Reminiscing

Charlotte’s POV

When Hayden returned, I sighed in relief.

The room had grown too tight, too hot, too filled with eyes that weren’t really looking but judging. The air buzzed faintly with leftover tension… Hayden’s calm dominance, Jacob’s humiliation, Cecilia’s forced laughter all of it curdled into something unbearable.

I couldn’t breathe.

The smell of perfume, wine, and heavy expectation lingered around the dining hall, pressing against my skin like invisible fingers.

I sat there, hands clenched beneath the table, pretending to be fine while my pulse trembled against my wrist.

I could feel Hayden’s presence next to me. Still. Composed. His fingers rested loosely on the table, the faintest movement of his hand tracing the edge of the glass.

He looked so unshaken… as if none of what had happened could touch him.

But it touched me.

Every word, every smirk, every cruel look from Jacob and Cecilia… it tore through the small calm I’d been holding onto all evening.

I wasn’t sure how much