MARIA
I was suffocating beneath the mask.
Every breath felt heavier than the last, and eating was even worse. The material pressed uncomfortably against my face, making it difficult to properly pass food through my mouth. I had to struggle through every bite, forcing myself to maintain composure despite the irritation growing inside me.
And Vincent certainly wasn't making things any easier.
As if the mask wasn't enough torture already, he kept going on and on about this depressing marriage. Every word that left his mouth made my mood darker. I sat there in silence, enduring it all, because I had no choice.
If he hadn't threatened me with Noah's safety, I wouldn't even be here.
Not for a second.
My gaze swept across the room, lingering on the guests gathered around the table. To my surprise, they were people I knew far too well. The realization immediately answered a question I hadn't stopped asking myself since we arrived.
No wonder Vincent had brought the mask.
