Friday evening (dinner)

The dining room is a masterpiece of atmospheric tension. Outside, the sky has bruised into a deep indigo, but inside, the warm glow of the chandelier creates a bubble of "perfect family" normalcy that feels increasingly thin.

Jessica has finally been seen to the door by Chloe, though the goodbye in the foyer was lingering and punctuated by a quiet, conspiratorial giggle. Chloe returns to the table, her cheeks still flushed from the afternoon "broadcast," and slides into her seat next to Tyler.

Chad is at the head of the table, cutting into his steak with a focused, mechanical precision. He looks at Cherie, who is wearing a silk sundress with a neckline that dips lower than usual, and he sees only his "supportive wife." He looks at Chloe’s micro-shorts and sees only "modern youth."

Alexis sits across from Cherie, her eyes darting between the family members like she’s watching a high-stakes poker game. She knows the "Saturday Gambit" is only hours away.