Christopher didn’t bother to correct the presenter’s mistake.

Brenda simply smiled widely at the crowd, raised her champagne glass, and waved to the cameras as if this luxurious life had always belonged to her. I felt something vital inside me break completely, but I refused to cry.

“Mother,” a calm voice called out.

Luke was standing in the bedroom doorway. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he held a sleek digital tablet in one hand.

His face was perfectly serene, but there was a terrifying coldness in his eyes I’d never seen before.

“Why didn’t you go to the gala tonight, Luke?” I asked him.