A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 52

Back at her family’s sprawling estate, Willow’s mind kept replaying her standoff with Matilda. The way Matilda had brushed her off with such nonchalance lit a fire in Willow. In a huff, she texted a group of her friends, rallying them for a night of drowning sorrows and mischief at the local pub, never expecting that she’d run smack into Evie.

Evie, the queen of the night scene, was cozied up in Yvan’s arms–a sight to behold since Yvan typically had the emotional range of a stone. His icy exterior was legendary, and the fact that he allowed a lady’s touch was nothing short of a miracle.

Willow stormed over, yanked Evie to her feet, and without so much as a by–your–leave, delivered a stinging slap across her cheek.

Evie might have been the talk of the town, with whispers of a less–than–stellar reputation trailing her like a shadow, but a public face–slapping was a first. She trembled with rage, her scream piercing the boozy hum of the pub, “What the hell! Have you lost your mind?”

Yvan looked up lazily at the commotion, his gaze landing on Willow.

Evie, tears welling in her eyes, ran to him, a perfect picture of wounded innocence. But Yvan just watched, his eyelids barely lifting, the epitome of disinterest.

to Yvan, “Yvan, how could you let

her.

as a society darling bruised, eyes rimmed red with the sting of

Ashton City, Sea City, River City, and Sapphire City combined! And now you

clutching her reddened cheek, felt her tears flow

How pristine could Matilda be? No matter, she vowed to drag her through the mud, to see her name in

emerged from the restroom right as Bennett Fuller

he cried

a fraction of a second, all eyes drawn

kaleidoscope of club lights, Matilda stood in a tailored cocktail dress, a delicate chain gracing her clavicle, her hair swept to one side, revealing the elegant line of her jaw and neck. Her lips parted slightly, makeup impeccable, her gaze cool