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Ethan stood frozen in the rain, a red mark blooming furiously across his cheek. He looked at her, his eyes welling with the devastating realization of what he had destroyed.

Lily stared at the man she was supposed to marry. She reached for her left hand and pulled the diamond engagement ring off her finger, dropping it onto the wet asphalt right at his feet.

"You are dead to me," she whispered.

She turned her back on him, walking away into the storm, leaving the wreckage of her entire life behind.

Chapter Eight

Lily

Lily stared at the glowing pixels on her monitor, yet the text blurred into a meaningless gray smudge. The memories of London refused to recede, clinging to her mind like a physical ache. That gruesome night had eradicated her happily ever after, reducing her entire future to ashes. Her chest ached with an intense, physical pang as her thoughts drifted to Margaret and Richard. She had felt like a true part of their family, longing to be woven into their lives forever.

The guilt crept in, leaving a bitter taste on her tongue.

She had packed her bags and fled England without a single goodbye.

Margaret and Richard had called.

They had texted.

Lily never answered.

At first, she ignored them because she was bleeding out emotionally. The wound was far too fresh. Then, a paralyzing fear took root. They had known Gemma since she was a little girl with scraped knees playing in their backyard. Lily convinced herself they would eventually take Gemma's side. She feared they would try to rationalize the betrayal, telling Lily it was for the best, that Ethan and Gemma were meant to be together. Hearing them validate the disgusting thing Ethan had done would have destroyed whatever fragile pieces Lily had left.

The cowardice evolved into profound shame. She had shut out two people who had offered her nothing but devotion. Around the two-month mark of her relocation to Chicago, the notifications ceased. The phone stopped ringing. A part of her felt deeply disappointed, grieving the finality of it. Yet, another part felt relieved.

Lily pressed her palms over her eyes, forcing herself to banish the memories. She grabbed her stylus and turned her attention back to the screen.

***

The jazz trio on the restaurant stage played an upbeat tempo. The brassy notes of the saxophone blended into the chatter of the crowded dining room.

Lily traced the rim of her wine glass, watching Jason across the candlelit table.

He looked handsome in his fitted sweater, his dark eyes sparkling with affection.

This was the exact booth where they had shared their first date.

She remembered how nervous she had been that night, convinced she had forgotten how to interact with a man.

But Jason had effortlessly eased her anxiety, making her laugh until her ribs hurt, eventually pulling her out of this very booth for their first dance.

"I finally convinced the Miller clients to go with the reclaimed walnut for their dining table," Jason said, taking a sip of his beer. A proud grin spread across his face. "She actually wanted manufactured glass. Can you believe it? Glass, in a dining room with restored brick walls."

"You worked your magic," Lily smiled, genuinely admiring the passion he poured into his projects. "Once you showed her the wood grain, I am sure she couldn't say no."

"I just know what belongs where," Jason replied, his gaze turning more intimate. He reached across the table, taking her hand. His thumb brushed her knuckles. "My parents want me to drive down to Galena this weekend. They are hosting a barbecue for my grandpa's birthday. I want you to come with me, Lily. They are dying to finally meet you."

A cold knot tightened in her stomach.

Lily pulled her hand back just a fraction, offering an apologetic grimace. "Sorry, Jason. I can't."

The rejection hung over the table.

Jason’s expression shifted, bracing for the excuse.

"The Vanguard proposal is in its final stages," Lily rushed to explain, hating the desperate edge in her voice. "We are so close to finishing the pitch, and I have to spend the weekend at the office finalizing the graphics. I just do not have the time to leave the city."