The soft chi of a champagne flute eting crystal echoed through the grand ballroom. Warm golden light bathed the scene, casting a dreamlike glow over the elegantly dressed guests. But to Elaine Monroe, the entire celebration felt like a cruel joke.
Standing in the corner, her hand clenched tightly at her side, she watched as the man she had loved for years—Alexander Sterling—stood beside her stepsister, Olivia. His hand rested lightly on Olivia's waist, his expression unreadable as he accepted congratulations from the elite businessn gathered around them.
Elaine's stomach twisted with bitterness. *He knew.* He had always known how she felt. And yet, here he was, standing where he was ant to be, beside another woman—her *stepsister*.
Her fingers tightened around the stem of her champagne glass. The cold liquid inside did nothing to numb the burning ache in her chest.
She had done this to herself. She had set herself up for destruction. *It's my fault,* she thought. *I should have never let myself love him.*
Her mother's fate was repeating itself. The sa foolish love. The sa tragic ending. Her mother had clung to love until it destroyed her, and now Elaine was walking the sa path—chasing a dream that was never ant for her.
"Elaine"
A deep voice jolted her from her thoughts. She turned and found herself face to face with Adrian, his sharp gaze locked onto her.
"Standing here won't change anything," he said, his tone firm yet unreadable.
Elaine swallowed hard, willing herself to stay composed. "I know." She exhaled, a humorless smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe I just want to see how much my heart can take. Maybe I wanted to ruin myself."
She turned her gaze back to the couple, her chest tightening with every passing second.
Swallowing back the pain, she forced a smile, lifted her glass, and stepped forward.
"Congratulations to the perfect couple," she said sweetly, though her voice held an edge of sothing unreadable.
Alex turned at her words, his piercing gaze eting hers. For a fleeting second, sothing flickered in his eyes—hesitation? Guilt? Regret?
Before she could dwell on it, Olivia leaned in closer to Alex, pressing against him like she belonged there. "Thank you, *sister*," Olivia said, her smile saccharine, her tone dripping with triumph.
Elaine's chest constricted, but she refused to let them see her crumble.
Lifting her glass, she downed the champagne in one gulp. The bitter taste was nothing compared to the hollow ache inside her.
The room suddenly felt suffocating. She needed to get out. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked toward the exit, her heart pounding with every step.
____
Outside, the crisp night air hit her like a slap. She wrapped her arms around herself, tilting her head back to look at the moon as her unshed tears finally spilled over.
Then, she sensed soone standing near her.
Adrian.
He didn't speak. He simply held out a tissue, his silent presence unraveling the last of her resolve.
Elaine took it, her fingers brushing against his. Dabbing at her tear streaked face . "Thankyou", she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian didn't respond right away. Instead , he looked up at the star -studded sky, his hands buried in his pocket. "Crying over him won't change what he did"
Elaine let out shaky breath "I know".
A pause. Then, softer,"you deserve better".
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