She walked over and linked her arm through mine, her voice sickly sweet.
“Ella worked so hard. Of course, she should join us. We can add a chair for her right next to me.”
As she spoke, she leaned in and whispered in my ear, her voice dripping with venom.
“How does it feel watching me and Mark so in love being celebrated by everyone? Does it feel like your heart is being ripped out? Don’t worry, the best is yet to come.”
I looked up at her triumphant face and I smiled. Great. My reaction clearly surprised her. She had expected anger, jealousy, shame, not this calm, almost eerie smile. Shaking it off, she pushed me into a small stool they had squeezed between chairs. It was lower than the table, forcing me to sit hunched over like a servant waiting for scraps.
Carol cleared her throat, stood up, and raised her glass.
“Today is my 60th birthday. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with this old lady,”
she announced, beaming.
“And on this happy occasion, I have some wonderful news to share.”
All eyes were on her. She took Lily’s hand and held it up high as if showcasing a priceless trophy.
“This is the future lady of our house, Lily Evans. She and my son Mark are getting engaged next month.”
As for a certain person who refuses to leave, her gaze shot towards me like a dagger.
“Our family will soon be sweeping her out like the trash she is.”
A smattering of applause and congratulations filled the room. Mark stood up proudly, wrapped his arm around Lily’s waist, and gave her a kiss, drawing cheers from the crowd. Lily, like a triumphant princess, soaked it all in. She leaned down and whispered to me again,
“Did you hear that? I’m getting engaged to Mark next month, and you’ll be kicked out like a dog. You’ve lost Ella. You’ve lost everything.”
I looked at the glittering diamonds on her neck, bought with stolen money. I looked at the happy smile on Mark’s face, built on my pain. I looked at the smug expression on Carol’s face paid for with her own foolishness. My hands hidden under the table, clenched into tight fists, my nails digging into my palms. But my face remained calm, a slight smile on my lips.
I looked up meeting Lily’s taunting gaze and spoke loud enough for those nearby to hear.
“Is that so? Well, congratulations to you all.”
My tone was so placid it was unnerving. I ignored their stares and continued.
“But since it’s such a lively party with all our friends and family here, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce someone, too.”
My words silenced the room. Everyone looked at me, ready for the drama. Carol frowned.
“Ella, what tricks are you trying to pull now? This is my birthday. If you dare cause a scene, I’ll make you regret it.”
Mark glared at me.
“Ella, don’t push your luck.”
I smiled and glanced at my phone. Right on time. I stood up, scanned the room, and announced,
“He’s a very important friend of mine. I think you’ll all be very interested to meet him.”
With that, I clapped my hand softly towards the front door. Ding-dong. The doorbell rang perfectly on Q. Every head swiveled towards the entrance.
“Who is it?” Carol muttered, annoyed.
“I’ll get it.”
I walked towards the door with a calm, deliberate pace, each step landing on their thudding heartbeats. A flash of unease crossed Lily’s face. She sensed something was wrong, but couldn’t place it. I grasped the doornob, took a deep breath, and pulled the door open.
A man stood on the threshold. He was tall and imposing, dressed in an expensive custom-tailored charcoal suit. His hair was perfectly styled, his features handsome, his presence radiating a powerful aura that instantly dwarfed the cheap glamour in the room. It was Alex. Behind him stood two other men in black suits looking like his security detail.
Everyone stared speechless. They had never seen anything like this outside of a movie. Carol and Mark were frozen, their mouths a gape. But Lily, the moment she saw who it was, all the color drained from her face. Her pupils contracted in terror, and she began to tremble uncontrollably. The wine glass in her hand slipped shattering on the floor.
I stepped aside, smiled at the stunned audience, and made the introduction.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet, Mr. Alex Sterling, my business partner.”
Then I turned to the pale, terrified Lily, my voice dripping with faux innocence.
“Oh, Lily, what’s wrong? You look so pale. Do you know Mr. Sterling.”
Every eye zeroed in on Lily. Her lips trembled, her eyes filled with a desperate fear. In a voice barely louder than a whisper, she choked out a single word.
“Husband.”
Boom. The word was a depth charge exploding in the quiet living room. Everyone was stunned. Husband. This powerful, intimidating man was Lily’s husband. Then what was Mark? The golden goose Carol was so proud of was a married woman, an adulteress. In an instant, the expressions on the faces in the room became a priceless collage of shock, disgust, disbelief, and shodden. Freuda, Carol’s face went from red to purple to ash and white. She staggered, nearly collapsing before a relative caught her. Mark was thunderruck, rooted to the spot. He stared at Lily, then at the man who outclassed him in every conceivable way, his mind completely shortcircuiting.
“Lily, is it true?” he stammered.
Lily had completely fallen apart. She slumped in her chair, her face gray, unable to speak. As the director of this little play, I simply stood by and savored every delicious moment.
Alex’s face was unreadable. He stroed into the room, his leather shoes clicking on the hardwood floor. Each step a hammer blow to the miller’s hearts. He stopped in front of Lily, looking down at her with cold, empty eyes.
“Hello, darling. It’s been a while.”
His voice was quiet, but carried a chilling pressure.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself here.”
He glanced at the gaudy necklace around her neck, a scornful smile playing on his lips.
“Using my money to keep your lover in your lover’s house. You’ve got some nerve, Lily.”
“No, Alex, it’s not what you think. Let me explain.”
Lily finally found her voice scrambling to grab his suit jacket, but he sidestepped her with disgust.
“Explain.” Alex sneered. “Explain how you used a fake investment scheme to defraud this gentleman and his mother of their $500 retirement fund. or explain how you embezzled over $3 million from my company through Shell Corporations.”
One of his assistants stepped forward and handed him a folder. Alex slammed it onto the dining table.
“This contains every single one of your wire transfers, every hotel receipt from your trrists with Mr. Miller here. And all the evidence of your fraudulent contracts. Lily, you’re facing charges for embezzlement and felony fraud. The amount is substantial. I’ve already called the police. They should be here any minute.”
At the mention of the police, the last trace of color vanished from Lily’s face. She slid from her chair and crumpled to the floor in a heap. Carol’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she fainted, collapsing onto the sofa. The room erupted into chaos.
Amid the pandemonium, Mark stared at the mess at Lily on the floor at the damning documents on the table. He finally understood he had been the world’s biggest fool. He’d been played, lost his family’s life savings, and worshiped the con artist like a goddess throwing away his actual wife for her. He whipped his head around to look at me. His eyes were a chaotic mix of shock, regret, and a desperate plea. I just met his gaze with a cold, triumphant smile. The show was just getting started.
Just then, my phone rang. I answered it and put it on speaker. A calm, professional voice came through.
