Samantha curled her lips upward and took a sip of her fragrant herbal tea, the delicate porcelain teacup resting lightly in her manicured hand as she watched her guests unwrap the gifts she had meticulously chosen for them. The quiet harp music that had been previously filling the tea room, was now drowned in the sounds of torn paper and foil.
The light filtering through the tall windows bathed the room in a warm glow, casting a halo around the women gathered there. Samantha couldn't resist the smile that tugged at her lips, a smile tinged with triumph as she observed their reactions—surprised, forced gratitude, with a hint of discomfort hidden behind polite expressions.
