But one slip of my hand shattered everything. A small piece of meat tumbled from my fork and landed on my dress. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but I quickly brushed it off with a smile. To me, it was nothing. To him, it was everything.

I saw his expression harden, the corners of his mouth twist with disdain. And then, with a cruel smile that chilled my blood, he turned to the others.

“Forgive my cow,” he said. “She doesn’t know how to behave in society. Stop stuffing your face! You’re already fat.”