After Isobel exposed it to his face, Albert could no longer pretend to ignore Katrina's feelings for him.
It was not that Albert did not like the McDougal sisters, but that he feared he would keep pushing the boundaries of his own moral limits.
People needed to have principles of their own.
As for Hermione, Albert could not exactly say he regretted it, but it was likewise a problem that needed resolving.
He was not some scumbag, nor did he have a habit of tossing people aside after using them.
So, ever since returning from Australia, Albert had subconsciously avoided the issue.
Now that Isobel had brought it up directly, he realized that he needed to face it head-on.
But by laying everything bare, the once tacitly harmonious life they shared had been ruthlessly shattered, and the hidden sense of discord had silently grown stronger.
The atmosphere at home became strange. Dinner was moved into the courtyard, with candles lit on the dining table to deliberately create the romantic mood of a candlelit dinner.
Albert immediately understood what was going on.
Isobel wanted to save the romantic candlelit dinner for her younger sister, so she could have a perfect first experience, but Albert directly vetoed it.
After all, the three of them would still be living together afterward, so there was no need for that. Thus, it became an "ordinary" dinner, with the sisters seated on either side of Albert.
Neither Albert nor Isobel actually needed to deliberately pursue romance anymore. They preferred enjoying a peaceful, cozy life. This made Katrina, who had carefully dressed up for the occasion, seem terribly out of place at this candlelit dinner "called a family meal."
Fortunately, the House-elves' carefully prepared food was delicious, and the topics they chatted about during dinner did not