– confusion? Annoyance?

retort, but his phone

, and his expression sof

lready turning away, Amelia and h

ony, his voice dropping to

e of relief washing over her. Jessica

bbed her purse and left the

nt art gallery. It was Amelia' s birthday, a fact Ethan

ner, a celebration of her quie

g for a new artist, and Ben, a budding a

genuine friendship, Amelia felt a lig

her throat as the gal

ance, Jessica clinging to his

of their sycophantic friends,

uering army, invading h

kled with su

s, a vapid blonde named

ed, her eyes sweeping over Amelia' s small gro

heard this place was for emerging artists. Di

nd your sad little friends should pro

annered, stepped forw

aid, her voice tight. "And

und Amelia. "This is a priva

"Don't you have an

ked, enjoying t

than, darling, they're being so rude

the artwork. "Can't we

ing a document fro

afternoon, I'm the primary benefactor of this gallery. Which m

the bewildered gallery o

face fell a

her voice calm despite

said. "It's my birthday. We'll lea

ate, to salvage what littl

than' s eyes – hesitation? – but it

her foot like

her here! I want this party for us, Ethan! Make them

small, elegant cake

tible to Jessica' s

the gallery owner. "Clear th

ness was br

emboldened by Ethan' s

e and, with a malicious gri

knocking over ca

t, "Stop it! Y

strated by Jessica' s friends, a valuabl

e it, a desperate, i

dn' t see who –

t a sickening crack as her wrist slammed ag

uciating pain

loor, cradling her wr

nd, looked concerned, t

arm. "Ethan, darling, le

lowing Jessica to lead him aw

, white-faced, wa

her was the sound of Jessica' s light, tinkling laughter as s

ded by the wreckage of her birthday and the s

was defini

l, undeniable. A tangible result

No public hysterics from her

uld unnerve Ethan