⸻
The air tightened like a drawn bowstring. Every breath in the room seemed to come harder, heavier.
Jenny’s confidence flickered for just a second—her eyes darting away from Jane’s steady gaze—but she recovered quickly, lifting her chin with practiced arrogance.
“My boyfriend’s father is an Aurelia Airlines shareholder,” she said, her tone sharp with pride as she looked directly at Jane, as if flaunting the connection like a trophy. “Arranging a lowly security guard position is nothing—child’s play, really.”
Her mother beamed immediately, reaching across the table to squeeze Jenny’s hand. “Our Jenny found such a catch,” Rosa added, nodding approvingly as she glanced around the table for admiration. “Handsome, rich—and useful to the family. That’s how you pick a partner.”
The grandmot
