Inside, everything gleamed. Chandeliers sparkled from towering ceilings. Servers in crisp uniforms carried trays of food I couldn’t name. The guests wore outfits that likely cost more than my monthly pension.

Cassandra’s mother greeted me with a smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “How lovely you could come. Liam’s told us so much about you.”

Her tone was like she was humoring a child who’d wandered into the wrong party.