Chapter 157
[ 474 words ]
Chapter 157:
Meeting his gaze made it harder than it should have been to refuse.
“Alright. Just one,” I said in a low voice.
Dances like this had never been my strength. With everyone watching, and with how close I had to stand to him, it only made things worse.
At the same time, I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me. The weight of his stare pressed against my back, sharp enough that I couldn’t ignore it.
Each step came out wrong, and I nearly stepped on his shoes more than once.
“Take it easy. Stay with me and follow,” Frank said softly.
𝖮r𝘨𝖺𝗻𝗂𝘻e yo𝘶𝗋 𝗹i𝗯𝘳𝖺r𝗒 on 𝘨𝖺𝗅𝗻ovе𝗹s.c𝗼𝘮
When the first song ended, I felt like I had barely made it through. Sweat had already gathered on my forehead.
I raised my hand at once, shaking my head to show I was done.
Even so, Frank didn’t pull away. He held my hand and said gently, “Let’s try one more. I’ll slow it down this time. You’re doing well, Lianne.”
Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I gave in.
As the next songs played, my steps started to fall into place. My movements steadied, and the tension in my body eased.
For a moment, I let myself drift and pushed the memory of that betrayal out of my thoughts.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed Ethan.
He sat in a nearby booth, ignoring the glasses raised around him. His face stayed dark, and his eyes never left me.
I didn’t let it get to me. All my attention stayed on the steps.
The whole thing felt ridiculous. He chose Ivy, yet he looked like the one who had been betrayed.
When the music stopped, the ballroom lights dimmed without warning.
A towering cake with ten layers was brought out. Fondant flowers and crystals covered every tier, and the candlelight made it look almost overly lavish.
Guests gathered around it, clapping as they sang.
In front of the cake, Ivy stood with a soft smile.
Once the song ended, the hall filled with applause.
“Do you want some? I can grab you a slice,” Frank said, looking at me.
“There’s no need,” I said with a faint smile. “I’ll head over myself. I should wish Ivy a happy birthday.”
As people began to move away, Ivy held the knife and asked who still hadn’t gotten a slice, putting on a shy act.
“I haven’t,” I said as I stepped forward. “Happy birthday, Ivy.”
The moment she saw me, her smile faltered. She hadn’t expected me to stand so calmly in front of her.
My eyes shifted to her right hand and settled on the diamond ring on her middle finger.
It was the same ring I had seen in Ethan’s car.
Even though I already knew the truth, seeing it again made my chest tighten. Still, the smile on my face didn’t fade. It only grew.
“Thank you, Lianne,” Ivy said, forcing her expression to hold.
Then, without a word, Ethan finally moved.
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