Chapter 31

• Sylvia excused herself and headed to the washroom, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. The atmosphere at the table felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and competing emotions. As she stepped into the cool, quiet space, she splashed water on her face, trying to shake off the tension that had begun to creep into her mind.
• After a few deep breaths, she returned to her seat, hoping the momentary reprieve would help her face the ongoing drama. As she sat down, she caught Stephan’s gaze briefly; he looked up from his plate, meeting her eyes for just a heartbeat before shifting his focus back to his food. There was something reassuring in his indifference, but also unsettling. Next to him, Ruth bit her lip, visibly irritated as she slumped back into her chair, unwilling to hide her displeasure.
• What was this woman even worth? Ruth seethed internally. Sylvia came from a poor background, yet here she was, at the center of Stephan’s attention, as if her humble origins were somehow eclipsed by an impressive aura. Ruth couldn’t fathom why Stephan would choose Sylvia over her. She had liked him all her life, and the vision of marrying him had always played out in her mind like a favorite movie. How could she let that dream slip away so easily? And why should she?