A few hours later, the dining room had transformed.
The table was cleared, the chairs pushed aside, opening the space into something looser, more social.
Along one wall, a bar had been set up, staff moving quietly as they poured wine and whiskey.
The lights dimmed, casting the room in a softer glow, while classical music drifted through the low hum of conversation.
It was exactly the kind of gathering Anna imagined rich people enjoyed.
Everyone looked relaxed, but the ease felt rehearsed, every laugh and gesture carefully measured.
Across the room, women gathered in small groups, their jewelry glinting beneath the lights as they whispered about luxury vacations, designer handbags, and houses so massive they barely needed renovating.
Anna drifted away from the crowd, knowing she didn
