The morning air in London was crisp, but inside the Thoreau townhouse, the tension was suffocating. Lucas’s parents had finally arrived, and Sophie’s excitement was palpable, though masked with delicate tears. She had rehearsed this moment countless times ,Maya would soon be out of the picture, and now her plan seemed unstoppable.
Margaret Thoreau’s sharp heels clicked against the marble floor as she stepped into the grand foyer. Her eyes swept across the room, taking in the faces of Sophie, Lucas, and Henri, her husband. Sophie ran forward with exaggerated distress, throwing herself slightly into Margaret’s arms.
“Margaret! You don’t understand. I’ve been so lonely since moving back to London,” Sophie began, her voice trembling with controlled hysteria. “Lucas… he hasn’t cared. Not when
