Ethan kept his expression neutral. “Excuse me,” he said, his tone calm, unwilling to engage in Samantha’s game.
He stepped away from them, moving down the red carpet to take a seat, hoping to distance himself from their petty provocations.
But Samantha and Daniel weren’t done. They followed him, choosing seats directly behind him, clearly intent on stirring up more trouble. As the event began, Samantha leaned over, making sure her voice was loud enough for Ethan and several others nearby to hear.
“Is it just me, or is it hard to breathe in here?” Samantha said, her voice exaggeratedly loud, wrinkling her nose in a dramatic display of disgust.
Daniel chuckled, playing along with her act. “Oh, I think I know exactly why that is,” he said, casting a sideways glance in Ethan’s direction.
