The Last Guests of Winter

The moment I agreed without hesitation, Jasmine's face lit up with delight. She walked over and shyly looped her arm through mine.

"You agreed so fast. No backing out later.

"What if your parents ask about it? What are you going to say?"

The spot where her skin touched mine instantly prickled, like something crawling under it.

Fighting down the wave of disgust, I forced myself to gently wrap an arm around her waist.

"My parents only have one son. Whatever I say, goes. Don't worry."

Jasmine beamed, then slapped my hand away with a playful smile.

"Ugh, look at you. We're not even married yet. Keep your hands to yourself."

Rhett's voice turned sharp with disapproval. "Lewis, watch yourself. You're already getting handsy with Jas right in front of us. That's out of line."

I quickly pulled my hand back and apologized over and over, bowing until my back started to ache. Only then did Rhett let out an icy snort and drop the matter.

Jasmine picked up right where things left off and immediately added another demand.

"I want a big apartment in the city center. At least 300 square meters. Otherwise, it wouldn't be convenient if I had friends over."

A faint smile lingered on my lips as my gaze drifted toward her stomach.

'It's not that you can't bring friends home. It's that you can't bring the man you're seeing,' I thought.

Maybe she felt the weight of my stare, because Jasmine suddenly took a step back.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You won't even agree to something this small?"

I swallowed the surge of hatred rising inside me and gave her a wide smile.

"Of course, I agree. Anything you want, I'll make it happen.

"However, tell me something. Why can't your friends come over?"

The moment I asked, Jasmine's expression darkened instantly.

"Carson, what are you implying? Are you saying I'm seeing someone else? We're not even married yet, and you already don't trust me? Then, maybe we shouldn't get married at all."

I watched her furious reaction and understood everything.

When people were overwhelmed with fear, it often turned into anger.

She was afraid I would find out about her affair. She was even more afraid I would discover that she was already pregnant.

It did not matter.

The end of the world was coming anyway. I was not in a hurry.

I quickly switched to a flattering expression and agreed to her demand.

While we were talking, the private chef came over to ask if he should start serving. I glanced at the time and realized it was already noon. After all that talking, that family had not even gotten to the point.

At my nod, the staff began rolling in carts of food.

The Baker family instantly dropped their fake airs. Faced with a table full of delicacies from land and sea, they dug in without any restraint.

After stuffing themselves, Rhett leaned back, burped loudly, and immediately started complaining: the air-flown seafood was not fresh. The black truffles looked weird.

Then, he picked up a bowl of consommé, squinting at the delicate shreds floating inside.

"Why not add some real meat? Who are you trying to fool with this watered-down soup?"

Luis nudged him with his elbow and lowered his voice. "That's not just soup. It's consommé. You're supposed to savor it."

Honestly, if the end had not been so close and if they had not wiped out my entire family in my previous life, I might have kept them around just for entertainment.