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Once the tears subsided into ragged hiccups, Lily poured a glass of water from the carafe and pressed it into Gemma's trembling hands.

Gemma took a sip, trying to catch her breath. She looked up, her mascara smudged, laying her soul completely bare. "I saw the relief on his face days later. He started going to therapy. He distanced himself from me. And then, out of nowhere, he announced he was moving to the States for 'work'." She let out a tragic, tear-filled laugh. "I knew it was for you."

Lily shook her head, an overwhelming sense of pity filling her chest for the woman sitting in front of her. "He wasted his time. I don't want anything to do with him, Gemma. I'm with someone else. Someone I love."

Gemma stared at her in sheer disbelief. "Ethan is convinced you two are getting back together."

"Ethan is delusional," Lily countered, her voice firm and resolute. "If he thinks I will ever give him another chance, he's out of his mind. What he feels for me is not love. A man who truly loves you doesn't cheat without remorse. That is not love."

"I love him," Gemma whispered, her fingers clutching the glass of water like a lifeline.

Lily looked down at the broken woman. She saw a tragic reflection of a cycle she had barely escaped herself. "I know. I can see that now. But you should expect more for yourself, Gemma."

Gemma didn't say another word. She set the glass on the table, wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, and walked out of the room, leaving nothing but devastation in her wake.

***

The door of Lily's office swung open. Ethan marched into the room, his face flushed with panic. He ignored Sarah, who sat in the corner chair reviewing a campaign file.

"Lily," Ethan started, his voice frantic as he closed the door behind him. "I just saw Gemma leaving the elevators. I have no idea what she said to you, but you can't believe a word of it. It's all lies."

Lily remained seated behind her desk. She didn't flinch. "No, Ethan. The lies were yours."

Ethan stepped closer to her desk, running a desperate hand through his hair. "You know how she is. She's manipulative. She's trying to ruin us because she knows we're finding our way back to each other. Whatever she spun, it's a twisted version of reality."

"Don't try to gaslight me," Lily warned, her tone devoid of any emotion. "You sat across from me at dinner and used your medical diagnosis to gain my pity. You made me feel compassion for the broken man who pushed me away. But your diagnosis wasn't the reason you stayed in London. You didn't come after me because you were too busy building a family with the woman you cheated on me with."

Ethan froze. The color drained from his face. "Lily, I—"

"A family," Lily continued, her voice sharp and unrelenting, "that I never would have known about if Gemma hadn't walked into this office today. You played the victim. You let me believe your absence was born of shame, when in reality, you were planning a wedding."

"I lost my mind," Ethan pleaded, his polished executive facade shattering into pieces. He reached out, his hands trembling over the edge of her desk. "I was terrified. I made a mistake, but I never stopped loving you. Please, Lily. I'm sorry. Forgive me."

Before Lily could respond, Sarah stood up from the corner chair, dropping the file onto the table with a loud, resounding smack.

Ethan jolted, finally registering her presence in the room.

"You need to get out of our agency," Sarah commanded, her voice ringing with sheer authority. "Right now."

Ethan scowled at her. "This is a private conversation, Sarah. Stay out of it."

"This is my firm," Sarah fired back. She walked around the desk to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lily, presenting a united front. "And you're trespassing. I'm calling the Vanguard executive board this afternoon. You're being removed from our account today. We don't want your interference, and we don't want you in this building ever again."

Ethan looked back at Lily, searching for any shred of mercy. He found none.

"Get out, Ethan," Lily stated.

The frosted glass door pushed open wider. Julian stepped into the office, his imposing frame filling the doorway.

"You heard the ladies," Julian said, his voice a lethal, uncompromising command.

Lily looked over at Sarah’s husband, a rush of profound gratitude washing over her, and offered him a relieved smile.

Ethan spun around, his jaw clenched, ready to argue.

Julian didn't give him the chance. "I just got off the phone with Vanguard's executive board. You're officially off this account, Ethan. Pack your things, head to O'Hare, and don't ever show your face in Chicago again."

Julian stepped aside, gesturing toward the corridor. "I'll gladly escort you to the elevators."