Lily's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to let Elise see the pain in her eyes. She didn't have the luxury of being weak anymore. She wouldn't let herself be broken.
But before she could respond, a sharp voice rang out from across the room, drawing the attention of the guests.
"Oh, look at this. The sad little wife, reduced to begging for attention." Elise called out, her voice loud enough for the nearby crowd to hear. "I heard you've lost everything, Lily. Your fashion empire, your husband, your dignity. And now you're reduced to playing dress-up at charity galas. How pitiful."
Lily felt a cold rush of humiliation sweep over her, but she refused to flinch. Elise knew exactly what she was doing. She was exposing Lily for everyone to see, using her power over the situation to tear her down in front of the entire room. The crowd began to murmur, the whispers growing louder, and Lily could feel her face flush with the weight of their eyes on her.
Elliot appeared just then, his tall frame cutting through the crowd like a blade. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit, the fabric sleek and elegant, just like the man himself. His dark brown hair was styled neatly, but there was a sense of weariness about him that hadn't been there before. His expression was one of disdain, though it was laced with something more — guilt, perhaps, or maybe a lingering regret. But his eyes, cold and calculating, never once wavered from Lily.
He approached with an air of detached authority, his sharp jaw set in a tense line. The dark tie he wore, slightly loosened, made him seem more approachable, but his posture and the tension in his shoulders revealed the distance between them.
"What are you doing here, Elliot?" Lily managed to choke out, her voice shaky, though she tried to hide it.
He didn't answer right away, only glancing at her briefly before shifting his gaze to Elise, who stood next to Lily, her smug smile widening. Elliot's lips curled into a thin, cold smirk, but there was no warmth in it, only the reminder that their lives were now irreparably fractured.
"I'm just here to make sure everything goes smoothly, as always."
His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, as if he were trying to convince both Lily and the crowd that he was in control. But Lily could see through him. She could see the mask he wore, a mask that had cracked long ago.
"It's really over, Lily," he said, almost casually, though there was something hollow in his tone. "You know that, right?"
Lily wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much she hated him for everything he'd done, for using her, for making her believe in a lie. But before she could respond, Elise cut in, her voice dripping with venom.
"Oh, look at her, still hoping for some dignity." Elise sneered. "It's too late for that, Lily. You're not even relevant anymore. Let the adults talk."
Lily's heart twisted in her chest. Eliot, the man she had once loved, the man she had trusted, was standing there, letting her be torn apart. There was no protection, no defense. Just a silent, bitter reminder that she had been discarded.
And then, just as the final blow was about to land, Elise's cruel smile widened.
"I almost feel sorry for you, Lily." Elise said, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, her eyes gleaming with malice. "But not really."
She then placed the a hand on Lily's arm, her grip firm as she leaned in, speaking with exaggerated sweetness. "I think you should leave. You don't belong here anymore."
Lily tried to pull away, but Elise's grip tightened. The laughter from the crowd felt like daggers, each snide comment landing like a fresh wound.
Suddenly, Elise's other hand lifted, and before Lily could react, a full glass of red wine was thrown across her chest. The liquid splashed across her dress, staining the velvet fabric with a deep crimson that mirrored the fire burning in Lily's veins.
Lily's breath caught, the wine dripping from her gown, the shock of the coldness of it mingling with the shock of the public degradation.
The room fell silent for a split second, as though the world itself had stopped to watch.
Then, the whispers began again, louder this time. Elise stood back, a smug smile on her face, her eyes gleaming with triumph. Lily felt the weight of every stare, the humiliation sinking deeper into her bones. She could hear the snickers, the mocking laughter, the gossip that spread through the room like wildfire.
Eliot was still standing across the room, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment. But it was a look of indifference, a look that crushed whatever lingering hope Lily had left.
She was alone.
Lily felt the sting of tears, but she held them back. She would not cry in front of them. She would not show weakness.
With a clenched jaw and tears burning in her eyes, Lily turned and walked toward the door, her movements stiff, her heart heavy. Every step felt like a final defeat.
She had been humiliated.
Cast aside.
But as she reached the door, a flash of anger surged through her and she knew...
This wasn't the end.
She would rise from this.
She would make them all regret this.
And one day, Elise would pay for every ounce of cruelty she had just heaped upon her.
As Lily reached the door, she heard her name being called. She turned around, expecting to see Elise or one of the other guests, but instead, she saw a figure standing at the edge of the crowd.
"Lily," the voice called out again, louder this time.
Lily's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met.