Chapter 10 The game is set
“Thank you, Mother,” Lilac replied, her smile stiff and strained. “You look lovely as well.”
Her father nodded in agreement, his eyes sweeping over them both with a critical gaze. He was always a man of little words, but Lilac was convinced it was not from refraining to speak, but having nothing important to say.
With a forced smile, Lilac nodded, and they made their way further into the room, greeting guests and exchanging pleasantries.
As the night wore on, Lilac searched the room for her sister, June. She knew that Jun had arrived later than her from her memory in her past life, but she could not help looking around.
Just as Lilac was beginning to feel suffocated by the stifling atmosphere, a familiar face caught her eye. Cathy, her friend, confidante, and undercover agent trying to destroy her family, stood at the edge of the room, a glass of champagne in hand.
Lilac’s face lit up with warmth she was not sure was genuine or not as she made her way over to her friend. She was not truly sure how she felt about Cathy now. She recalled that when Cathy had stepped forward to arrest her in laws in her past life; it had felt as though the sky had collapsed. She was not sure at this moment if she felt betrayed by her, but she definitely did not feel that this was her friend anymore. Eric following closely behind, his hand rested on her back for support.
“Cathy,” Lilac exclaimed, enveloping her in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
Cathy returned the hug with equal fervor, a smile lighting up her face. “Lilac, you look absolutely stunning,” she said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. It was unsure if she really meant it or was just a good actor.
Lilac laughed, a free and unrestrained sound that echoed through the room. “Thank you, Cathy. Coming from you, that means a lot.”
Eric nodded in agreement, his smile reserved and light, one would think it was not even there. “Cathy, it’s always a pleasure,” he said, extending his hand in greeting.
Cathy shook his hand warmly, her gaze flickering between the two of them. “Likewise, Eric. You two make quite the striking couple.”
As they chatted and laughed together, the weight of Lilac’s earlier tension seemed to melt away. For some reason, she was more confident than before. Every word Cathy uttered was no different from her past life. It made her realize that she had the advantage here, not Cathy, not her parents, and definitely not June.
On the other side of the room, Eric’s sister Helen, Damien and Harris stood with their wives, looking in Eric’s direction. Harris’ wife Greta raises a brow at Eric and Lilac’s figures.
“Did something happen? He is basically glued to her,” she commented.
“You would have thought that she would fly away,” Helen said.
“I have been seeing him glued to her all day, Something definitely happened,” Nancy, Damien’s wife, agreed. Before Damien could answer, His mother, Mrs. Black, stuck her head out of nowhere and spoke.
“Lilac asked for a divorce today,” Mr. Black chimed in and slipped away just as quickly as she came.
“Really?” Greta asked, mirroring all of their shock.
“What happened?” Harris asked with a frown.
“They fought over a document, she got hurt in the process. After that, she asked back the gift her parents sent to dad announcing that it is not necessary since they were getting a divorce,” Damien answered.
“Eric, really messed up,” Harris said.
“Since then, he has been stuck to her, it is as though he is afraid she will disappear,” Mrs. Black appeared out of nowhere again and chimed in.
“How did it get to that?” Helen asked.
“He should obviously not leave her side. He should be begging every single moment,” Greta said, and they all paused.
“What?” Greta asked when she saw the weird look they had in their eyes.
“I had thought you would be the first to enjoy her drama,” Nancy spoke the words they were all thinking.
“What enjoying drama? I am not mother,” she answered, and Mrs. Black’s purse smacked Harris’s back out of nowhere, before she slipped away again. Harris felt wronged, but the others were amused. His wife was the one who has said this, but he was the one who got hit.
“I just did not like the way she was trying too hard to fit in all the time, looking all weak, barely even opening her mouth. Someone would think she committed a crime or something,” Greta explained.
The ballroom buzzed with the energy of the party, the sound of laughter and music filling the air as guests mingled and danced. Lilac stood in a small circle with Cathy, making small talk.
“So, Lilac, I have not seen you sister yet, isn’t she coming?” Cathy asked, her eyes wandered around as she spoke.
“It’s fine. I heard that the ship has already left the docks. She should already be on the ship or she would have called me by now.” Lilac smiled, taking a sip of her drink before responding.
Cathy snorted in response, “So late, someone would think she was the host.”
Lilac chuckled, the sound light and airy. “I dare you to say it to her face, she has a habit of pulling people’s hair in anger.”
Eric suddenly excused himself from their conversation, leaning in close to whisper in Lilac’s ear. “I’m going to have a chat with Father and the brothers. I’ll be back soon.”
Lilac nodded in understanding, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Take your time, I’ll be here.”
She suppress her discomfort to smile naturally. They were already acting.
With a quick squeeze of her hand, Eric slipped away, making his way across the room to where his father and brothers stood in a small group.
“Look who finally unglued himself from his wife’s hip. A little second longer and you would have disappeared into her skin,” Helen taunted when she saw him.
“Work hard,” Harris patted his shoulder, “If you lose your wife, it will be too shameful,” he said.
“I need to talk to both of you and father,” Eric said to his brothers and their teasing seized.
“Now?” his father asked.
“Yes, father. Let us find somewhere quiet,” Eric nodded and led them to a nearby living room, away from the prying eyes and ears of the other guests.