A deafening crash rang out as the cabinet toppled to the floor.
The handmade sculptures Audrey had created as a child, the trophies she had won from countless competitions... all of them shattered into pieces.
The moment Julian and Beatrice heard the noise, they rushed over.
"Lillian! Are you hurt?"
Lillian looked utterly aggrieved. "I was only trying to help Audrey... It's all my fault for being so clumsy..."
"What does this have to do with you?" Julian lifted his eyes coldly and looked at Audrey. "If anyone's to blame, it's her. She's the one who pushed you."
Audrey's fingertips turned cold. "I barely touched her!"
"You're still trying to argue?" Julian's gaze darkened. "I thought you'd finally learned to control your temper. I didn't expect you to still be this impossible!"
Beatrice chimed in from the side, "I actually thought you were being considerate for once, agreeing to let Lillian move in. So this was what you were planning all along?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the mess all over the floor without even blinking. "Since you seem so eager to clean up, then clean to your heart's content. Someone come here. Watch Audrey clean this room up herself. No one is to help her!"
Two maids stepped forward at once and stopped in front of Audrey. "Miss Winslow, go ahead."
Audrey stared at the shards scattered across the floor, her fists clenched tight. In the end, she slowly crouched down and began picking them up piece by piece, dropping them into the trash.
The sharp glass sliced into her fingers. Blood dripped from her fingertips until both hands were covered in it.
She suddenly remembered the first time she had brought home a trophy. It had only been for a sculpture competition, yet her parents had been happier than anyone.
They had personally hosted a banquet, proudly telling everyone how talented their daughter was, and had even invited a renowned sculptor to attend and congratulate her.
Julian had even persuaded his parents to help arrange a small sculpture exhibition for Audrey, showing her off everywhere and boasting about how remarkable she was.
But now, the sculptures and trophies had all been reduced to fragments.
And they didn't spare them even a glance.
Outside the door, Julian was tending to Lillian's injury.
A shard of glass had nicked her calf. It hadn't even drawn blood, yet Julian was still anxiously disinfecting it and wrapping it in bandages.
His voice was gentle. "The wedding's only a couple of days away. We can't have even the smallest scar left behind."
Beatrice smiled and stroked Lillian's hair. "That's right, Lillian. A bride has to look absolutely beautiful."
Audrey tugged at the corner of her mouth in a faint smile, but her hands never stopped moving.
Maybe it was better this way. Let the past break apart and scatter with the wind.
By the time Audrey finally finished cleaning the room and came out, the living room was already full of wedding planners and staff.
Lillian stood in the center wearing a wedding gown, while smiles lit up every face around her.
The moment she saw Audrey, Lillian waved her over at once. "Audrey, come here. Try on this bridesmaid dress and see if it fits."
"Bridesmaid?" Audrey's expression changed. "When did I ever say I'd be your bridesmaid?"
Julian immediately stepped in to defend Lillian. "It's just for show. What's the problem? Besides, you nearly left a scar on Lillian just now. Shouldn't you make it up to her?"
"You really want me to be her bridesmaid?" Audrey looked at Julian and asked coldly.
For a moment, a strange unease rose in Julian's chest. He wanted to deny it, but his pride wouldn't let him take back his words.
So he nodded and answered in a low voice, "Yes."
"Fine. I'll do it."
With that, Audrey turned and went to change.
When she came back out, everyone staring at her froze.
Audrey was breathtaking. In fact, she outshone the bride herself.
Even Julian's eyes lit up.
A flash of resentment flickered through Lillian's eyes, but she immediately slipped into a sweet voice. "Julian, I'm so nervous. Why don't we do a little rehearsal here at home first?"
