there’s something none of us know about.”
Izzy tilted her head. “And you never thought to ask?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. You were the one supposed to inherit everything, not me.”
“Well, apparently, it does matter,” she said. “He wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise.”
They fell into silence. The clinking of cutlery and the faint hum of the chandelier filled the room as they focused on their
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plates.
Izzy glanced at Liam occasionally. “What do you think it is?” she asked after a few moments.
Liam didn’t answer immediately. “If it’s anything like what my grandfather usually involves himself with, it’s either going to be a ridiculous formality or something that turns everything on its head.”
“That’s reassuring.” Izzy said dryly, pushing her plate aside. Her appetite was long gone.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Liam said. “If it’s tied to the will, we’ll find out soon enough besides, you didn’t actually marry me because of the will, right?”
She pursed her lips. “Easy for you to say,” she replied, glancing toward the garden visible through the windows. “You’re not the one with your inheritance tied to a secret clause.”
Liam smirked faintly. “No, but I’m apparently the one brewing tea because of it.”
Izzy almost laughed, shaking her head as she stood. “Well, good luck. I’ll meet you in the garden. Try not to burn the water.”
Liam shot her a flat look. “I’m not that incompetent.”
She smirked as she left the table, throwing him a quick wave over her shoulder. “We’ll see.”
Liam muttered something under his breath and got up, heading toward the kitchen to fulfill his grandfather’s orders.
