Chapter 3
The dining room was bathed in bright light.
The long rosewood table filled the room with a rich, woody aroma. A servant carried a silver tray and set the final rack of lamb on the table.
Eric sat beside the head of the table, his suit jacket draped over the back of his chair.
Mya sat right next to him, so close their shoulders nearly touched.
They put me at the far end of the table, right by the kitchen prep area.
"Eric, do you think this necklace will go well with my outfit for the graduation party next week? " Mya asked.
She leaned in a little, pointing to the sapphire necklace around her neck.
Eric shifted his gaze from his wine glass to her collarbone.
"It suits you, " he said, his voice unusually gentle.
"That's the highlight piece from Sotheby's spring auction. Eric really went out of his way for you, " my stepmother gushed, practically beaming. She was the one who'd forced my mom out by getting pregnant.
Eric picked up his glass and took a sip of red wine.
Out of the corner of his eye, he shot me a glance across the long table, his look as nonchalant as ever.
For the past ten years, that look would make me instinctively duck my head, always second-guessing if I'd pissed him off again.
But today, I couldn't even be bothered to avoid his gaze anymore.
I met his gaze and slowly set down my fork and knife.
The sharp clink of metal on porcelain rang out.
The lively chatter died instantly, every pair of eyes along the table snapping to me.
I pushed my chair back and stood up, locking eyes with him across the table.
"Eric Hart, " I said.
Hearing me call him by his full name, he paused mid-cut, his knife hovering over his steak.
"Let's settle the last ten years of support right here. Now that I've graduated high school and I'm an adult, I don't need your money anymore, " I said.
"I'll transfer the living expenses from the last three months back to you tomorrow, " I added.
"We're done with the agreement, " I said.
The dining room fell silent.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark stopped in their tracks, hands frozen in the air, staring at me in disbelief.
Eric slowly set down his fork and knife, and looked up at me.
He fixed his gaze on me, brows furrowed.
Mya was the first to speak up.
She let out a mocking laugh. "What's this, Charlotte? Trying to pull a sob story now? "
"You've been living off Eric's charity for years, and now you're suddenly too good for it? " Mya sneered.
She stood up, towering over me with a look of disdain.
"Everything you eat, wear, and use, didn't Eric pay for all of it? Return three months' living expenses? With what? The measly tips you make waiting tables at Azure Lounge? " Mya demanded.
"You ungrateful little wretch. Pulling this pathetic stunt for attention? What a joke, " she scoffed.
I tuned out her tirade completely.
Without even sparing her a glance, I met Eric's eyes directly.
I used to wait for him to step in, even if it was a single word to stop things.
But he merely stared at me in silence.
After a moment, Eric picked up his fork and knife again.
He bowed his head, slowly cutting into his food. The knife scraped against the plate, making a grating sound.
He didn't spare me another glance.
Seeing Eric sit there and say nothing, Mr. Clark's face turned cold as he barked at me.
"Charlotte, how can you be so disrespectful? " Mr. Clark snapped.
"Eric's supported you for years, and instead of being grateful, you pull this stunt in front of everyone? You're embarrassing the Clark family. " he continued.
I lowered my gaze.
I didn't argue, and I didn't fall apart and cry like they expected.
My eyes skipped right past Mr. Clark, who was still scolding me, and met Eric's across the table.
"Mr. Hart, since you're not objecting, that's the end of these ten years, " I said.
With that, I turned around.