Nora's POV 
"Finally, you are here." Cara grinned as she placed another dish on the dining table. "It's so good to have you home."
My heart drummed in excitement but I controlled my eyes from widening, reminding myself that Sasha wouldn't be surprised at the quantity of food on the table. This was a feast and not just food for two guests. We wouldn't be able to finish this even if we had been starving for days.
Damon snorted. "You wouldn't let me rest until I did."
She snorted. "You can pretend that my insistence melted your heart."
I wanted to tell Cara that her son didn't have a heart but the mood was too good to be ruined. Her mood was infectious and even though I didn't want to be there, I was thrilled at her excitement to have her son home with her.
"Don't you notice how different the house is since the last time you came, Sasha?" She asked.
Oh oh. I groaned. Couldn't I just spend a minute in her presence without her making me feel nervous?
"I think it does." I said, going with the answer she obviously wanted to hear. "The house feels warmer."
How would I know how different it was when I hadn't been here?
She grinned, pleased with my response and I breathed in relief. "I know, right? I can't believe I had to pressure James to let us change the furniture before he did. He was pleased with the results and said we should have done it sooner."
Oh. 
I agreed that the house looked good and wondered what the color of the previous furniture in the house was. 
"You changed the furniture?" Damon sighed. "Again, mum?"
She shrugged. "Change is beautiful."
"Not to me." He grumbled. "Stability makes more sense."
She snorted. "He just doesn't get it." She said, staring at me. "Do you remember the beddings you sent to me the other day, Sasha? I want us to go shopping together tomorrow. I need to change some stuff in the bedroom too." She smiled.
I started to freak out. If she had super power, she would have heard how fast my heart was beating. 
"She is busy, mum." Damon said, coming to my rescue.
I glanced at him, smiling in gratitude for the help. He looked away without acknowledging me. 
Cara sighed. "Why are you always busy nowadays, Sasha?"
"Didn't you say change is beautiful, mum?" Damon replied before I could.
She scowled. "I didn't say that to have you throw it in my face, son."
"That wasn't the aim, mum. I'm sorry if it sounded like that."
Cara snorted and I knew just like she did that Damon wasn't sorry at all.
"There is my lovely family, always at each other's throats but can't stop loving themselves." James, Damon's dad, said as he walked into the dining room.
That would be my first time with him and I wondered how I was supposed to greet him. Was I supposed to stand to hug him or a nod from where I was would be sufficient enough?
Damon glanced at me, noticed the tension in my body and leaned to whisper in my ear. "Let him make the first move."
I nodded and exhaled, a gush of relief escaping my throat. I smiled at him for his help but he ignored me again. I kept the scowl to myself, cursing him a million times in my head for being rude.
"Come here, my darling." James grinned as he spread his arms wide for an embrace. "I haven't seen you in a century."
I chuckled as I stood up to embrace him, feeling his warmth envelop me. I wondered how two people as warm as James and Cara got cursed with a son as cold as Damon.
What a bunch of unlucky parents. I sighed as I stepped out of James's hold.
"Didn't you miss me?"
"I did." I lied.
"Why haven't you been here in a while then?" He sighed. "Or has your husband infected you?" He grinned, wagging his eyebrow at me.
I blushed. "He didn't. I will do better."
"You better do." James said. "Let's sit."
My phone beeped as soon as I settled back in my chair and I frowned as I saw that Damon sent it. I glanced at him, wondering why he needed to send me a message but he pointedly ignored me. I scoffed in annoyance as I looked away from him. 
There wasn't any point in looking at him when he was determined to pretend I didn't exist.
I checked my phone and the words that screamed at me made me more annoyed.
Message: Why did you have to promise my dad that you will visit more? I don't have time to come here often and I can't let you come here alone and blow our cover.
I snorted at his words, hating the trust he didn't have in me.
I fired a text to him immediately. Don't you know what being diplomatic means?
I had always hated lying and was stunned at how quick I was to justify lying to James. I hated who I was becoming but quickly reminded myself that I needed to do this to be free from Mark.
I don't want you lying to my parents. He responded.
I snorted. Didn't we decide to lie to them when I became your fake wife? I sent him the message and stared at him, waiting for his response.
He didn't respond and pushed his phone back into his pocket. I smiled, pleased that I had won this round of argument.