Kisha attempted to extricate herself from Duke's lap, feeling a rush of embarrassment. With unfamiliar faces filling the room, she could only assume they were Duke's family, intensifying her discomfort about sitting on his lap during such a momentous occasion.
As Kisha stirred in his arms, Duke's hold tightened, refusing to let her go. "Stay still, there are shards of glass on the bed. Just be good," Duke's earlier aloof tone softened into tenderness, his words now gentle as if he was coaxing his beloved wife.
The Patriarch, who had remained silent until now, was visibly startled by his grandson's sudden shift in attitude towards Kisha. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the astonishment shared by Mr. and Mrs. Winters. They hadn't anticipated such a profound change in their son, though Mrs. Winters quickly dismissed her surprise, recalling that the Winters men often displayed such protective behavior towards their partners—a trait she herself had experienced.
