Zoya’s Plan

Aria's eyes followed Alistair, tracing his movements with a longing look. Seeing many women approaching him, she tightened her grip on her glass and ground her teeth.

 "Lily, who's prettier, me or those women?"

 "You're the prettiest, the absolute prettiest."

 Aria sensed the insincerity, turned, and saw Lily's eyes fixed on the direction Edmond had gone. She nudged her with her elbow.

 "What are you thinking about?"

 Lily sighed, "Finding a way out. Edmond wants me to handle future awkward encounters. I'm trying to figure out how to move past things with Royce."

 It was a tough problem.

 Aria sighed too, giving up watching Alistair.

 "What solution is there? Unless your past with Royce never happened, or everyone gets amnesia."

 …Nadia had half an hour to apologize.

Alistair let Lily choose the timing, considering it was his birthday.

She didn't want to dampen the mood too early or interrupt the festivities, so she chose the end of the party.

 Aria personally called Nadia, instructing her and Royce to come up after midnight. But now it was past midnight, and there was no sign of them.

 "Did they chicken out?"

 Lily doubted it, "Nadia will do anything to marry Royce.

Now that she has this chance, it's more important than her dignity."

 Aria agreed.

 Seeing Aria's eyes still on Alistair, Lily nudged her.

 "Stop hovering around me. This is Alistair's birthday; you're his fiancée. You should be by his side."

 A scantily clad beauty was clinging to Alistair, who was slightly bent over, listening attentively to her. Aria's eyes dimmed.

 "He doesn't like me being around. It's his birthday; I don't want to upset him."

 Fiancée in name only. Aria had harbored a one-sided love for Alistair for years, but he was a playboy, a commitment-phobe, and she wasn't his type.

She had no expectations.

When Alistair's family pressured him to marry, she asked her grandfather to propose the engagement, thus becoming his fiancée.

 Alistair didn't love her, perhaps even disliked her, but he accepted her due to family pressure.

She chose this, so she had to endure his coldness.

 Watching him only hurt more, so Aria handed her drink to Lily. "I'm going to the bathroom."

 "Want me to come with you?"

 "No, you stay here for Nadia. If she doesn't chicken out, she'll be here soon."

 Watching Aria leave, Lily sighed softly. Both she and Aria had thorny paths in love, bleeding from any step forward or back.

After Royce's betrayal, Aria often called her a lovesick fool.

When Alistair's scandals surfaced, Lily tried to wake Aria up.

 But love is stubborn.

Words from others mean nothing until you're bleeding and broken.

Lily was already wounded; she knew the pain of letting go.

She hoped Alistair would change and that Aria's wish would come true.

At least one of them should be happy.

 Aria took a long time, and Nadia hadn't shown up.

Just as Lily was about to look for Aria, a waitress with a tray approached her.

 "Someone's looking for you outside." 

"Me?" 

"Yes." 

The second floor was reserved for the party, with invitations bearing Alistair's name as the only ticket.

The third floor was for the private rooms of Edmond and the club's shareholders. Ordinary guests couldn't go up there.

Anyone on the second floor had an invitation.

 Lily thought it might be someone from the party wanting a private chat. She went to the elevator, finding it quiet and empty.

Puzzled, she saw a door open nearby.

Seeing Nadia, she was momentarily stunned.

 "You came but didn't join the party. Why did you bring me here?"

 Nadia pulled her into the hallway, closing the door.

 "This event was set up by Edmond for you.What can I do? I'm just begging you, please don't make me go up there. I can kneel here."

 She had peeked into the hall. She didn't expect Alistair to invite so many people. Facing a crowd like that to admit being a homewrecker would drive anyone mad. So she decided to use Zoya's method.

 "Let you go? How is this my fault?"

 Lily raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on her lips.

 "I've already called off the engagement for you. If you had any decency, you'd have knelt and thanked me. Instead, you blame me for your mess. You want to marry Royce but refuse to keep your promise?"

 Lily stepped forward, cornering Nadia, her pale fingers gripping Nadia's chin.

 "Do you know why I've tolerated your provocations behind Royce's back?"

 Nadia, forced to tilt her head back, replied, "You don't dare. You know Royce will protect me. You don't dare anger him."

 Lily laughed coldly, "Don't dare? What is there that I don't dare?"