ELINNAThe moment Lily's eyes met mine, the world stopped. Her guilty expression told me everything I needed to know—this wasn't some accidental meeting. This was planned.Then Ben turned.His face changed too fast to catch—shock, irritation, then that smooth, practiced calm I'd come to recognize. The mask he wore when lying."Elinna," he began, already stepping toward me with outstretched hands.I didn't let him finish. The pain was a living thing, clawing up my throat, but I refused to break in front of them. Not here. Not like this.Lily's giggle followed me as I fled, the sound like shards of glass scraping against my ribs.Helen found me in the lobby bathroom, my trembling hands gripping the sink. The beautiful black dress—the one I'd chosen hoping Ben would finally propose—was now damp with tears."I'll kill him," Helen hissed, dabbing at my ruined makeup.I shook my head. "Don't." My voice surprised me—cold where it should have cracked. "They're not worth it."But the hollownes
Last Updated : 2025-04-02 Read more