Eva did not announce her return.
That was the first mistake they expected her to make—stepping back into public life with something to prove, something to reclaim. A charity appearance. A board meeting. A carefully staged display of strength meant to quiet rumors and reassure onlookers.
She did none of that.
Instead, she chose something smaller.
More precise.
The invitation had arrived two days earlier: a private fundraising luncheon hosted by a cultural foundation her husband had once supported quietly, without ever attending events himself. Eva had declined similar invitations in the past, citing scheduling conflicts or personal reasons.
This time, she accepted.
Not immediately.
She waited twenty-four hours before responding.
Long enough to be noticed.
The morning of the lunche
