“I’m so sorry. We haven’t had a chance to have dinner with my father in ages.”

“And tonight, he finally felt up to it, so...” Sophia’s voice was soft, almost apologetic.

Christopher’s expression remained serene, his smile effortless and warm, like polished jade.

“It’s no problem,” he said. “Your father comes first. Besides, something last-minute came up for me, too—an important dinner meeting. Worked out perfectly, or else I ...