She stood at the edge of the grand ballroom, surrounded by whispers and the soft clink of champagne flutes. The warm glow of the chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, but her attention was fixed solely on him. He was dressed in a sharp tuxedo, eyes glinting with mischief as he leaned casually against the wall beside her. For hours, they had been pretending — the picture of a flawless marriage in the eyes of everyone around them. But beneath the surface, tension had been building.

She offered him the polite, charming smile that had become second nature over the years. Still, she noticed how his gaze lingered on her just a moment too long. The heat of his attention settled in the pit of her stomach.

As the music swelled, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “I’m starting to wonder if they’re buying it,” he murmured. “Are you?”