Pleasantries were exchanged with the exact politeness expected at formal dinners.
Jonathan and Marianne— Cedric's parents — stepped forward with plastered smiles, but their eyes said something else entirely.
Athena could feel them scan her boldly from head to toe, eyes flicking over her gown, her makeup, the way she sat. It wasn't admiration. It was an audit.
"So," Mrs. Thorne started, her smile so tight it barely touched her eyes. "Still practicing medicine, dear?"
Athena nodded once, not betraying an inch of emotion. "Yes. I still see patients during the week."
Jonathan interjected, adjusting the edge of his silk cuff as a waiter placed a plate before him. "And you plan to keep doing that... while handling business?" His tone made it sound ridiculous, like asking if she planned to juggle knives and solve algebra equations at the same time.
