The celebration dinner was held in a lavish restaurant overlooking the city. Crystal chandeliers glittered above, soft music floated through the air, and the clinking of glasses filled the room as executives congratulated one another.

Ava sat at the long table, champagne in hand, trying to steady herself. She had thought the presentation was the hard part, but this—sitting beside Ethan, pretending nothing had happened between them—was infinitely harder.

“You must be proud,” Claire ...