The Lost Heiress: Loved By Three

Fragile bonds

(Avery)

My fingers fiddled with the napkin in my lap, the fabric suddenly rough and strange against my skin.

I watched quietly as the staff moved around us, clearing plates and glasses, afraid to draw attention to how awkward I felt.

Mr. Blake cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, Avery, how are you finding Prestwick Academy so far?" His voice was warm but formal, like he was used to steering conversations carefully.

I looked up as a server reached for my plate. "It is... different. Hard to explain. But I like it. The teachers are demanding, but that is a good thing." I hoped I sounded confident. Inside, my stomach was a tangled mess of nerves.

Mrs. Blake nodded encouragingly. "We have heard wonderful things about your first week. The speech you gave was very impressive."

I flushed at the memory. "Thank you. It was scary at first, but once I started, I just wanted to make sure I did my best."

Elias gave me a short glance. "For someone with no real connections there, you did better than expected." His tone was casual, but the words were a bit harsh.

I blinked, unsure how to respond. "I do not have much choice, do I?"

Caleb grinned a little. "I think you are brave. I would have been too nervous to even stand up there."

The compliment caught me off guard but it made me feel warm inside. I was not used to people saying nice things without an edge.

Mr. Blake seemed to sense my tension. "We know this transition is difficult. But you are not alone anymore. We are all here to support you."

Elias only gave a small nod. Caleb did too, and for a moment I felt that strange feeling of hope.

Then the silence stretched out, thick and uncomfortable as the last of the dishes were removed.

I wondered if it was because none of us really knew what to say. We were strangers trying to become family, and that was hard.

Elias finally spoke, his tone edged. "Dinner can be formal, but it does not have to be stiff. Just try not to make it more awkward than it already is."

"Easy for you to say," I muttered, feeling the weight of all the expectations pressing down on me.

He looked at me briefly. "I mean it. You do not have to pretend, but if you cannot handle it, no one will fix it for you."

I wanted to snap back, but instead I stared down at my lap. I had spent so long being invisible that suddenly being seen felt overwhelming. Only recently when I arrived at school, I became the center of attention from everyone wanting to bully me.

A sudden clink made me jump. A server had accidentally knocked a spoon against a glass while clearing the table.

"Sorry," the server said quickly.

Mrs. Blake smiled. "It is alright. These things happen."

The small moment broke some of the tension, and I felt a tiny smile tug at my lips.

Elias glanced at me. "What do you want from all this? From Prestwick, from your family, from us?"

The question caught me off guard. I hesitated.

"I guess… I want to find a place where I belong," I said slowly. "Somewhere I am not always fighting to prove I am enough. People at school have been… difficult. Some seem determined to make sure I know I do not fit in. But I still want to make a name for myself there. I want them to see me as more than just the new girl to pick on."

My voice faltered toward the end, and I hated how vulnerable it sounded.

Caleb frowned slightly, his hands still folded on the table. "Why would they pick on you? You seem… nice."

The way he said it, like it was almost a question, made me give a tiny shrug. "Being nice does not matter at Prestwick. They look for anything to use against you. Where you are from, what you wear, who talks to you. I am an easy target."

Elias's gaze stayed fixed on me. "Then stop making it easy."

I gave a soft, humorless laugh. "Easier said than done."

His hand moved across the table, and before I realized what was happening, his fingers wrapped around mine. The contact startled me, a quick jolt that sent heat to my cheeks.

I froze, unsure whether to pull my hand away or leave it there. My parents were watching, and Caleb's eyes moved between us curiously, like he was wondering if something had just shifted.

Elias did not let go right away. His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles. "If anyone tries again, they will answer to me. And I am not known for being patient."

The way he said it was both a warning and a promise, and for the first time that evening, I felt a small smile tug at my lips.

Caleb leaned forward slightly. "If anyone gives you trouble, just tell me too. I will help."

The offer caught me off guard, and for a moment I could not think of what to say. "Thank you," I murmured, my voice quieter than I intended.

Mrs. Blake smiled warmly, as if my small response meant more than I realized. "See? You already have people in your corner." I wanted to believe her, I really did.

Mr. Blake nodded approvingly. "Family means looking out for each other, Avery. That includes all of us."

I squeezed Elias's hand gently before letting go, feeling something shift inside me. Maybe this awkward dinner was the start of something real. Maybe I could actually belong here after all. The thought scared me as much as it filled me with hope, but for the first time in years, I allowed myself to believe it might be possible.

These people, could be more than just a challenge. Maybe it could be home, something that I was desperately craving for.