“Of course.” He adjusted his cufflinks, not even glancing at me. “She’s done so much for you—introducing you to the right committees, bringing you into her circle, making you less… invisible. The least you can do is show gratitude.”
Invisible. The word tolled in my skull like a funeral bell.
“Yes,” I murmured. Refusal wasn’t an option—not when Matthew’s eyes hardened at the smallest hint of disobedience.
Half an hour later, I was dressed and sitting stiffly beside him in the car, my hands locked in my lap. He scrolled through his phone, silent, as the city blurred past.
When we arrived, Claire’s townhouse glowed with warmth. The scent of croissants and coffee spilled into the street. Laughter rang from the marble foyer, where elegantly dressed guests mingled, crystal glasses catching the sunlight.
Claire swept toward us in a cream silk dress, her hair cascading in effortless waves. Radiant, untouchable—just as she’d always been.
“Matthew,” she said, her smile bright enough to dazzle. “You came.” Her eyes flicked to me, her expression softening into a mask of politeness. “And Evelyn too. How lovely.”