Alicia had originally intended to leave the party. She had endured enough for one night and wanted nothing more than to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

‎

‎But just as she was about to inform Aiden that she wanted to leave, he approached her and asked for a dance.

‎

‎She hesitated. She knew very well that dancing was not one of her strengths. Yet when she saw the hopeful look in his eyes, she found herself unable to disappoint him. In the end, she placed her hand in his and agreed.

‎

‎As the music began, Aiden gently guided her through the first song. Alicia tried her best to follow his lead, though she stumbled more than once. Still, what unsettled her most was the strange sensation burning at her back, as though someone’s gaze was fixed intently on her every move.

‎

‎She nearly lost her step at one point, but she refused to turn around to see who it was.

‎

‎With Aiden’s steady guidance, they managed to finish the dance despite her occasional mistakes. The moment the song ended, Alicia quickly waved a hand in surrender.

‎

‎"No more," she said, slightly breathless. "I’ll only embarrass myself further."

‎

‎"It’s fine," Aiden reassured her with a warm smile. "I’ll slow down and guide you."

‎

‎Alicia studied him for a moment before sighing. "Alright... but only one more."

‎

‎Aiden nodded, a hint of delight flashing across his face.

‎

‎Soon, they were moving once more, gradually losing themselves in the music and each other’s company—completely unaware of the man standing not far away, watching them with dark, unreadable eyes.

Alexander’s POV

I found a seat in the corner and casually sipped my red wine, though my gaze remained fixed on the dance floor.

‎

‎I still remembered the day Alicia and I had danced together. Her cheeks had flushed every time I teased her. She had not been very skilled then, but she learned quickly. Somewhere in the middle of that dance, the distance between us had vanished, as though we had crossed an unspoken line neither of us could name.

‎

‎But now, watching her glide so effortlessly in another man’s arms, something in my chest tightened.

‎

‎The most annoying thing was that I didn’t even know what it was.

‎

‎The smile on her face was bright and genuine—something I had never been able to draw from her myself.

‎

‎I sat there in silence as they danced through one song after another. With every turn they took, every touch they shared, her movements became more graceful beneath Aiden’s guidance.

‎

‎And with every passing second, my mood darkened further.

‎

‎Damn it.

‎

‎When the final song ended, the ten-tier masterpiece cake I had specially ordered for Lilian’s birthday was wheeled into the hall. Guests gathered around it, singing cheerfully as Lilian stepped forward.

‎

‎I glanced back toward where Alicia and Aiden had been standing.

‎

‎They were gone.

‎

‎The applause erupted as the song ended. It was time to cut the cake. One of the promises I had made Lilian was to remain by her side throughout every important moment of the evening.

‎

‎So I stood beside her, along with several well-known guests, as she made the first cut and handed the first slice to Director Holland.

‎

‎"Alexander, can you help me serve the rest?"

‎

‎Without a word, I stepped forward, picked up a plastic knife, and began slicing beside her.

‎

‎Most of the guests were actresses and models obsessed with maintaining their figures, so few cared for the cake itself. Even so, many came forward to accept a slice from me—some lingering longer than necessary, others attempting conversation.

‎

‎I barely noticed any of them.

‎

‎My eyes kept scanning the crowd.

‎

‎Looking for Alicia.

‎

‎Then I spotted her standing off to the side, clearly uninterested in everything happening right now.

‎

‎She looked breathtaking in her silk mermaid gown, every curve outlined with effortless elegance.

‎

‎Then Aiden stepped in front of her, blocking my view.

‎

‎I looked away immediately, jaw tightening.

‎

‎"If anyone still hasn’t received a slice, please come forward," Lilian called sweetly.

‎

‎A familiar voice answered.

‎

‎"I didn’t get mine."

‎

‎I looked up.

‎

‎Alicia stood before us, smiling.

‎

‎"Happy birthday, Miss Lilian," she said casually.

‎

‎I noticed Lilian’s cheerful expression falter for the briefest moment.

‎

‎"Thank you," she replied.

‎

‎Alicia’s gaze dropped to Lilian’s finger—and I immediately recalled that night, when she said she liked it and asked me to give it to her Alicia must’ve recognised it. Her expression shifted ever so slightly before she said lightly,

‎

‎"You’re welcome."

‎

‎Then she turned to me as though only just noticing my presence.

