Just then, Audrey glided in wearing a white custom couture gown, a designer bag hooked over her arm.
The moment she spotted Anthony, a sweet smile bloomed across her face.
"Anthony! Traffic was a nightmare—I'm so late."
He left me behind and strode toward her, his arm sliding naturally around her waist.
Audrey seemed to notice me only then, covering her mouth in exaggerated surprise.
"Oh! Isn't that Layla? Long time no see—why are you dressed like this..."
A flash of vicious satisfaction flickered in her eyes, but her face stayed painted with concern.
"Have things been rough? You've gotten so thin you barely look like yourself."
She stepped closer. The hand holding her red wine trembled.
The wine splashed straight onto my chest.
I raised my hand to block her, and the back of my hand grazed her wrist.
"Ah!"
Audrey cried out as the glass shattered across the floor.
She clutched her wrist, eyes glistening, and looked at Anthony. "Anthony, I just wanted to say hello to Layla. She still blames me for taking you away."
The room went silent.
Anthony strode over, checked Audrey's wrist, then turned to me. "Layla, are you looking to die?"
The injustice—the bone-deep cold—made my whole body shake. "I didn't push her. She spilled it on herself."
"Why would Audrey spill red wine on herself?" He sneered. "Apologize to her."
No trust in his eyes. Only disgust.
Audrey tugged his sleeve, her voice soft. "Anthony, forget it. Layla didn't mean to. So many people are watching…"
His gaze on me turned colder. "Don't make me say it twice."
Whatever backbone I once had—whatever self-respect—had long since crumbled to dust in front of this man.
I bent toward Audrey. "I'm sorry, Ms. Swanson. I wasn't careful."
Anthony wasn't satisfied that I gave in so quickly.
He pointed at the row of liquor on the table. "Since it was 'not careful,' drink these to make up for it. Finish them, and we'll let this go."
Five or six bottles of hard liquor.
I looked up at him. "Mr. Vance, I have a serious stomach condition. If I drink that, I'll have internal bleeding."
"That's your problem."
He wrapped his arm around Audrey and walked away without looking back.
Everyone watched.
With trembling hands, I picked up the first glass.
The liquid slid down my throat, and burning pain flared through my stomach.
One glass. Two. Three…
By the fifth, my stomach spasmed.
I covered my mouth and rushed to the restroom.