He was effortlessly charming, his smile perfectly curated as he entertained his guests. The sight of him made my blood boil. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to lash out.
Then, he turned and saw me.
For the briefest moment, shock flickered in his eyes before he masked it with feigned confusion. I steadied my breathing, lifted my chin, and strode toward him.
“E-Kristie?” His voice faltered, barely above a whisper.
I let a smirk play on my lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost, Gabriel."
He swallowed, his polished exterior cracking. "I… I wasn’t expecting you."
Without another word, I raised my hand and struck him across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed, but the crowd around us remained oblivious. Gabriel staggered slightly, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t retaliate.
"That was for everything you’ve done," I said, voice low and venomous.
He didn’t respond. The suffocating silence between us was louder than any words. I turned sharply and disappeared into the sea of guests before he could recover.
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