As for looks, she certainly didn't think she paled in comparison to Claire.
They were both gorgeous women.
Latonia would never consider herself inferior.
"Why are you here today? I thought you were coming yesterday," Dane asked coldly, sparing her a brief glance.
It was his own fault for being careless; he had forgotten to ask Baldrick if the Franklin family was on yesterday's guest list.
Latonia had known Dane since childhood-she knew exactly what that look on his face meant.
Her expression darkened slightly, but she had to swallow the bitter realization that he was actively avoiding her. He even looked outright annoyed to see her.
Was he annoyed because she had interrupted his precious time with his little fiancée?
A suffocating wave of grievance washed over Latonia.
She had loved Dane for years; she didn't come here to watch him dote on another woman.
She desperately wanted to lash out at him, but she had no right.
"I wasn't feeling well yesterday, so we rescheduled for today," Latonia explained, forcing back the bitter lump in her throat.
She didn't know if Dane bought her excuse, but he simply gave a curt "Hmm" and ignored her.
"Claire, lovely to see you again," Latonia said, pasting on a flawless smile.
"I had no idea Dane was bringing you home. Please don't be upset that we're here."
She played the role of the gracious, understanding guest perfectly.
But her tone carried a subtle condescension, almost like a reigning matriarch addressing a mistress.
Claire, of course, wasn't about to play her game.
"Of course not. I'm just here to wish Baldrick a happy new year."
"You were here first, so technically, I'm the one intruding."
"I just hope my presence doesn't ruin your mood, Latonia," Claire said, her gaze
locking onto the older woman's.
Latonia understood the veiled warning perfectly.
She was definitely furious, but she couldn't say a word.
bet
"I was actually hoping to stay for lunch I've been studying abroad and tafely get to come back ve missed the family chef's cooking so much."
"I just wonder if Claire would mind..."
Before Latonia could finish her sentence, Claire cut her off smoothly. "I also love the chef's food."
"It seems we have very similar tastes."
Listening to the two women verbally spar, Cyrus rolled his eyes in the background.
What was this nonsense about loving the family's cooking? Just admit you're both obsessed with Dane.
Falling for the same guy—wasn't that the definition of having similar tastes?
He shifted his gaze to Claire, a dull
ache settling in his chest. How was
he any worse than Dane? This was the first time he had actively.
pursued a girl,
and he had failed
miserably.
Cyrus was still seething with resentment.
Dane happened to catch Cyrus's
sour expression out of the corner of
his eye Even without knowing
exactly what the guy was thinking, alarm bells rang in his head.
"If you all love the food, then stay. The chef promised a massive feast for lunch," Baldrick said with a hearty laugh.
He hadn't realized earlier that Latonia deliberately pushed their visit back a day.
In hindsight, she probably only rescheduled because he had casually mentioned Dane wasn't home yesterday.
The Franklin girl clearly hadn't anticipated Dane bringing Claire home today.
At Baldrick's invitation, Claire offered a radiant smile. "Baldrick is absolutely right. With a feast on the menu, I'm definitely staying."
Not to be outdone, Latonia quickly chimed in, "Thank you, Baldrick. You're too kind."
Achilles watched his granddaughter openly passive-aggressive spar with Baldrick's future granddaughter-in-law, feeling incredibly awkward.
In the past, he had hoped to match his granddaughter with the Green family heir.
But now that the boy was so blatantly devoted to Claire, Achilles had no desire to force the issue.
His granddaughter was brilliant and beautiful—surely she could find a man even better than Dane!