"You're here!" came a familiar voice from behind, cutting through the tension thick enough to suffocate the entire hall.
Avery turned around, standing just a few feet away, Declan approached them with his usual warm smile—though it faltered slightly the moment his eyes landed on Layla.
He paused, just for a second. Enough to be noticed by someone paying attention. Then, like a seasoned professional, he composed himself once more and gestured to the man beside him.
"David, these are my two daughters," Declan said with a stiff smile. He nodded toward Layla first. "Layla—the elder one."
Layla stepped forward, lips curving into a polite, practiced smile as she nodded at the older man. Her posture was perfect, poised like a politician's wife greeting donors at a charity ball.
Declan's tone softened as he gestured toward Avery. "And this is Avery, my younger one."
