Post-ceremony, the reception was a bustling tableau of clinking glasses and scripted congratulations. Alexander found himself moving robotically through the motions, his interactions with guests and new in-laws laced with a polite detachment. Driven by a newfound need for clarity, he approached Lila, who was standing by the large glass windows overlooking the villa’s expansive gardens.

“Lila,” he began, his voice low, tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She turned, offering a gentle smile that only complicated his emotions further. “Well, you did invite me,” she replied, her voice steady. “Though I doubt you expected company.”