Chapter 82

Katrina had no desire to engage with Carlisle. The will to argue with him had long since drained away. Whatever feelings she had for him had eroded over time, worn down by his endless favoritism toward Shirley and her daughter. And when Clara was gone, Carlisle had burned through the last remnants of her patience. If they'd been more discreet, she might have turned a blind eye and even considered salvaging their marriage. But now, with them flaunting their audacity, she was done. "There's nothing to explain," Katrina said flatly, her tone devoid of emotion. "I came to tell you that all the guests have arrived. It's time to go downstairs and get ready." Her words were calm, her expression unchanging, as though she was speaking to a stranger. Carlisle stared at her, trying to read her face, but there wasn't even a trace of anger or jealousy in her eyes. Instead, he felt a growing sense of unease, a gnawing sensation that something was slipping away from him. That feelin