CHAPTER FOUR

Angelie hadn’t slept.

She’d lain in that enormous bed all night, staring at the ceiling, not blinking, not crying. Just… existing. Her body buzzed like it was on the edge of shutting down, but her mind wouldn’t quit. It just kept playing one line on repeat:

Jeffery’s coming.

Today.

To this house.

And he’d see her.

In this dress. With that man.

A new dress had been laid out for her, ivory again. Almost white. Pretty, expensive. Lucas had chosen it. Probably with a smirk. Because nothing he did was ever neutral.

She wore it anyway.

What was the point in fighting something you couldn’t escape?

**********

Downstairs, the house was buzzing with quiet chaos. Maids moved fast, fixing flowers, adjusting silverware. The long table was already dressed like royalty was expected.

Angelie walked in, shoulders tight, face blank. Then she saw it:

Jeffery Lu

Printed in neat, expensive script on a place card.

Directly across from her.

Her throat closed.

She turned, ready to leave, no explanation, just run.

But Lucas was already behind her. She didn’t know how he always did that.

“Don’t,” he said softly. Not kind. Just controlled. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“I can’t do this,” she said.

“Yes, you can. You will.”

She faced him, jaw clenched. “Why are you doing this to him?”

Lucas smiled, just a little. “Because he deserves to lose something for once.”

Before she could respond, the family started arriving.

Amaya, quiet and watchful as always.

Morris, stiff and formal.

Grandpa Lu, grumbling about being hungry, tapping his cane like it could end conversations.

Then Jeffrey walked in.

No warning. No sound. Just him.

Black suit. No tie. Hair slightly messed like he hadn’t slept—or had slept badly. His eyes locked on hers the second he stepped in.

Angelie froze.

He didn’t look shocked.

Just... cold.

He took the seat across from her like it didn’t matter. Like she didn’t matter.

And that, somehow, hurt more than anything.

Brunch was a nightmare in slow motion.

Lucas kept playing the perfect husband. Smiling too much. Touching her arm, her waist, her hand, like he was trying to stake a claim.

Angelie wanted to scream.

She didn’t touch her food. Neither did Jeffery.

The family pretended nothing was wrong.

Then Lucas reached under the table and grabbed her hand.

Tight.

Possessive.

She yanked away, too late.

Jeffery stood.

His chair scraped loudly against the tile. His jaw was locked.

“I have a meeting.”

Grandpa Lu looked up, annoyed. “You’ll sit and finish.”

Jeffery’s eyes didn’t move from Lucas. “I’m done.”

He left without looking back.

Angelie couldn’t breathe.

Lucas leaned over, voice low and smug. “That went well, don’t you think?”

She didn’t answer.

Because if she spoke, she might scream.

*************

She made it to her room before the sobs came.

Not soft, pretty ones.

The kind that made your ribs ache.

The kind that left your skin sticky and your lungs begging for air.

She sat on the cold floor until her body stopped shaking.

Then she stood.

Looked in the mirror.

And didn’t recognize herself.

That night, her room stayed quiet. Lucas didn’t show up. No creepy speeches. No new threats. Just silence.

Until almost midnight.

There was a knock.

Soft. Careful.

Angelie didn’t want to answer it. But she did.

And froze.

It was Julia.

Her best friend.

Holding a tray with two wine glasses balanced on it. The wine was dark red, almost black in the low hallway light.

Angelie blinked. “You’re still up?”

Julia tried to smile. It didn’t reach her eyes.

“Lucas asked me to bring this to you. Said you might need it. You know…” she shrugged, forcing casualness, “to take the edge off.”

Angelie stepped aside. “He sent you?”

Julia nodded, walking in.

She placed the tray down gently on the nightstand, like it was delicate. Or maybe she was stalling. She wiped her hands on her skirt afterward, even though they weren’t dirty.

Angelie watched her closely. “Are you okay?”

Julia hesitated. “I don’t know. Are you?”

They looked at each other a second too long.

And then Julia reached out and smoothed Angelie’s hair like she used to in college, when things were simpler. When love didn’t come with price tags and hidden claws.

“I’m sorry it’s like this,” Julia whispered.

Angelie didn’t know what to say.

“You should try to rest,” Julia added, already moving to the door. “Things might look different in the morning.”

She paused in the doorway. Turned back.

And gave Angelie a small, strange smile. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Then she left.

************

Angelie stood there for a moment, staring at the wine.

She didn’t usually drink. Not alone. Not like this.

But tonight felt like it wasn’t even hers. Like she was watching someone else’s life crumble in slow motion.

So she picked up one of the glasses.

Took a small sip.

It tasted stronger than she expected.

She sat on the bed, glass still in hand, letting the silence close around her.

At 12:37 a.m., her phone buzzed.

Blocked Number

Room 318. Come alone.

Her heart stuttered.

She stared at it. Blinked once. Then typed:

“Who is this?”

No answer.

But something inside her already knew.

She got up, smoothed the robe over her dress, slipped on soft flats, and left the room.

The hallways were empty.

Dead quiet.

She took the back staircase. Avoided the security cameras. Lucas had eyes everywhere.

By the time she reached Room 318, her fingers were cold.

She knocked once.

The door opened instantly.

Jeffery.

No tie. Sleeves rolled. Eyes like he hadn’t slept. Or like he’d seen something he couldn’t forget.

He didn’t say anything.

She didn’t either.

He stepped back.

She stepped in.

The door clicked shut behind her.

And with it, every line they hadn’t crossed before blurred into nothing.