The ballroom was a blur of gold leaf and predatory smiles.
As I descended the final steps, a sea of silk and tuxedos parted.
I felt like a specimen under a microscope; every smile felt like a hidden blade, and every compliment sounded almost genuine.
Joel and Estelle stood by my sides like two shields, something I was grateful for.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of protection.
Joel was pulled away by a slender-looking man, leaving me with Estelle.
Estelle was a masterpiece of grace at my side, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder.
She navigated the room with the precision of a seasoned matriarch, introducing me to faces I had only seen in the leather-bound album.
"Isabelle, sweetheart, say hi to Aunt Clara," Estelle murmured, her voice like silk. "And Mr Grey, your father's associate from the shipping conglomerate."
