The moment Mason uttered those words — "He's my best friend" — the girl's expression froze.
She slowly lifted a shaky finger and pointed at Ethan, her brows furrowed in disbelief. Then, glancing sideways at Mason with wide, hesitant eyes, she asked in a soft, almost breathless voice, "He's… your… best friend?"
As her gaze returned to Ethan — truly seeing him for the first time — realization struck like a thunderbolt.
The cold, razor-sharp aura surrounding him. The kind of chilling silence that could make even a fearless man take a step back. She hadn't noticed it before, too caught up in her own indignation — but now it was as clear as ice. That look. That stillness. If stares could kill, even the flies nearby would drop dead midair.
A shiver ran down her spine. Her throat tightened. Her lips trembled.
With a gulp, she leaned closer to Mason and whispered just low enough for only him to hear, "The… best friend… you talked about?"
Mason gave a simple nod, trying not to laugh.
But the girl wasn't done.
Her eyes darted nervously toward Ethan again before she leaned in even closer, whispering like she was confirming a ghost story, "The dangerous one… who doesn't think twice about—" she gestured to Mason, mimicking a sharp slash across her neck.
Mason stifled a laugh but nodded again, this time with a sheepish grin.
The color drained from her face.
Her knees buckled slightly, her breath hitching as she stumbled. Mason instinctively caught her, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her before gently guiding her to sit in the seat opposite Zara. He sat beside her, directly across from Ethan.
Zara, who had been quietly observing all of this, tilted her head with amused curiosity. The sudden shift in the girl's demeanor — from bold accuser to frightened kitten — was both comical and intriguing. She turned to Ethan, who was still staring with a dark intensity at the girl, clearly unimpressed.
Without a word, Zara began to pull her leg off Ethan's lap, but he reacted instantly, his grip tightening just slightly.
"It's alright now," she said softly.
Ethan met her gaze, nodded once, and gently adjusted the hem of her trousers before releasing her leg. But just as he was about to lower it, Zara reached out, her hand wrapping around his. She shook her head lightly and moved her leg herself, calmly shifting into a proper seated posture, now facing the others at the table.
Ethan watched her for a beat, then spoke quietly, "Let's order something."
Zara nodded.
He handed her the menu. "See what you'd like."
She glanced at it, but replied smoothly, "Order anything."
Ethan was about to decide when Mason piped up, grinning, "Hey! I know the specialties here. Let me order."
Ethan looked to Zara, who gave a small, approving nod. He handed Mason the menu.
"Come on, Ethan," Mason said with mock irritation, rolling his eyes. "Don't be so serious. I know Lia's preferences. So let me do the honors."
At his words, the girl beside him — still quietly recovering from her earlier outburst — suddenly turned toward Mason with narrowed eyes, as though he'd just committed a mortal sin.
Startled by her glare, Mason asked in confusion, "Are you alright?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she stomped hard on his foot.
"Ow!" Mason hissed, recoiling. "What was that for?!"
Zara observed them with an arched brow and her signature coolness. The interaction looked like a bickering couple. She didn't say anything, as she quietly observed their exchange with the same calm face.
Ethan didn't spare them a glance. He calmly raised his hand and called for the waiter.
Mason was still rubbing his foot when the waiter approached — only to stop short, visibly startled at the sight of the girl next to Mason.
Zara noticed the odd tension on the waiter's face but chose not to comment.
Mason turned to the girl. "Would you like to join us for dinner?"
The girl, still wearing her angry mask, hesitated for a moment. Then, in a softer voice, she replied, "No, no. You guys enjoy your dinner. I'll take my leave."
She made to get up, but Mason lightly held her wrist. "Don't. Have dinner with us. I'll introduce you to my friends."
She hesitated again, glancing nervously at Ethan, who — in that moment — was simply pouring water into Zara's glass like nothing around him mattered.
She turned to Mason with a dry, sarcastic quip, "It's not your only table, you know."
Zara fought a laugh. She liked this girl's boldness. It was rare to see someone throw mockery toward Mason so effortlessly.
Mason, however, coughed awkwardly and turned to Ethan and Zara, searching for some kind of rescue.
Ethan's face remained unreadable — his expression practically screaming don't push it.
Mason sighed inwardly. Of course not. That would've been too easy.
He turned to Zara instead — the more reasonable of the two, though her cold composure always made guessing difficult. She was watching him with that same unreadable look.
Please, he mouthed desperately, gesturing for her to say something.
Zara's lips twitched.
