Chapter 4
I didn't even flinch.
At thirty-four, I'd seen worse.
It was just a glass of wine.
After five minutes in the restroom, the door suddenly swung open.
I caught Adrian's reflection in the mirror.
"You okay?" he asked, his tone giving nothing away.
I turned around.
"I'm fine. Just a little wine stain," I said.
He looked at the dark mark on my shoulder, his brow twitching slightly.
"If you want to leave early, I'll have Celine handle the rest of the night," he said.
For a second, I almost thought he actually cared.
But then he said, "Serena didn't mean it. She was just a little nervous tonight. Don't take it to heart."
The excuse was laughable. I suddenly felt like laughing.
"I don't mind," I said. "Mr. Holt, you should get back. The guests are waiting for you."
He gave me a look.
Then he turned and walked out.
I heard Serena's voice from outside. "Adrian, where have you been? Everyone's waiting for you to give your speech."
His reply was so soft I couldn't make out what he said.
Then their footsteps faded away together.
I leaned against the sink for what felt like ages.
So that was my answer.
He made his choice. And it wasn't me.
I dropped my gaze and turned off the faucet.
When I stepped out of the restroom, everyone in the ballroom was raising their glasses for a toast.
Adrian stood on stage, Serena at his side, her arm linked with his. They faced the crowd, their smiles perfectly matched, like they were born to be together.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," Adrian said, his voice steady. "I hope you can all join us for the engagement ceremony next month."
Applause broke out.
Someone even whistled.
Serena leaned against his shoulder, looking all shy and sweet.
I stood in the shadows of the aisle, watching for a few seconds.
Then I bent down and picked up my bag from the chair.
It was time to go, time to put an end to it all.
I walked down the hallway toward the main entrance.
My heels clicked crisply against the marble floor.
"Evelyn, you're leaving already?" Serena called out from behind me.
I stopped and turned around.
She was standing alone in the middle of the hallway, still holding half a glass of champagne.
Celine and those women in green and red dresses were trailing behind her.
"The party's not over yet. What's the rush?" Serena said.
"I'm done with my work," I replied.
"Work?" Serena let out a laugh. "What's your job, anyway? Just following Adrian around?"
Celine stood behind Serena, lowering her head.
I didn't say a word.
Serena took a couple of steps forward, swirling her champagne glass in her hand.
"Evelyn, do you know why you'll always just be stuck on the sidelines, watching everyone else?" she said.
Her smile vanished.
"Because you're nothing, with no connections, no pedigree, just another worker running errands. Did you really think that after eight years at his side, you'd ever be one of us?" Serena sneered.
The people behind her stayed silent.
"The only reason you're even here is because he needs a convenient tool. That's all you are to him," Serena said.
She made sure I heard every word.
"So really, it's better that you're leaving. Saves me the trouble of showing you the door myself," she added.
I looked at her.
I didn't say a word.
It wasn't that I didn't want to respond.
I just didn't have the confidence.
She was right.
I really was nothing.
I turned and headed straight for the exit.
The click of my heels echoed through the deserted corridor.
As I reached the main entrance, I spotted a car parked outside.
It was black, unmarked, yet the license plate was one I could recognize in my sleep.
I stopped in my tracks.
Then the front door swung open from the outside.
A distinguished old man strode in.
His hair was pure white, his posture ramrod straight. He wore an unadorned deep gray overcoat, the fabric catching the light with a quiet, understated shine.
Four people followed behind him: two men and two women, all in immaculate suits.
The lobby staff snapped to attention.
The manager practically jogged over to greet him.
Someone in the hall recognized him first, and a hushed gasp echoed down the corridor.
"E-Edward Symons?"
It was like a chain reaction.
The people behind Serena all went pale.
Celine's mouth dropped open, and she couldn't close it.
Serena turned around, and when she saw Edward, she tightened her grip on her champagne glass.
"Why is he here?" she whispered to Celine.
No one answered her.
Because everyone was staring in the same direction.
Edward's gaze swept past the waiters, the manager, and everyone else in the hallway.
Then his eyes locked onto me.
He headed straight for me.