He looked at me, then at Daniel, and then at the older couple.

“Well, Victoria,” James said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I see you didn’t waste any time finding a backup plan.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“James,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

“I sent you a polite text,” James said, crossing his arms. “But I didn’t realize you were already hosting a family reunion.”

He glanced at Chloe, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Is this what you do? Look for single fathers at restaurants when your dates cancel?”

I felt the blood rush to my face, hot and humiliating.

I wanted the floor of Whitaker’s to open up and swallow me whole.

Arthur started to stand up, his face dark with anger.

But Daniel was faster.

Daniel stood up, towering over James.

His posture was rigid, his jaw set hard under the restaurant lights.

“I think you need to leave,” Daniel said, his voice low and dangerous.

James scoffed, taking a half-step back but trying to maintain his smirk.

“Excuse me? And who are you?” James asked.