I parked myself in a corner. The joy in the room seemed to be irrelevant to me.
Soon, Lily and Ethan strolled in, one after the other. He dropped next to me like usual, while she floated over to cheers and claps.
Ryan slid a diamond crown onto her head and kissed her cheek.
"Happy birthday, babe. I'll love you forever," he said.
The crowd cheered for them.
Ethan leaned in and whispered, "You're not still hung up on Ryan, are you?"
Before, I'd have thought he was jealous. Now I knew he just didn't want me to steal Lily's man.
Before that disaster, I had been a bratty rich girl who got whatever I wanted. But when my family crashed and my parents killed themselves, my pride and guts went down too.
I smiled bitterly, "Nah, how could I measure up?"
I didn't deserve to fight with Lily for either of them.
What he had said to Lily earlier echoed in my mind again. "For your happiness, I'd drag anyone home to marry."
To him, I was no better than a barnyard animal.
He didn't catch my tone, just squeezing my hand and digging into my palm. I used to think it was our little thing. Now I realized that he just hated touching me.
I pulled my hand free, trying to sound normal. "I'm wiped and will head back now. You guys have fun."
He heaved a sigh of relief and nodded with a grin. With me gone, he could finally drool over Lily without hiding it.
But as I stood, a spotlight pinned me. I knew it was deliberate.
Back when I ruled, I pissed off plenty of folks. Now that my family was done, they were dying to watch me squirm.
My ex dumped me for Lily, and now even my husband was obsessed with her.
With all eyes on me, I felt like a clown, unsure if I should leave or stay.
"Look who we've got here," someone sneered.
For years, I had been trying to dodge these people. If it hadn't been for Ethan's insistence, I wouldn't have been there in the first place.
Aware I would get crushed, he had held my hand and reassured me, "Don't worry. I've got your back."
Now he just stood by. I was such a dumbass, trusting him blindly.
To him, my dignity was nothing. He just wanted to see Lily.
