On the day of the banquet, everything looked perfect. Lights everywhere, soft music, people laughing like this house actually had warmth in it. I stood at the entrance in a light blue dress, greeting guests one by one, smiling like I always did. Like I wasn’t already gone inside.
Then he walked in.
Hudson.
And beside him was Amber.
Her arm hooked around his, leaning into him like she belonged there. She wore something soft and pretty, pale pink, light like she was fragile. She looked up at him, smiling. And he looked back.
God… he looked back.
That was when I understood.
He already fixed everything with her.
Of course he did.
His eyes never left her the whole night. When her glass got empty, he noticed right away.
“Don’t give her that,” he said, voice low but firm. “Get her something lighter. She doesn’t drink much.”
When her dress shifted a little, he frowned and called someone over.
“Fix it properly. Don’t let it drag.”
She laughed at something, eyes curved, soft… and he actually smiled. Not that cold, distant smile. A real one.
I stood there watching for a second too long.
Then I looked away.
What was I even expecting?
He never looked at me.
Not once.