Chapter 4. A game you won't win

Shortly after, Greed walked down the hallway with determination towards the door of that room and gently knocked.

He stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a dark custom-made suit when Lizzy appeared. His gaze ran over her from head to toe, pausing at her red dress, which made him swallow hard.

"As I thought... red looks decent on you," he said, clearing his throat. His voice sounded hoarse and slightly tense, but Lizzy could notice a strange gleam in his eyes that sent shivers down her spine and made her heart beat forcefully.

"Thank you..." Lizzy replied, trying to keep the conversation in a neutral tone to calm her poor heart, which didn't know whether to beat out of fear or nerves. "I suppose we're leaving now, aren't we?"

Greed nodded, giving her a final glance that he unsuccessfully tried to disguise.

"That's right. You're taking too long, and it's time to go," he announced, leaving her behind as Lizzy took deep breaths to gather patience.

A second later, she was obediently walking hurriedly behind him, to get into the car that would follow the direct path to the hell that awaited her.

"I don't want you to speak or leave my side while we're there," Greed demanded as soon as he saw Lizzy's bottom touch the seat. "In front of everyone, you will be Natalia Robinson, my fiancée and heir to the riches from the Robinson surname."

"Sir..."

"You must address me by my name, and under no circumstances should that word slip out of your mouth. Remember, you are my fiancée, not my employee."

"Yes..." she murmured and remained silent.

It was clear that he didn't want to hear a word from her, and she knew that was the case when the rest of the journey remained in silence, focused on his own thoughts. However, Lizzy cared very little about that. After all, her thoughts were immersed in the name of that woman.

Upon arrival, they were greeted by a crowd of guests, all elegantly dressed and chatting animatedly until they saw the beautiful woman delicately hanging from Greed's arm.

"Remember your role and don't embarrass me or you'll pay dearly, servant," he murmured near her ear with a smile, pretending to speak sweet words while she simply got into her role with a fake smile.

Greed led her through the crowd and introduced her to everyone as his fiancée. The surprised looks they received didn't go unnoticed by Lizzy, but soon whispers arose, and sooner than she thought, they would prove to her how true they were.

As the night progressed, they both engaged in some light conversations with partners and other guests. Lizzy smiled, introduced herself as Natalia, and claimed to be the fiancée of the man whose eyes never left her.

Finally, when the music started playing and the dance floor filled with couples, Greed extended his hand to Lizzy with a charming smile.

"Shall we dance?" he asked, and she took it gracefully.

Together they headed to the dance floor, and neither of them knew when they started moving to the rhythm of the music.

"You've done well... Now I see why my mother hired you," Greed murmured in her ear as he held her tightly against his body. "You're a very good actress. I admit it, you fooled them all."

His voice was full of resentment, and Lizzy couldn't help but furrow her brow in confusion. She was very clear about her role in that fake relationship, but she didn't understand why Greed's words sounded so bitter when he had paid her precisely for that.

"But... Are you ready for the next challenge?" he murmured in her ear, and Lizzy felt the world around her disappear. Then she knew, his words weren't a compliment.

As they moved through the room, the derogatory and lascivious comments from some men became unbearable. Lizzy felt eyes on her, and although she didn't fully understand what they were saying, she knew they were insults and mockery. She felt like prey among wolves, and the worst part was that she didn't understand the reason... until the music stopped playing and a figure stood at the entrance of the hall, being introduced as soon as she arrived.

"Miss Robinson has arrived in the hall!"

The murmurs increased, and Greed clenched his jaw with contained fury as he dragged Lizzy to their respective seats. It was not in his plans to see that woman at one of the parties she never attended because, according to her, they were exhausting and diminished her beauty.

"Now the war has begun..." one of the guests murmured, alerting Lizzy's senses.

"The mistress and the fiancée..." said another.

"For God's sake, how dare that woman use the name of Miss Robinson! There's no comparison... She should be ashamed!"

And of course, Lizzy felt it, the arrival of that woman had spread like wildfire through the place, filling the atmosphere with tension, but it filled her with enormous curiosity because her last name seemed familiar to her.

"You must be... Natalia..." the woman murmured with a smile that almost seemed sweet as she approached them.

Lizzy pressed her lips together with flushed cheeks and nodded, glancing sideways at Greed, as if expecting his support, but instead, he gave her a look full of disdain and turned towards the exit while taking a cigarette from his jacket.

"Yes. It's a pleasure... May I... know who you are?"

The woman's face seemed to contort, but a second later, it transformed into a mask of controlled arrogance.

"Ah, so you're Natalia... Well, well..." she snapped without answering Lizzy's question. "That's curious, I've never heard of you. How is it that I haven't seen you at any of our events before?"

"Well, it's because... lately, I've been quite busy with wedding preparations and all that," Lizzy invented, trying to stand up. "I suppose that's why we haven't had the chance to meet."

"I see," she said, stopping her. "Well, now that we're face to face, would you mind explaining to me how you earned the title of 'fiancée'? Because as far as I know, that position is already taken."

Lizzy swallowed hard and wished the ground would open up and swallow her when she heard the woman's words. And although she had thousands of questions, they were also the last when that stabbing pain intensified in her stomach.

"It's a somewhat complicated story... And long, very long!"

"I have enough time to hear it in detail!" she exclaimed, pulling up a chair to sit and staring at Lizzy intensely, causing her to pale and step back.

"Go ahead, tell me everything!"

Lizzy felt a chill run down her spine and took a deep breath, wishing for a miracle.

"He... well... he and I met a while ago and..."

"Okay. I really don't care to hear your lies, so let me be clear, 'Natalia,'" she replied, standing up, and Lizzy paled, stepping back. "I don't allow anyone to come between me and what's mine. So if you want my fiancé and wait for me to watch as you take my place and my name, I advise you to rethink your choices before it's too late."

"I didn't... it wasn't..." Lizzy stammered.

"What? Are you going to tell me you didn't start all this?" she sneered with contempt. "Women like you, who use the name of a lady to feel decent, are the worst kind."

Lizzy felt tears welling up in her eyes as she realized everyone was witnessing this, and she felt even worse when the imposing figure of Greed appeared from a balcony with a smile on his face.

"You're worth no more than anyone standing on a street corner, and it will always be that way! Your actions prove it! So let's see how far you get when you realize you're playing a game you can't win, dear!"

Natalia clenched her fists in frustration when she saw Lizzy just clench her lips and lower her head, causing everyone to start murmuring about her.

"But... What's her problem?" one of the guests murmured, placing a hand on her chest as she saw one of her daughters look at Natalia with displeasure. "She just made a mistake..."

"It wasn't just a mistake, mother, but I assure you, no one deserves to be treated like that, especially a woman... and worse! For a man who doesn't even give you the slightest attention..." her daughter responded, none other than the organizer and hostess of the event, her sister-in-law.

Lizzy's gaze finally lifted as she heard the murmurs, but if she thought she had any hope, it was overshadowed by the figure of someone whose presence left more than one in silence, including...

"Natalia!"

The girl jumped and quickly stood up from the chair to stand firm before the man who wasted no time in making the room resound with a resounding slap.

"Fa... father..." she murmured, bringing her trembling hand to her cheek, which throbbed with pain.