My husband's brother's jokes revealed his second home.

My CEO husband, Victor Thorne, loved bringing his buddies home for dinner, claiming it made us feel more like a family.

Watching me serve a table piled high with dishes, one of his friends grinned.

“You’re always such a gracious hostess, Elara! Truly the queen of this castle.”

My expression didn't change as I asked, half-jokingly, “Oh? Is there some other, less… *generous* lady of the house I should know about?”

His friends froze, a flicker of panic in their eyes.

Victor chuckled, pulling me into a hug. “Listen to them babbling nonsense.