Lilianna, who saw the silent exchange, felt a cold, disgusting lump in her throat.

The tenderness that Grayson showed Neville was like a slap in the face to every year she had spent maintaining her ’friendly’ distance.

’Look at how Grayson treats that slut,’ her inner voice whispered. ’Treating a pebble like he’s something precious.’

Lilianna’s grip on her silver fork tightened, trembling.

Her vision blurred at the edges, which made her pheromones threaten to leak through its filters.

She wanted to scream, make a scene.

’Calm down,’ her inner voice hissed, sharper now. ’Proceed with the plan.’

Lilianna took a shallow, steadying breath, forcing herself to swallow her grievances. She smoothed her expression back into her kind expression.

"He was always so bossy, wasn’t he, Neville?"

Lilianna said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"It’s Grayson’s habit that was honed from the front lines. You really have to be patient with him."

Neville swallowed the solanum, his expression neutral.

"It’s fine," he said, his voice calm, throwing a teasing glance at Grayson, "Tolerable."

Grayson pursed his lips.

Bryan, who saw and heard this, coughed uncontrollably.

Grayson threw a menacing glance at Bryan.

Bryan gestured and hurriedly explained that it was just a coincidence, that he didn’t mean it at this time.

Neville coolie drank his water with a smile.

"Oh, you probably haven’t seen it yet."

Lilianna laughed like she didn’t see anything. She leaned in despite the huge table in the middle of them as if sharing a secret.

"Wait until you hear about the Winter Siege."

Lilianna turned to Grayson and continued, "Grayson, do you remember that abandoned research station? The one where Ciel tried to cook the emergency rations over a literal fusion core?"

Ciel groaned into his plate. "In my defense, it was negative forty degrees, and the heater was dead."

"It was a death wish."

Lilianna corrected, her eyes locked onto Grayson’s, pulling him back into the circle.

"But Grayson... he didn’t even flinch. He’s the person you want beside you when the world is ending, because he’ll be the only one who doesn’t panic."

No one else was talking anymore, but Lilianna kept going on and on.

Every story she told was perfectly paced. She told little stories, harmless ones, each one had a hidden meaning of I knew him first.

Of course, Neville noticed it. He even commented a few times.

But Grayson looked like he had already separated this side from the other side of the table. He even slowed down his pace of eating to match Neville’s

Neville didn’t really mind the stories. He couldn’t have been there for Grayson’s childhood even if he could bend the laws of spacetime.

Those memories belonged to other people, and Neville could accept that without jealousy, resentment, or regret.

So he just let it go and listened to Grayson’s stories.

The more the better.

That was until Lilianna said someone’s name.

"—reminds me of the time Lysander tried to—"

Clang.

Grayson’s spoon hit the table.

It made a sharp and clean sound, cutting through the already silent room.

Lilianna had stopped mid-sentence. Her mouth was still slightly open, the unfinished word hanging in the air between them.

Neville’s eyes narrowed, but he continued eating as if nothing had happened.

He also didn’t feel good hearing that name for a different reason. However, that wouldn’t stop him from doing whatever he wanted.

He was done getting angry tonight.

Chronos, who was observing everyone, narrowed his eyes too.

It was unusual for Lilianna herself to mention that name. After all, there was one secret she didn’t want to reveal about Lysander.

However, what was even more puzzling was Helena’s actions. She was clearly the one who knew something about Lilianna and Lysander.

What was going on?

Pete saw Chronos pause and whispered, "What’s wrong?"

Chronos lowered his head to his food and whispered to Pete, "Ready yourself. I’ve confirmed two. I’m not sure what was going to happen next."

Pete hurriedly lowered his head to hide his alarmed look and whispered back, "Two?! Damn, I—What do you mean next? The dinner?"

Chronos acted normally and chewed his food. After swallowing, he replied, "I’m not sure when either."

Pete very much wanted to hold his aching head, but he couldn’t. "Seriously, trouble just comes knocking when you least expect it."

Chronos continued to eat, reading the room.

Lilianna blinked and quickly gave a small laugh, saying, "Sorry, sorry. Old habit. Anyway, what I meant was—"

"Lilianna Gringer," Grayson said with a perfectly neutral voice.

"Hmm?"

Based on Lilianna’s voice, she was still trying to uplift the atmosphere.

However, Grayson had already snapped.

"Shut up."

Lilianna held Grayson’s gaze for exactly two seconds. She smiled, trying to hide her embarrassed expression.

"I-I’m sorry. Have I been holding you back from eating?" She said quickly and even stood halfway to reach out for the meat dishes. "Please have some of these. I just had these—"

Neville pushed the plate Lilianna was handing over to Grayson away.

He smiled and said, "No need, we still have plenty around here. Thank you."

Lilianna’s hand, which was holding the plate, began to tremble. If she had put a little bit more force into her grip, that plate would have instantly shattered.

And if it shattered, Neville would be disfigured.

As Lilianna’s eyes started to redden, her inner voice snapped her back to her senses.

’There’s no point hurting that bastard in front of everyone. It’s one thing if that slut hurt you or you got hurt one way or another. But if you hurt that slut, are you sure you will garner everyone’s sympathy? For god’s sake, you’re an alpha, not a weak omega!’

Lilianna retorted in her mind, what if she was not an omega?! Even if it takes a ton of effort, she could still give birth to Grayson’s baby! There’s no difference between us!

’Wake up! Everyone is already under that slut’s spell! Isn’t that why we’re doing things step by step like this and not just killing him outright?! Remember the plan!’

For the first time, Lilianna felt like her thoughts were not her own.

She felt like her mind was shattering into pieces.

Then, she felt a warm hand next to her.

Helena wordlessly helped her with the plate and assisted her back to her seat.

In the process, she whispered to Lilianna’s ear, "Don’t take it to heart. The night is still young."

Chronos, who saw that seamless interaction, began to fear.

Fear that whatever would happen tonight would affect the baby in his belly.