Lily would be his, his alone, ultimately. He couldn't put it down.
Lily's body slightly trembled from sobbing: "Alex, you have a fiancée. You said in front of all the media that you love her. What do you take her for like this? And what do you take me for?"
Like this moment of clarity, Alex's hand fell. Tears flowed across her cheeks, but she did not cry out.
Alex once again embraced her shoulders, apologizing repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Lily. I'm sorry."
It's okay. Smelling the minty aroma of his body, Lily repeatedly said in her heart, "It's okay because I love you. So it doesn't matter how it is." She would never blame him or be angry with him.
*************************
"Mr. Carter, Miss Anderson, the meal is ready."
Henry, dressed in his butler uniform, stood at the doorway and announced at the perfect moment.
Only then did Alex let go of Lily and push her outside. Henry smiled and handed her a clean handkerchief.