Dinner was warm.
Normal.
Everyone laughed.
They commented on how beautiful Sophie was.
How wonderful it was to see us together.
Elon was at his best.
Charming.
Confident.
Playing the role of successful husband and devoted new father.
At one point, he even raised his glass and said something about how lucky he was to have me.
Everyone smiled.
So did I.
Then dessert was served.
And when everyone had settled back into their chairs, I stood.
Water glass in hand.
“I’d like to make a toast.”
The table became quiet.
Everyone looked at me affectionately.
They expected something sweet.
Elon did too.
At first.
Then I saw something shift in his expression.
Because I had never been the person who stood up and commanded a room.
I was always the quiet one.
The agreeable one.
The woman sitting at the edge.
That night, I wasn’t.
I looked directly at him.
