Chapter 76

(Emily's POV).

"Tonight, there’s a big family dinner. It includes Ben. Do you want to come?" Mike’s voice broke through the comfortable silence as we sat at the dining table, enjoying breakfast.

I paused mid-bite, the fork suspended between my plate and my mouth. The food I had been casually enjoying suddenly felt like a lump in my throat, and I had to force myself to swallow.

Ben. Dinner. With the Johnsons. Mike’s family. It meant I had to meet him; Ben - my ex.

I placed the fork down gently and turned to look at him, trying to hide the shock I felt.

My heart started to pound. Ben and I hadn’t been in the same room since... since everything fell apart between us. And now I am married to Mike, his uncle.

The idea of sitting across from Ben, of having to face him while pretending everything was fine—it was daunting.

But I couldn’t refuse, could I? Not when Mike was asking. Not when I’d already stepped into this complicated world when I said yes to him.

"I... I guess I should go," I