‎

‎i instinctively cut a slice topped with berries, placed it on a plate, and handed it to her.

‎

‎What she said next caught me off guard.

‎

‎"Thank you, Alexander. I didn’t think you’d still remember that I like berries."

‎

‎She smiled faintly. Almost teasingly.

‎

‎I froze.

‎

‎After everything that had happened in Nevaris City... after tonight... I had expected coldness, indifference, even more.

‎

‎Not this.

‎

‎As if nothing had happened at all.

‎

‎Then she leaned slightly closer.

‎

‎"Don’t forget to come home early tonight, Alexander."

‎

‎Her voice was low enough that only the three of us could hear.

‎

‎She turned and walked away.

‎

‎"...Okay," I replied before I even realized the word had left my mouth.

‎

‎Before I could process anything further, another figure approached.

‎

‎"Oh? Isn’t this wonderful? Our very own college couple reunited."

‎

‎Daniel Caldwell.

‎

‎My expression darkened instantly.

‎

‎"Happy birthday, Miss Summer," he added with a smile toward Lilian.

‎

‎But Lilian looked strangely tense, as though forcing herself to remain composed.

‎

‎"What are you doing here, Caldwell?" I asked coldly.

‎

‎He chuckled. "What do you mean? I’m here to wish Lilian a happy birthday."

‎

‎"Thank you, Daniel," Lilian said quickly, though her smile looked painfully unnatural.

‎

‎Then she turned to me.

‎

‎"Alexander, can you give Daniel a slice of cake?"

‎

‎I cut a piece and handed it over.

‎

‎"Thank you, CEO Blackwood," Daniel said smoothly. "It’s been a while. I hope we’ll have time to catch up."

‎

‎"Another time," I replied, making no effort to hide my irritation.

‎

‎He only smiled and I noticed them share a look with Lilian before he walked away.

‎

‎Then Lilian suddenly spoke again.

‎

‎"I need to use the bathroom."

‎

‎Before I could respond, she disappeared into the crowd.

‎

Leaving me there with many thoughts running through my mind.

Alicia’s POV

After finishing the cake, I went to the restroom.

‎

‎When I stepped out and started back toward the hall so I could finally leave, a voice called out from near the staircase.

‎

‎"Alicia."

‎

‎I turned.

‎

‎Lilian stood beneath the dim light, her delicate princess gown glowing softly in the shadows.

‎ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

‎"Miss Lilian," I said calmly. "What do you want?"

‎

‎"I need to talk to you."

‎

‎"About what?"

‎

‎I walked toward her slowly until I stood directly in front of her.

‎

‎Up close, I could clearly see the jealousy burning in her eyes.

‎

‎And I knew I had gotten exactly what I wanted.

‎

‎When Aiden offered to bring me cake earlier, I refused. I told him I would get it myself and wish Lilian a happy birthday.

‎

‎But that had never been my true intention.

‎

‎I had waited until her celebration was nearly over, then stepped forward at the perfect moment—smiling, polite, impossible to reject.

‎

‎Anyone watching would have assumed we shared a warm relationship, as though I were simply greeting my future sister-in-law.

‎

‎But Lilian knew better.

‎

‎She knew I had done it to disgust her.

‎

‎And still, she had been forced to smile and play along.

‎

‎When I told Alexander to come home early, most people would naturally assume I meant his grandparents’ house. Nothing improper. Nothing suspicious.

‎

‎But I noticed the way Lilian’s hands clenched.

‎

‎The darkness that flashed through her eyes.

‎

‎She had wanted to slap me.

‎

‎Yet she could only endure it in silence.

‎

‎Seeing her restrain herself filled me with a strange satisfaction.

‎

‎Perhaps I should have done this sooner.

‎

‎Push her. Test her. Force her to smile while burning inside.

‎

‎It was the easiest way to make Lilian furious—while leaving her powerless to retaliate.

‎

‎Then Lilian spoke, her voice low and sharp.

‎

‎"Alicia, have you realized how badly you’ve already lost?"

‎

‎I looked at her without blinking.

‎

‎I already knew what she was about to boast about.

‎

‎"I told you Alexander would come to me on the twenty-fifth," she said smugly. "And he did. He spent the whole night by my side... on your anniversary."

‎

‎She stepped closer, smiling coldly.

‎

‎"If I were you, I’d divorce him immediately."