Maisie, I’ve already said no,” Aidan’s voice was clipped, firm, as he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his tie.
Maisie stood by the door, arms crossed and lips pressed into a thin line. “Aidan, this isn’t about you. It’s Sarah’s birthday. She’s my sister. Our daughter’s aunt. You not coming is going to look bad.”
Aidan let out a sharp breath, turning to face her. “Maisie, it already looks bad. Your family doesn’t like me. Never has. They tolerated me when they realized I wasn’t just some random guy, but they’d never accept me. Not really.”
Maisie stepped forward, her frustration boiling just below the surface. “I thought you said you forgave them?”
“I did. Forgiving doesn’t mean I have to sit through a dinner where every look feels like a veiled insult,” Aidan replied, his tone c
