Chapter 55

The dining room was grand, and every component of it breathed refinement. The table was large enough to seat a board of an entire corporation and was set with fine specification dishes and utensils in place. But with all its grandeur, the air was thick with tension.

Stefani sat next to Jacob and felt her heart pound against her chest. Thick silence weighed on her as servants quietly moved around them, serving dish after dish of traditional Japanese cuisine. The food looked amazing, but Stefani had barely touched her plate, her appetite overshadowed by the presence of Jacob's grandfather at the head of the table, who coldly flicked his gaze toward her time and time again.

Jacob’s hand must have found hers under the table, for he gave her a reassuring squeeze. She glanced at him, thankful for the silent support. His calm demeanor, his steady presence, was all that kept her from crumbling.

She took a deep breath once more, focusing on her surroundings rather than