“Don’t crucify me, Katherina. I told you that was a necessary lie.”

“Tell me how necessary it was. Explain. You promised to.”

“Let’s finish eating.”

After that was silence. The only sound heard were forks or knives hitting plates. Soon, I was filled and could not stomach any more. My tray still harbored food. Baron’s tray was empty, he pulled mine closer to him and ate whatever was left of it too. I gawked, my eyes shooting out of their sockets in pure ...