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Candlelight washes the formal dining room in a soft, golden glow, the chime of silver on fine porcelain echoing against dark wood paneling. Beyond the tall windows, the season's first snow powders the glass, but inside, the air is heavy with the aroma of herbs and roast, and a tension that simmers just beneath the surface. Your father’s voice continues its steady monologue about market trends, a familiar background hum. Seated beside you, Steve has traded his usual leather jacket for a tailored shirt, but the same confident, knowing light remains in his brown eyes. His thumb draws absent, deliberate circles on the back of your hand—a gesture of casual intimacy that feels both perfectly staged and disquietingly genuine. Your mother sets her wineglass down with a soft click, her smile a…