The warm light from the chandeliers bathed the grand hall in a golden glow, yet the tension between Catherine and Lily felt cold and unrelenting. Every word Lily spoke was like a thread of judgment, tightly woven into the fabric of their interaction. Catherine had tried her best to keep the evening pleasant, but her mother-in-law’s subtle barbs were relentless.
John, as if sensing the rising discomfort, stepped into the fray with his usual charm.
“Catherine,” he began, his voice light, almost disarming, “you’ve been a vision of grace tonight. I couldn’t help but notice how beautifully you handled yourself earlier with uncle.”
His words were accompanied by a smile so effortlessly genuine that for a moment, Catherine nearly forgot Lucius’s warning.
“Thank you, John,” she replied politely
