Third Person's POV
Zander gripped Melinda's hand, secretly increasing the pressure, his eyes full of menace.
But Melinda acted as if she didn't notice, smiling. "Yes, I finally got what I wanted, and I have you to thank—how could I have married Cliff so smoothly without you?"
Melinda turned to Cyrus. "Dad, you'll have to thank Zander properly later."
"Of course, Zander is like a son to me."
Cyrus patted Zander's shoulder. "We have other guests to attend to. Excuse us for a moment."
Cyrus's words were clearly a courtesy dismissal.
Zander immediately understood the underlying meaning.
He frowned. "Cyrus, are you being distant with me?"
For years, Zander had treated Cyrus like his own father, and outsiders assumed Zander would be Cyrus's successor.
But now that Ella was found, Cyrus
