His arms wrapped around me in front of the crowd, the picture of a devoted husband. The room erupted in applause and I played along, nodding politely as he guided me through the night.
To the onlookers, we were the perfect couple. But I knew better. Each step, each smile, felt like an act, a final bow before the curtain fell.
Hours into the evening, I slipped away, seeking solitude by the pool. The moonlight reflected off the water, serene and indifferent to the chaos in my heart.
Evelyn approached, her gown shimmering as she swayed confidently. She twirled the hem of her dress, her lips curving into a mocking smile.
“Doesn’t it look stunning?” she purred. “Your husband bought it for me, along with every high-fashion gown in the city.”
She leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. “He told me himself—you’re nothing but an old, fat woman now. Someone like you could never be worthy of such luxury.”
Her words sliced through the air, but I stood firm, my expression unchanging.
The countdown had begun. Ten hours remained. And then, I would vanish. Forever.
Evelyn’s voice was a steady drip of venom, each word designed to wound.