Chapter 6

Susan's birthday party carried on in full swing.

Without the bracelet weighing on her wrist, Lizzie felt an unexpected lightness.

So this was what it meant to cast off something meaningless—such liberating relief.

She was glad.

A breeze swept through the courtyard, making the sheer curtains sway restlessly.

Lizzie turned to head back inside. She had no desire to linger at a celebration that had nothing to do with her. But as she pivoted, whether from the force of the wind or a misstep, her body lurched—and she collided squarely with the champagne tower.

The tower toppled. Crystal flutes rained down, smashing against the person beside it.

A sharp scream split the air.

Soaked in champagne and glittering with shards of broken glass, Susan crumpled to the ground, her body streaked with blood.

The accident caught even Lizzie off guard.

Lying in a pool of red, Susan stared at her with wide, bewildered eyes brimming with hurt.

"Lizzie… you—"

At the commotion, Cedric shoved through the crowd and scooped Susan into his arms with aching tenderness. His voice roared like madness as he turned on Lizzie.

"Lizzie, are you insane? If you're unhappy, take it out on me! What kind of underhanded trick is this? And I thought you had matured, but turns out you were just pretending. You're vicious."

Pale as death, Lizzie stood frozen. Blood dripped steadily from her fingertips.

She hadn't meant for any of this to happen, but who would believe her now?

Cedric never noticed her injuries. He only kept shouting.

"Today is Susan's birthday. It's an important day for her! And you do this? Lizzie, you'd better pray she's all right. If anything happens, I will never forgive you."

He strode a few steps away with Susan in his arms, then whipped back around, spitting venom.

"I gave you too much credit. I thought you were kind. You've disappointed me beyond words."

"Didn't you see? Lizzie is injured too," someone reminded him.

Cedric stiffened. His gaze finally landed on Lizzie's bleeding hand, and his chest clenched. He was just about to move when Susan fluttered her lashes weakly.

"Cedric… you should look after Lizzie first. I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"How can you be fine when you're hurt like this?" He shot the man who spoke a cold look. "Watch Lizzie for me. I'm taking Susan to the hospital."

With that, he carried Susan away.

Lizzie closed her eyes briefly, exhaustion pressing down on her.

So it was true—lovelessness itself was the greatest crime.

She had known he would choose Susan. But still, it stung.

"Your hand's cut… let me help." A man's voice broke into her daze.

She looked up.

It was Jon Harker.

Though Jon was Cedric's childhood friend, she had only crossed paths with him twice before—once at the engagement, once at the wedding. This was the third time.

"Thank you," she murmured, accepting the handkerchief he offered and binding her wound tightly. "I'll buy a new one to replace this."

"It's just a handkerchief." Concern shadowed his brows. "But you really should have that treated properly, otherwise it might get infected."

Lizzie's gaze swept the chaos before her. She still had to clean up this mess. Compared to that, a minor cut hardly mattered.

"It's not necessary."

The guests whispered among themselves, unable to understand the state of her marriage. With the way Cedric rushed after Susan, it seemed obvious who the true Mrs. Lannister should be.

"Forgive us," Lizzie said at last, lifting a microphone. Her calm voice cut cleanly through the murmur. "Susan had an accident and has been taken to the hospital. I'm afraid our hospitality falls short tonight, and I ask for your understanding. Thank you all for coming to celebrate Susan's birthday. There are gifts prepared for each of you. Please take them on your way out. My apologies again."

Most of the guests had come out of respect for Cedric. In front of his wife, none dared probe further. They left soon enough.

The courtyard was reduced to wreckage. Only one woman remained—numb, outwardly serene.

"Let me take you to the hospital to get that wound treated."

His gentle voice wavered in the quiet, stirring something faint in her dull eyes.

She turned slowly toward him. "Why haven't you left?"

Jon couldn't explain it himself. Perhaps it was because Cedric had told him to watch her. Or perhaps it was pity.

"Cedric, he—"

Lizzie guessed he wanted to defend Cedric. She had no interest.

"Jon, I'm fine. You should head home. It's been a long day."

"I know you've been wronged today. Cedric went too far."

She lifted her gaze. Jon's furrowed brows seemed to carry indignation on her behalf.

But she didn't need it.

To outsiders, her silence was nothing but a tactic—to keep the divorce clean, without unnecessary complications.

And if Cedric finally asked for divorce after today, so much the better. It would save her trouble and keep the Bennet family's interests safe.

"He made his choice. I don't mind."

She had minded, once. And it had cost her life on the delivery bed.

Now, reborn, she wanted nothing but to leave Cedric as quickly as possible.

"He's just confused," Jon said quietly.

Lizzie smiled.

No—this was no confusion. Cedric's instinct to protect Susan was pure reflex, born of love.

She knew it too well.

Like that year when a rose thorn pricked Lizzie, and he had the entire garden razed.

Cedric was the kind of man who, once he loved, would love with madness. And that same madness could be given to any woman.

She hadn't understood before.

Seeing him love another had driven Lizzie to despair, to clutch at him desperately. She had thought that even if she couldn't hold his heart, at least she would keep the man himself.

If only she had realized sooner that he didn't love her, she might not have died so wretchedly.

Cedric was a liar to the core. And she had wasted a lifetime on his lies.

Turning away, Lizzie left for the house.

Jon remained on the lawn, dazed.

Night settled over the villa.

Lizzie sat in the living room for a while before the housekeeper, Josie Pye, approached with a glass of milk.

"Madam, have some to settle your nerves. Sir will likely stay at the hospital with Susan tonight. Don't wait up. Rest early."

Even the servants could read the depth of Cedric's concern for Susan.

Lizzie flushed with humiliation.

"Josie, you can see it too, can't you? Cedric treats Susan differently."

Josie hesitated, caught in awkward silence. She couldn't deny it. His concern today had gone far beyond reason.

Though his wife was also hurt, he had left her behind without a thought.

"Perhaps… Sir just feels sorry for Susan. That's all."

"Do you really think so?" Lizzie smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's only the two of us here. You can speak freely."

In her previous life, Josie had often shielded her when Cedric lost his temper. Josie was honest and had never liked the way Cedric treated Lizzie.

And since Lizzie asked, Josie spoke plainly now.

"Madam, I think you should persuade Sir to send Susan away. If this continues, it will hurt your marriage beyond repair."

"Perhaps Susan is his true love. I've no wish to stand in the way of lovers." Lizzie smiled.

The words pained Josie. "True love? Married men don't get to find true love. That's just lust, nothing more. Isn't there a song lyric? 'What you can't have always stirs the heart.' Madam, you'd better keep an eye on him before he gets himself deceived."