Edward paused, his pen hovering just above the paper. He slowly lowered it, his sharp eyes cutting up to study his grandson.
"You're remarkably calm, Alaric."
Alaric didn't blink. "I'm just accepting reality, Grandfather."
"Are you?" Edward leaned back, folding his hands. "An hour ago on the phone, you sounded ready to tear the penthouse apart. You accused Elena of engineering this timeline. You called it a cage."
"I was frustrated," Alaric said, keeping his voice entirely level. "But you made your stance clear. The investment depends on tonight. There's no point in fighting gravity."
Edward frowned slightly, his gaze narrowing. "I didn't expect you to see the reason so quickly. Especially when it comes to Vaughn."
"I'm a Hale, Grandfather. I know how to prioritize business over personal irritation." Alaric glanced at his watch. "The ceremony is in a few hours. If we want a united front for the media, I should go get ready."
