After a seemingly interminable moment, he finally glanced at Cecilia, noticing the reddened skin of her hand from excessive rubbing. He whispered, “I wasn't expecting her to be here tonight. Still, it's rude to just leave. I assure you, I didn't even share a handshake with her. If you need proof, Peter can vouch for me."

Cecilia's gaze remained downwards, her lips catching between her teeth in contemplation.

“Peter's loyalty lies with you. How can he be impartial in this?"

Her tone suggested a mix of skepticism and mild frustration with Mark's reasoning, though she refrained from outwardly expressing her discontent.

In social settings, men often had to navigate tricky dynamics, and not playing along could label them as party-poopers.