Chapter 41

Insinuating her way into:

The heated encounter in the Hawthorne Corporation foyer had Alice's heart racing and Arnold's thoughts reeling. Lily's sudden entrance had resurfaced a flood of feelings he thought he had long forgotten, and the way she had so boldly asked for another chance made Alice's stomach twist with unease. In the days that followed, Lily appeared at every turn, a continuous reminder of the shade she had cast over Arnold's history. She would "accidentally" run into them at charity galas, always flashing a flirtatious smile and a provocative invitation to meet up over drinks. Arnold, despite his best efforts, was pulled to her like a moth to a flame, unable to resist the allure of their shared history. Alice watched her husband's increased interaction with his ex-lover with concern and resentment. She could see Arnold's barriers weakening whenever Lily was about, and his gaze lingering a beat too long on the exquisite lines of her figure. It made Alice nervous, and she