SARAHHe stood there, just past the broken door, breathing heavy like he’d run through a storm. We stared at each other for a second that felt too long. I didn’t say anything. I just turned around and folded my arms, my back facing him.I didn’t want him to see my face.He stayed by the door. I could hear the slow steps as he looked around the room. This room had been mine when I first came. It still had that faint lavender scent. Still had that cold untouched silence. He didn’t say anything at first, but I knew he was thinking it too. This was where I used to sleep, where I used to cry when nobody was watching. Where I had been invisible.“Sarah,” he finally said, his voice low, softer than before.I didn’t respond.He tried again. “I didn’t know she was coming.”I still said nothing. I held my arms tighter across my chest.“I didn’t know,” he said again, like if he repeated it enough it would fix something. “I was just as shocked as you.”I turned my head slightly. “Were you?”He to
SARAHThe applause from the auction still rang in my ears even as the room slowly shifted into its closing rhythm. I hadn’t moved from where I stood after that ridiculous spectacle..The crowd was thinning out now. The music had dropped to a soft background hum, and the room was filled with quiet chatter and half-finished drinks. I was standing near the archway, hoping it would end without any more drama, but of course, Maddalena had other plans.She clinked her glass gently with a fork, drawing what was left of the guests’ attention.“I think before the night wraps up,” she said, voice warm but sharp, “we should all take a moment to appreciate Sarah.”Eyes turned. My heart ticked fast, but I smiled, swallowing the heaviness in my throat. I knew this was a test, another spotlight to see if I’d fall apart. But I wouldn’t. Not now.Maddalena continued, “She worked hard behind the scenes. Many of tonight’s arrangements wouldn’t have come together without her. Let’s raise a glass.”People
SARAHThe room felt warmer when I walked back in. Not because of the air, but because of the weight of attention. It sat heavy on my shoulders, thicker than the perfume that clung to the room. I didn’t look at anyone. Not Marco. Not the crowd. Not even the cameras that I could feel still roaming around like quiet vultures looking for their next dramatic moment.I kept my head down and moved quickly. My heels tapped quietly against the floor as I weaved through the elegant clusters of people still sipping champagne and gossiping in low, expensive voices. Some turned as I passed, others barely noticed, caught up in whatever fake conversation made them feel important. A few voices rose behind me, laughing a little too hard, too loud. Someone said something about how bold Sofia was. Another said they didn’t blame her.I didn’t flinch, but inside, my stomach tightened.I found a seat at the edge of the room. One of those small chairs meant to look delicate, meant to remind you to sit tall
SARAHI stood still, gripping the cold balcony rail like it was the only thing holding me together. The night air wrapped around my shoulders, light and sharp, but it didn’t ease anything inside me. My breaths were slow, deep, and controlled, but my hands kept trembling. I could feel it in my fingers, in the tight way they curled around the metal. My arms were tense. My jaw locked. My whole body was stuck between standing and falling apart.I stared at the skyline ahead of me, where the lights of the city shimmered across the distance. Buildings blinked like stars in motion, cars moved like ants down below, the world moving as if none of this mattered. As if I didn’t matter. The city didn’t know what had happened inside that room. And even if it did, it wouldn’t care.Marco hadn’t pulled away.That was the part I couldn’t let go of. He stood there, still, while she held onto him like she had every right. While the crowd watched, clapped, smiled like it was some beautiful story being r
SARAHI walked back into the room, trying to disappear into the crowd. My feet moved on their own. I didn’t feel the floor under me. Everything felt too warm, too loud, but at the same time, it was like I was underwater. I kept my eyes forward, pretending I wasn’t looking for Marco, pretending I didn’t feel the weight of every look thrown my way.The music changed. I felt it like a shift in the air. Slower, more elegant. Strings and soft piano. It wrapped around the room like silk. Maddalena’s voice followed right after, soft but sharp enough to cut through conversation.“A small family tradition,” she said, lifting her glass just slightly. “A moment for couples to walk the floor, for the cameras to remember tonight.”There were quiet smiles and a few chuckles. No one seemed surprised. Just ready.I felt my stomach turn. I knew what this was. It wasn’t a real dance. It was legacy dressed up in grace. A slow parade. One that screamed wealth and control and perfect appearances.Couples
SOFIA I stepped away from Marco slowly, each step carrying the weight of everything I had just done. I didn’t turn around. There was no need. I had already seen what mattered. Sarah’s face had told me more than any words could. The tension around her mouth, the way her fingers twitched as if holding back from something, the way she stood like she didn’t know whether to stay or run. It was quite delicious. She was furious, and she was trying so hard to keep it locked in. Trying to be composed. But real emotion always slips through the cracks. Especially in women like her. The ones trying to pretend they belong in rooms they were never built for. I had done this long enough to recognize all the signs. Jealousy suited her. Better than that tight burgundy dress ever could. She wore it like second skin, like it had been waiting just under the surface for the right moment to break through. And I had given her that moment. My heels clicked softly on the marble as I made my way bac