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I’m proud of myself for this event. It’s the largest that I’ve ever thrown.
But it’s not only that emotion tugging at my attention. Even though I still haven’t heard from Felix, and I have plenty to focus on without him around, he’s never far from my mind. It’s a constant weight pulling on my heart. Even if I manage to shake it off one day, it’s there again when I wake the next morning.
I drag myself out of my thoughts and refocus on my parents. “Thank you for being here. I should make the rounds, but say goodnight before you leave, please.”
As I weave through the crowd, I spot Anna and Bethany laughing together by the dessert table. The sight of them brings a smile to my face, and I realize that they’re not just here out of obligation. They genuinely believe in me and what I’m trying to achieve.
With their heads bent together in conversation, they don’t notice me right behind them. “Save some of those chocolate-covered strawberries for me.”
They both turn to greet me with excited squeals and warm hugs.
“Of course! We wouldn’t dream of eating them all without you.” Bethany winks.
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Anna retorts playfully, and we all burst into laughter.
“Seriously though, Lily, this is amazing.” Bethany shakes her head in amazement at the room. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
“Thanks, Anna.” I smile at her, grateful for the support of my friends. “That means a lot to me.”
In moments like these, surrounded by the people I love and working towards something truly meaningful, I can almost forget about everything that happened with Felix. For now, at least, I can simply enjoy the night and bask in the warmth of good company.
“I took a look at the silent auction items.” Meg sidles up to us, her eyes shining with excitement. “There’s a tennis lesson package signed by some famous tennis player!”
“Yes, that one was really generous.” I smile, but I’m thinking about how much Felix would have loved bidding on that.
“Hey.” Anna’s brows knit together. “Over there. Isn’t that…”
“Who?” I follow her gaze.
The crowd suddenly seems to part, and there he is — Felix, standing near the entrance, looking every inch the dashing prince in his tailored suit.
My heart leaps into my throat, and I struggle to maintain my composure. He’s not supposed to be here. We haven’t announced our separation yet, but I had assumed he’d stay away for his own sake, not wanting to face the inevitable tabloid speculation.
“Did you know…?” Meg starts, her voice trailing off as she follows my gaze.
“No.” The hurt and confusion bubble up inside me.
Why is he here? Is it just to stave off the tabloid rumors, or does he actually care about what this night means to me?
“Are you okay?” Meg asks, concern etched on her face.
“Of course,” I say, forcing a smile. “I’ll just… I need to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
With that, I turn away from both Felix and my friends and scurry to the other side of the room. There’s plenty to be done, and I busy myself with checking on the table arrangements and catering staff.
From the corner of my eye, I can see Felix making his way through the crowd, his dark hair and confident stride drawing admiring glances from all around. The thought of speaking to him sends my heart racing, and I wonder if I’ll be able to keep up this facade for the rest of the night.
I keep moving, focusing on making sure there are an equal amount of napkin stacks on each table and hoping that somehow, I’ll find a way to navigate this unexpected complication.
When I look up, I see him again. His gaze is pinned on me, and he’s getting closer, a tiger stalking its prey.
But what does he want from me? To act like we’re still a couple so that people won’t have yet another reason to call him a womanizer?
Well, no, thank you. I won’t be helping him save face again. Not tonight or any night.
Grabbing my skirt, I slip away from the catering tables as gracefully as possible. The rustle of my dress seems deafening in my ears, but I know it’s just my nerves amplifying every sound, every sensation. I dart across the ballroom, seeking refuge in the throng of people who don’t know my secret pain.
“Ah, Lily!” exclaims Anders Thompson, one of the wealthiest men in attendance tonight. “I was just telling these fine folks about your incredible charity work. Truly inspiring!”
