Chapter 175: Survive the night
Rhys
Tonight was the dinner party my grandfather had organized for Elian and me.
The team’s jet had landed in the morning, and I had spent all evening getting prepared and hatching plans with Kayden so the night would go smoothly with no problems.
I heaved a deep sigh as the limousine sent by my grandfather pulled up at the entrance of his estate, and I stepped out alone.
I was dressed in a tailored charcoal three-piece suit with a deep burgundy tie, the same shade as Kayden’s tuxedo. But he wasn’t here, at least not yet.
The fabric on me felt too stiff tonight, like armor I didn’t want to wear.
Entering the estate felt like hell already as my hands were shaking. It always did whenever I came back here. An old habit, born from years of walking these halls with my father’s voice ringing in my ears and my grandfather’s cold stare following every mistake I made on the ice or off it.
I clenched my fists once, then twice, trying to control the tremor before anyone could notice.
"Goodness," I sighed as I looked at the massive bone-white French chateau in front of me.
"Let’s do this," I muttered as I checked my Rolex. 7:42 p.m.
Kayden would arrive in a few minutes with the rest of the team. That had been the plan—we wanted Rami Calder to believe we were just captain and teammate.
I took a slow breath and walked up the wide stone steps alone. The heavy oak doors opened before I even reached them, and a member of staff bowed slightly.
"Master Rhys, welcome. Your grandfather is expecting you in the main dining hall."
I gave him a curt nod and stepped inside.
Ever since the birthday gala weeks ago, I had not returned to the house, and it was just like it was.
Cold and haunting.
The foyer was exactly as it was—soaring ceilings, marble floors that echoed with every footstep, crystal chandeliers casting fractured light across the walls. Expensive artwork hung in perfect alignment, and the faint scent of aged wood and fresh flowers filled the air.
My hands twitched again at my side as I neared the hall. I shoved it into my pocket, forcing myself to walk confidently and hiding every form of weakness.
Every corridor brought another flash of memory I didn’t want—my father’s voice barking corrections, my grandfather’s disappointed silence after a lost game, the way the walls seemed to close in whenever I failed to live up to the Calder name.
I hated being here.
But tonight I had no choice. For Kayden’s sake, I had to be here.
I paused just outside the grand dining room doors, adjusting my cufflinks one last time, and took a deep breath before walking into the hall.
The hall was bigger than I expected. It wasn’t just a simple dinner. The place had been turned into something grand.
Soft music played from a small live band in the corner, and a few dancers moved gracefully between the tables. White linen covered every surface, silverware gleamed under the chandeliers, and there were already many people seated—family, business friends, and important guests I didn’t care to recognize.
I had barely taken a few steps when Elian noticed me first. He waved at me, then ran a hand through his blond hair.
His grandfather who sat beside him smiled brightly when his eyes met mine and then whispered into his grandson’s ear.
It Elian nodded and stood up, walking toward me with confidence.
"Rhys," he said warmly, reaching out like we were old friends.
I tried to ignore him and keep walking toward the table, but Elian didn’t let it go. He raised his voice a little so the people nearby could hear. "Look who is here! Rhys Calder, everyone."
A few heads turned. Some people clapped lightly. The room quieted just enough for my grandfather to look up from the head of the long table.
His eyes locked on me. He leaned back in his chair and smiled brightly.
"Rhys," he said, his voice carrying across the hall, calm and commanding like always. "You finally decided to join us. My grandson, everyone," he announced. "He’s chasing another Stanley Cup this year," he said proudly, and everyone present in the hall applauded.
"Come sit. We’ve been waiting for you." He pointed to the empty chair beside him, just opposite my father.
I forced a small nod and kept my face neutral. Inside, my stomach twisted tighter.
I walked over and sat down without saying much. I already knew what my grandfather was playing at. This dinner wasn’t an ordinary one. I already knew his plans to announce Elian as my fiancé, but I knew there was more to it.
Rami Calder always did things when you least expected.
"I see you came alone. The rest of your team running late?"
"They’ll be here soon," I replied, keeping my tone even.
Linda, my stepmother, leaned forward slightly beside my father. "It’s nice to see you again, Rhys. You look well."
"You expect me to look unhappy?" I countered and scoffed, looking away.
I was in no mood for her fake sympathy. I hated that she was Kayden’s mother and had abandoned the poor boy for years, and now sat beside my gullible father pretending to be the perfect wife and mother.
I couldn’t stand the sight of her.
"Why are you talking to my mother like that? You haven’t even seen us for weeks and..." Raymond tried to attack me with words, but my father cut in before he could finish.
"Keep your indifference until this event is over. Don’t bring any family disputes to the table," my father warned.
I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and looked away. Before he could respond, the doors opened again and my teammates started walking in, laughing and talking among themselves.
I shifted in my seat as I waited patiently for him to appear, and when he did, I felt the sharp pull in my chest. He was at the back, conversing with Leo, wearing the burgundy tuxedo I had picked for him before leaving the house.
The burgundy suit fit him perfectly, making his shoulders look broader and his waist smaller. His hair was slicked back just enough to show his forehead—the same one I only ever got to see when we were alone at home.
For a second, I was in awe and couldn’t stop staring. I had almost broken character because of how beautiful he looked.
Our eyes met for half a second, but I looked away immediately and stared down at the table, clenching my jaw.
I had to get back into character if I was going to survive that night.