Max smiled and thanked everyone for joining them, his words smooth and easy. He moved through the room with the kind of quiet confidence that just came naturally to him. Whenever he was in public, he looked perfect, every detail in place, like someone born to belong in these glittering rooms.
Anne started playing the piano, her music floating softly into the air. With a quick nod, Max turned to Felicia and held out his hand, inviting her to dance.
As they stepped onto the dance floor, the lights settled on them. All eyes followed as shadows and golden light outlined their figures. It almost felt magical. Max slipped one arm around her waist, holding her gently, his other hand entwined with hers. Under the soft lights, his gaze was everything—tender, warm, overflowing with something that looked too much like love.
Felicia lowered her eyes and looked away from him.
He leaned down a little, voice low and steady. “I think this might be the happiest birthday Anne’s ever had.”
Felicia said nothing.
Max caught the blankness on her face, and his hold around her waist tightened. After a heartbeat, Felicia finally met his eyes.
He kept his voice quiet so only she would hear. “Whatever you’re feeling, talk to me later, okay? For Anne’s sake, with everyone watching, just… try to look happy.”
Felicia lowered her gaze again and spoke softly. “I don’t have anything to say. And I’m not unhappy.”
Max squeezed her hand for a moment. The music picked up, and he spun her around, graceful and practiced, catching her tightly as the song drew to a close. Felicia’s hands found his shoulders before she even realized.
When the last note faded, a wave of applause swept through the room.
People whispered about how stunning they looked together. All around, guests gushed about how perfect Felicia and Max seemed. To everyone else, it looked like Felicia had everything anyone could possibly wish for.
For a second, it seemed like the whole world believed Felicia was the luckiest woman alive.
But Greg saw through it all, watched her with a quiet ache. He could hear people around him praising Felicia’s good fortune, but he knew differently. No one else noticed the way Felicia held herself just a little apart, her eyes empty of happiness, untouched by the glamorous life swirling around her.
Felicia did all this for Anne. She loved Anne more than anything. She would go along with whatever she had to, just to give that little girl a perfect day.
Heather nudged Greg, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Penny for your thoughts?”
He glanced at her and managed a faint smile. “It’s nothing.”
But Heather wasn’t fooled. She’d seen how he looked at Felicia—a softness there, something like worry mixed with regret. Anne bounced toward them just then, wrapping her arms around both Max and Felicia, kissing their cheeks in turn.

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