ELYRA.
I should have just stayed home. That was the first thought that crossed my mind as this man slid into the empty chair across from me without asking. The hall was already noisy with laughter, clinking glasses, and soft music playing in the background, but his voice cut through everything like a blade.
“It seems there's no one sitting here,” he said, flashing a smile that was too wide to be charming. “And it would be a crime to leave such a beautiful lady alone.”
I forced a polite smile. I had mastered that smile over the years. The one that said I’m being nice, but please leave.
“I’m not alone,” I replied calmly. “I’m married.”
The word tasted strange in my mouth. Married. I didn’t even know why I said it. Maybe because men like him respected a fictional husband more than a woma
