As the clinking of wine glasses settled and the last of the dessert plates were cleared, the grand family dinner finally reached its slow, agonizing end.
The waiters moved like shadows, quiet and efficient, clearing the remnants of roasted lamb and chocolate soufflé while the chatter dissolved into nods and yawns from the elders.
Lady Mimosa stood with all the grace of a queen wrapping up her court. "Well, that was... unexpected," she muttered, shooting a pointed look at Shen, who remained unfazed and impeccably composed, as if the chaos he incited hadn't been the main course.
"I'd like a word with you later, Lord and Lady Summers," she added icily. "Privately..." then turned to her husband, smiling so sweetly, she could cause a diabetes. "With you too, Lord Ford."
Lord Summers only gave a serene chuckle, adjusting his cufflinks. "Of course, of course," he said, waving a hand. "Let the young ones have some privacy now, shall we? Long Shen did request it quite insistently."
