Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 44

Ria's POV:

I had just stepped out of the shower, steam still curling around me, my mind racing with the events of the morning. Nikolai's kiss replayed in my head, a jarring reminder of how complicated everything had suddenly become. I felt a surge of anxiety, and it took every ounce of willpower to not let my thoughts spiral out of control.

The kiss was intense, unexpected, and had left a lingering warmth on my lips. I couldn't believe it had happened, especially considering the chaos of the morning. And then there was the revelation that Layla was Nikolai's stepsister and Amara was his stepmother. It was all so confusing. I felt a twinge of embarrassment for not connecting the dots sooner, especially since Layla had mentioned her family in passing.

Shaking my head to clear it, I focused on getting dressed. I pulled on my black, sheer stockings and slid into the gray pencil skirt dress I'd brought, adding a warmer gray sweater over it. The outfit was a blend of both formal and cozy, perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner. Layla had given me these comfy, warm, black slippers that felt like a hug for my feet, and I finished off the look by braiding my hair into a neat, loose French braid.

As I stepped out of the bathroom, a knock echoed from my bedroom door. I went to open it, finding Layla grinning widely. "Ohhhh, you look cute," she said, linking her arm with mine. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks," I replied, though my mind was still caught up in the whirlwind of thoughts. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything."

Layla led the way downstairs to the kitchen, where we joined the rest of the family in preparing for the meal. The kitchen was alive with the sounds of cooking and laughter. The table was set with a spread of foods that I recognized and some that were new to me—roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a few dishes I didn't recognize but smelled amazing.

As we worked together to set the table, I caught sight of Nikolai walking into the dining room, carrying two chairs. Our eyes met, and a flush of heat spread through me as I remembered the kiss. I glanced away quickly, but not before noticing the appreciative look he gave me, when he did a very poor job at hiding the fact that he just checked me out. Anything but discreetly. But something told me he didn't care about being discreet anymore.

The dinner was soon ready, and everyone gathered around the table. The atmosphere was light and playful, filled with banter and laughter. Eduard, with his warm, engaging demeanor, was like a maestro of the evening, effortlessly steering the conversation and making everyone feel at ease.

"Ria, you have to call me Eddy," Eduard insisted, a charming grin on his face. "Eduard is so formal."

Layla chuckled beside me. "Yep, it's a family thing."

Wait—

Alisha, the youngest of the bunch, had a sassy, irreverent streak that made her a standout. "Father, can you pass the rolls?" she asked, her tone teasing. "Or do you need a lesson in proper table manners?"

"Oh, I see how it is," Eduard shot back with a laugh. "You're all about teaching me table manners now, are ya?"

Amara, while not as talkative as Layla, had a playful edge as she exchanged gentle jabs with Eduard. The way they interacted, constantly poking fun at each other, was endearing and reminded me of the kind of love that was both affectionate and comfortable. I felt a sense of warmth at the sight. Something I never saw my mom have.

Kathryn, sitting beside me, was the cool aunt who made sure my plate was always full and handed me a glass of the adults' drink. "I don't care if you're 21 or not, this is Thanksgiving," she said with a wink. "You deserve a drink, too, especially sitting in the middle of this whole circus show."