Chapter 10

The blind date turned out to be far more formal than Axel had expected. In the private dining room of an exclusive members-only restaurant in Stawford City center, both families were present. Dressed in a tailored Chanel suit, Maisie carried herself with the innate aloof poise of a lady born into privilege. She responded with polished grace to Margaret's remarks about art and philanthropy. The ambiance was cordial, but Axel's mind kept drifting. Last night, he'd thought about texting Cora to test the waters. But when he tapped on WhatsApp, he realized she hadn't sent him a single message since leaving. Scrolling up, he realized that for the past three years, Cora had reported her daily life like clockwork. Convinced she must still be upset over Louise, he hesitated before tentatively sending her a text. "Are you there?" After waiting for hours, he never received a reply. How dare she? Annoyed, he blocked Cora's number and imagined how lowly she'd be when she finally came crawl