Sebastian's gaze was glacial, his voice cutting through the muted hum of the crowd.
"Are you happy here?"
"Happy?" Amari let out a quiet, humorless laugh. Her eyes, sharp and unflinching, met his without wavering. "And tell me—who exactly is causing trouble here?"
She remembered—oh, she remembered all too well—how much of herself she had given for the sake of the Clavel name. She had molded her life to fit the perfect image of Mrs. Clavel. Every decision, every move, had revolved around their family's honor. Never once had she risked their reputation; never once had she allowed even the smallest scandal to touch them. People admired her for it—for her composure, for her talent in handling even the most delicate matters with poise.
And yet, despite everything, Sebastian had never truly seen her. Not once.