"Please, cousin, allow Soraya to visit me here," Charlotte pleaded.
"No, she is not welcome in my house," Dalton's words were firm.
Charlotte's eyes widened in shock at Dalton's harsh tone.
"Why? I thought you liked Soraya."
"You know this mansion is my fortress of solitude. I wouldn't have let any of you in if we weren't family," Dalton said diplomatically.
Maya was conflicted. She wondered why Dalton was saying this instead of telling Charlotte, Soraya's hurting her was the sole reason she wasn't welcome here.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Mr. Anti-Social, who hates everyone except his family and his girlfriend," she said, flashing Maya a smile.
Maya smiled back and took a deep breath afterward. This was going quite well. Charlotte seemed to like her, or at least she hoped so.
"By the way, where is Beatrice? Soraya told me that woman is back," Charlotte asked after taking a big bite of her dessert.
