Chapter 178

Gideon's POV

The walk back to the dining room was an exercise in self-control that demanded every ounce of strength I had left. Tessa stayed close, her hand tightly clasped in mine, her silent support the only thing keeping me steady. When every curious gaze turned toward us, I managed to force a polite smile.

"Everything alright?" my mother asked, her brow creased in a rare display of genuine con