POV: Allison
“Remember Peaches, you need to set boundaries with your mom and sister. Save the best for last, don’t overplay it,” Ray warned me as the guests started trooping in, including the reporters that sneaked in and pretended to be guests. I pretended not to have noticed their presence because I know I would be needing them before the end of the day.
The moment Mom and Ariana walked in, I was hyper-aware of their presence, and their attempts to project calmness made my skin crawl. There was a tightness in the air. Anxiety and resentment buzzed beneath the surface of polite conversation. I watched them exchange glances, and it felt as if the air itself had spun thick with unspoken words and fractured memories.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” I announced, raising my glass, drawing attenti
