Chapter 4

"You look great like this," Ian said.

For once, he didn't tell me to go change. He sounded genuinely impressed. I nodded, and the table fell silent again.

That wasn't like me. Ian tried to make small talk, but I frowned and snapped, "Can we just eat without talking?"

My words made Ian pause, his hand stopping halfway as he was about to serve me some food.

He had spent the whole day trying to please me, and I had shot him down every time.

Now he was clearly annoyed, his words sharp and bitter.

He snapped, "Esme, I took…