The gala pulsed with glitter and performance.
Laughter rang like wind chimes. Champagne glasses clinked. Photographers hovered near key names, eyes searching for scandal or symmetry.
Sylvia entered with Michael at her side, head high, steps unhurried.
Whispers followed.
She felt them land.
But she didn't flinch.
Not anymore.
---
Albert saw her near the art installation.
He didn't smile right away.
He waited until she met his eyes.
Then: “You're even more beautiful than I remembered."
Sylvia turned slightly. “And you're still using flattery like it's a key."
“It used to work."
“It never did. I was trapped. Not charmed."
He stepped closer. “I made mistakes."
She folded her arms. “Mistakes are misspelled words. You wrote whole paragraphs in cruelty."
“I thought I was doing th