Shaking her head ever so slightly, she finally said, "You are a friend of Mason. So, you can dine with us. We have no problem with that." Her tone was cool, but firm enough to silence any further protest.
Mason let out a long, exaggerated breath of relief.
If Zara was okay with it, Ethan wouldn't object — at least not out loud.
He immediately turned to the girl and said, "Just sit down. Have dinner with my friends." Then, leaning closer, he whispered with a mischievous grin, "Don't worry. My best friend won't kill you while I'm here."
The girl scoffed. "For that, you'd have to save yourself first."
Mason winced dramatically. "Ouch."
And right on cue, he turned to find Ethan staring at him again — those same deadpan eyes, void of all expression.
He straightened up immediately and flagged down the waiter. "One Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta, Honey Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs, Creamy Cajun Chicken and Rice, Zucchini Lasagna Rolls, and… Truffle Mac & Cheese Bites. That's it for now."
"Of course, sir. Please wait a few minutes," the waiter replied, then exited swiftly.
As the tension slowly settled, Mason turned toward Ethan and Zara… then back to the girl next to him, who hadn't looked away from him since.
There was still a trace of fear in her eyes, and Mason could read it easily.
He offered her a small laugh and said, "Okay, guys. Let me introduce you to each other."
Turning toward the girl, he smiled warmly. "Vivienne, this is Ethan. My best friend since childhood — as I already told you."
Vivienne gave a nervous glance toward Ethan, who still wore the same cold, distant expression. But she managed to find her voice and said, "Hello."
Ethan didn't say a word.
He just nodded.
Mason let out a weary sigh, brushing off the tension with a familiar half-smile. "Ignore him. He's like that," he said, motioning lazily toward Ethan — who remained statuesque, silent, and unreadable, as always.
Trying to ease into introductions, Mason turned toward Zara. "And this is…"
His words trailed off.
A flicker of hesitation passed over his features. Not confusion — no, Mason wasn't someone who forgot names. But right now, he was caught in a moment of complete uncertainty.
He knew her real name — the one only a few people were allowed to use. But the name she went by outside these walls? The one she had carried all these years in public, away from Ethan, away from the truth? He didn't know it.
Ethan hadn't mentioned it earlier when they'd talked about her. And now, with everyone seated outside, eyes subtly shifting, Mason realized he couldn't introduce her with a name that would give away everything. That was a boundary he wouldn't cross, else Ethan would kill him.
And so he hesitated.
Thankfully, Zara stepped in before the silence stretched too far.
"I'm Luna Bennett," she said smoothly, her tone calm and composed, her gaze settled.
Mason blinked once, then gave a quick nod. "Yeah. Luna. She's also one of my friends," he added, a bit too cheerfully — covering the slip with practiced ease.
Mason, however, couldn't help but glance at Ethan the moment the name slipped from Zara's lips. He expected a reaction — and he got it.
A deadly stare.
Ethan's eyes were locked on him, silent but lethal, his gaze sharp enough to freeze blood. Mason felt it hit him like a dagger through his spine.
Dead. I'm dead.
The internal monologue screamed louder than any words. He knew exactly what that look meant. As soon as they got back home… it was over.
Mason sank into his seat, silently mouthing a desperate prayer for his survival.
Meanwhile, Vivienne — ever observant despite her earlier panic — took in the subtle tension dancing around the table. Something unspoken. Something quietly layered beneath every polite word and forced smile.
She didn't voice it. But her curious eyes flicked from Ethan to Mason, then lingered on Zara.
Her instincts whispered that there was a story here — one no one was telling.
To cut the growing silence, Vivienne cleared her throat softly, the polite sound snapping Mason out of his own spiral.
He turned to her. "Ah — right! Sorry, guys. I forgot to introduce her." He smiled brightly and gestured at her with both hands. "This is Vivienne. My soon-to-be—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Vivienne shot him a sharp look — sharp enough to make even Marcus flinch.
Her glare was pure fire, and her voice came out clipped, loud enough to interrupt him mid-breath.
"His friend. Just his friend."
Mason blinked.
He laughed awkwardly, lifting his hands in surrender as if she had a sword to his throat.
"Right," he chuckled. "Just… my friend."
Vivienne crossed her arms and gave him a final daggered stare, then turned back toward the rest of the table as if nothing had happened.
Zara didn't hide her smirk this time.
And Ethan — while silent — let the corner of his lip twitch just enough for those paying attention to wonder: was that… amusement?