My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I refused to let them see me falter. I had already made up my mind—I would leave. Soon, none of this would matter.
So, I stood there, silent, enduring their mockery, because in the grand scheme of things, their words meant nothing. As long as they did not cross the line, they were not worth my breath.
Then, as if summoned by fate, Raphael’s presence cut through the suffocating air. His arrival silenced the jeering, but the relief that should have come with it never did.
Because my eyes landed on the crimson stain on his collar.
A perfect imprint of Colette’s red lipstick.
A bitter chuckle rose in my throat. So, they were not heading to the hospital but sneaking off to a bedroom for a quick tryst?
Raphael really just made his own downfall effortless for me.
But still, he acted as if he was my hero. "Leave. I want to be alone with Nadine," Raphael ordered, his voice low, almost dangerous.
His friends clicked their tongues in disappointment. "Tch, no fun," one muttered as they slinked away, leaving behind only the scent of expensive cologne and lingering malice.
Raphael turned to me, his gaze briefly softening as he took in the stain on my dress. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Feels like déjà vu, doesn’t it? Another ruined dress, another night where I’m the fool in this story. Just like the night of the accident a week ago. And the culprit….”
Before I could even finish, he cut me off. "Colette didn’t mean it. She was hurt too. Let’s not prolong this."
His words struck something deep inside me, something raw and fragile.
Oh. So that was how it was then. He had already made his choice, hadn’t he?
Colette’s warmth was enough to justify leaving me in the cold.
I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat and forced my expression into something unreadable. "Fine. Since I waited for you like promised, now I’m going home."
Raphael straightened, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Stay, please. You wouldn’t want to miss my speech after I’m announced as the next Moreau successor, would you?”
“In this dress?” I arched a brow, my voice laced with quiet defiance.
“That’s right,” he said smoothly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Then I’ll take you to a boutique nearby. Let’s get you something exquisite.”
“No need,” I said flatly, already stepping away.