My breath caught in my throat, and before I knew it, I was walking towards him, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes landed on me, widening slightly as he took me in. His lips curled into a sneer, and he let out a soft chuckle.
"Oh, it’s you," he said, giving me a slow, mocking once-over. "How did you end up like this? It’s so embarrassing."
The sting of his words cut deep, but before I could respond, a voice chimed in from behind him.
"Honey, who are you talking to?"
I froze. That voice… I’d know it anywhere.
Linda.
She appeared beside William, her arm slipping through his as she smiled sweetly at him. When her gaze shifted to me, the smile faltered for just a second—just long enough for the truth to flicker in her eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by the same patronizing smile I’d seen countless times before.
"Oh, Evelyn," Linda cooed, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "I thought you’d be long dead by now. Guess you're tougher than I gave you credit for."
Her words sank in like poison, and before I could speak, William pulled her closer. They stood there, entwined in each other’s arms, right in front of me. I felt my fury boil, but my body trembled, powerless.