RENEE
“What a beautiful elite family reunion. Isn’t this lovely?”
As she spoke, her words dripped with phoniness and venom.
My heartbeat quickened as I watched her saunter casually toward where Robert and I were standing, whistling and clapping her hands maniacally, keeping the attention on her.
My stomach churned with shock and anger, but I couldn't talk or move a muscle. I was stuck, frozen to the spot in Robert's arms, afraid to blink lest she noticed my fear.
But I did blink. My tear-stained lashes fluttered as I looked at Robert, our gazes briefly meeting before he turned away. His grip on my shoulders tightened painfully.
That expression on his face. He looked like someone forced to endure a painful and awkward situation—like a student caught doing something wrong and desp
