In front of them stood a photographer, his camera flashing nonstop.
I clenched my jaw and pushed open the door.
Francine's smile froze when she saw me.
Evan's hand jerked away from her waist, almost as if struck by an electric shock.
The silence between us felt suffocating.
My chest tightened, a heaviness settling in.
"Carson? What are you doing here?" Francine asked, hurrying toward me.
I looked straight at her. "What are you two doing?"
Francine's eyes flickered for a second, and then she quickly masked it with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"We're taking promotional photos for the new quarter," she replied, her voice casual. "Evan looks great, so I asked him to help out."
Francine then turned to the others in the room, giving them a professional smile. "That's all for today. Thank you, everyone."
The crowd quickly dispersed, and only Evan remained standing, still and unmoving.
He adjusted his suit sleeve with a slight air of indifference.
I ignored the guilt that flashed in Francine's eyes and pulled out the tickets.
"What's the deal with these two tickets?" I asked, my voice calm, but with an edge to it.
Francine blinked in surprise, then forced a smile.
"Sorry, Carson," she said softly.