Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 86

In the end, Alicia decided she would attend the family dinner.

She was, after all, Tyrone's "well-paid" wife. If she couldn't even handle this hurdle, then being a society wife was far too easy.

"Tyrone's back," someone called out.

Side branches of the Lynch family had gathered at the estate for the dinner, eager to watch the spectacle—and to make things as difficult as possible for Alicia.

They all spoke in the local Harboridge City dialect, voices overlapping noisily. Alicia couldn't understand a word, but a woman's intuition is rarely wrong; she could feel their ridicule all the same.

Hand in hand, Tyrone led Alicia through the old, stately courtyard and into the grand foyer.

"Tyrone, why are you still holding her hand inside the house?" an aunt from one of the branches called out, her tone half-mocking. "She needs to walk this path on her own." She tried to shoo Tyrone off to sit with the men, insisting Alicia enter the main hall by herself.

Tyrone ignored them completely, keeping Alicia's hand firmly in his as they walked straight into the main hall.

Before the wedding, he'd already spoken to his grandfather—Alicia was timid, easily frightened, and needed to be treated gently. His grandfather had agreed. But now, with this sudden change of heart, it was obvious someone had been whispering in his ear.

Ever since Vincent had gone public, telling the press that Alicia was his kept woman, Grandfather Maddox's opinion of her had plummeted.

Maddox was old-fashioned, the type who believed any woman with a past like that was unworthy of respect. He was clearly far from pleased with Alicia now.

Alicia could guess as much—Vincent's little performance for the media had done its job.

"Tyrone, Reginald's here too," Maddox announced, gesturing to the dignified old man seated beside him—Jade's grandfather.

Alicia shrank back behind Tyrone, not daring to look around. These were family patriarchs, men of status and lineage. Someone like her would never catch their eye in a good way.

"Reginald, this is my wife, Alicia," Tyrone introduced her deliberately.

Reginald's expression tightened as he set down his teacup and looked Alicia's way.

Alicia kept her head bowed, but something in her delicate features made Reginald pause.

He'd expected to dislike her—after all, Tyrone was the grandson-in-law he'd always wanted. But now, seeing Alicia's face clearly, Reginald was visibly startled.

He stared at her, his voice rough with emotion. "Look up at me."