The visit

Elara gazed at her reflection in the penthouse window, the city lights below shimmering like fallen stars. The burden of her promise to take Damian to the hospital lingered on her mind. How could she bring him to see her mother when their marriage was merely a business deal? The idea of revealing their arrangement to her mother filled her with dread.

Her phone buzzed with a message from James: “Mom keeps talking about meeting him.” She placed the phone face-down on the marble countertop, unable to bear the reminder of her mounting lies.

The sound of the front door opening pulled her from her thoughts. Damian’s footsteps echoed through the foyer, steady and measured as always. She turned to face him, gathering her courage.

“We need to talk,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

Damian loosened his tie, raising an eyebrow. “About?”

“My mother.” She watched his expression carefully. “She wants to meet you.”

“I see.” His face remained impassive, but she noticed his shoulders tense