Chapter 6

So this was what it really looked like when Tristan loved someone. It wasn't just about sex.

Margot had been hurting for so long that she could barely feel it anymore.

She drifted through the house like a ghost, watching the quiet intimacy between Tristan and Nina, a closeness she knew she could never share.

Then came Nina's birthday.

Tristan threw her a lavish birthday party at a hotel. Before the celebration began, he presented her with an elegant gift box containing a designer gown flown in specially from overseas.

"Happy birthday, Nina," he said.

Nina opened the box, her eyes lighting up with delight. A warm smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Tristie. I love it."

She took the gown into the dressing room to try it on.

A moment later, her voice came from inside. "Margot, are you out there? Could you come help me with the zipper? It seems to be stuck."

Margot was about to answer and step forward when Tristan suddenly held out an arm to stop her.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet. What if you reach too far and reopen your wounds?" His excuse sounded perfectly reasonable, but his gaze wavered. "I'll help her."

Before Margot could say anything, he slipped into the dressing room and pulled the door shut behind him, though not all the way.

Margot stood rooted to the spot. Through the narrow gap in the door, she could just make out their figures.

"Oh, it's you?" Nina sounded slightly surprised.

"Margot's wounds haven't fully healed. I'll help you," Tristan replied in a low voice.

"Alright." Nina sounded a little helpless yet indulgent. "I've practically watched you grow up, after all. It's just a little embarrassing having you see me like this."

"How could you say that?" Tristan protested at once, his voice completely serious. "You have the best figure I've ever seen."

Nina let out a soft, teasing laugh. "Better than Margot's?"

Outside the door, Margot's heart sank.

Through the crack, she saw Tristan's ears turn red. He stepped closer, nearly pressing against Nina's neck, and lowered his voice to a husky whisper. "How could she ever compare to you?"

A chill ran through Margot from head to toe, freezing her blood. She couldn't bear to watch another second. As she staggered backward, her chest tightened so much that she could barely breathe.

An hour later, the party officially began. Guests dressed in elegant outfits and sparkling jewelry mingled over drinks, chatting and clinking glasses.

As the birthday girl, Nina moved gracefully among the guests, greeting everyone with a warm, composed smile.

She cut the enormous birthday cake and served slices to the guests.

When she approached Tristan with a plate of mango mousse cake, Margot blurted out almost instinctively, "He can't eat that. He's allergic to mangoes."

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

Nina paused, then turned to Tristan with an apologetic smile. "Oh, I completely forgot! Margot really does pay attention. She's so much more attentive than I am."

A wave of bitterness washed over Margot.

It wasn't that she was naturally attentive. She'd simply loved him so deeply over the past three years that she'd memorized all his likes, dislikes, and allergies.

Now, she wished she could forget every last detail.

Tristan looked at Margot for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Margot's astonishment, he took the plate from Nina, scooped up a spoonful of cake, and put it in his mouth.

"Tristan!" Nina gasped, reaching out to stop him. "You're allergic! Spit it out!"

Tristan swallowed anyway, staring at Nina with unwavering devotion. "It's fine. I'll just take an allergy pill later."

He paused, then said, loudly enough for the whole room to hear, "If it's from you, I'd swallow it even if it were poison."