“You don’t need to cancel anything for me. In fact, I wish you both a long, happy life together. May you have children soon and live in your perfect little world.”
He recoiled, his jaw tight with frustration. He gritted his teeth, letting go of me abruptly. “Fine. Just don’t regret it. I gave you a chance.”
I watched as he stormed out, his frustration barely masked. It was clear he had not gotten the answer he wanted, but I was done being a part of his twisted games.
*
The next morning, as if fate had another cruel joke to play, Charlotte appeared at my door.
She smiled as she approached, her steps deliberate, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“Lily, guess what this is?” she purred, her voice sickly sweet.
Charlotte’s smile stretched wide as she flaunted the engagement ring, the very one she had accused me of stealing on the day I left Fuentez manor.
"Oh, you found it," I said flatly, keeping my tone even.
My lack of reaction seemed to drive her mad. She stormed toward me, her face twisted with rage, and grabbed the collar of my shirt, her fingers trembling with anger.
“Does this seem fine to you?” she hissed; her voice barely contained. “Don’t think I don’t know that you asked Sylus to come here yesterday. Divorced, but still flirting with him, how shameless!”
I could not help but smile, a cold and cunning smile. “You are right that Sylus came here. But if you think I invited him, you are wrong.”
“Then why was he not happy after you left? He looked reluctant, almost sad. Do you know what he said to me when he came back? He asked me to postpone the wedding! Isn’t that strange, Lily?”
I tilted my head, meeting her gaze with amusement. “So, you doubt your fiancé now?”
“Of course not! Between the two of us, Sylus will always choose me.” She sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “Do you remember the pearl, Lily? I was the one who told Sylus to take it from your stomach.”
Hearing those words ignited a fire within me, a rage I could no longer suppress. My hands shot out, grabbing her by the neck.
Charlotte had been the one behind the very ordeal that had nearly taken my life, the one who convinced Sylus to tear the pearl from me. She even had the audacity to wear it around her neck.
“Listen to me, Lotty,” I growled through clenched teeth, tightening my grip. “You will never beat me. So, you should learn your place and live peacefully in the manor.”