Cassidy stared at her mother, disbelief etched on her face. “You want me to pretend that Mira is my best friend? That's insane.”
Her mother sighed, her patience visibly thinning. “Cassidy, just be okay with this. Play natural. You don’t have to be thrilled, but you do need to cooperate. Act like she’s your precious best friend. It’s for the greater good.”
“No,” Cassidy responded firmly. “I won’t do it.”
The tension between them thickened, the air heavy with unsaid words. Cassidy’s mother glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing how much time had slipped by. “We’re taking too long. We’ll discuss this later.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked back toward the dining room, leaving Cassidy no choice but to follow. As they reentered the room, Cassidy could see Mira sti
