When His Ex Walked Back In

te in hand, spotted me

ver, her smi

her one of those delightful little crab ca

s the buffet, then turned b

a guest, an architect at this firm, no

say, "Ms. Duv

look. "Don't be difficult,

d an unmistakable threat. Fru

veral colleagu

walked over, his arm immediate

ht, Bella?" His t

apé, darling. She seems a bit... r

't make things awkward. Just ge

pair. He sided with her, instan

red. Someone muttered,

me. Isolation. P

ck thereof, was

e floor to

mile, I nodded

eks burning. I picked up a sma

sical discomfort

, my hand trembling slightly.

ted it. The crab cake, sauce and all, slid off and la

r eyes wide with false innocence.

is felt deliberate, a physical

trying to endanger my

the whole thin

areful." Then to me, "Ava, go clean y

d. Profound disappointment. He

ind, to protect Isabelle

dy seeping into the fabri

ents like this, ruined.

wanted to screa

er own pristine white dress. "Oh

scule, almost invisib

idn't you? Because I asked yo

stice. This was a blat

ing!" I protested

d distress to my stained dress, then

t in his eyes. For a moment, I

"Marcus, she's always b

ed. Hope extinguished

ess you're wearing. It's a Thorne & Sterling design, isn

simple dress I

tolen it. Securi

treme humiliation.

vely trying

ards, hired for the e

ays you stol

Marcus could intervene – if h

dress and ripped it downwards

on. Pain.

ra, my skin. The room fell silent,

ated, publicly disr

nly appeared, pushi

re you doing?!" He quickly drap

pointing to the label now visible on my torn dress,

accusation

, feigned moue of remorse. "Oh. M

s voice devoid of any wa

eaked face, my ruined dr

rhaps it's best you go home. You're clear

mportant enough to

ltimate betrayal. This

n his eyes,