The Billionaire's Regret: A Silent Amends

nversation, the clinking of champagne gl

ed in their finest, moved

d. Her simple party dress, the best I could afford

rious stares, whisper

green, was already working t

potte

she glided over, a few well

it. And little... Lily." She made Lily'

An old... ward of Ethan' s. You

nd "before our time" was

s were polite, the

ria continued, her voice carrying.

dren change one' s life so

' s so... brave of you to c

they know? Or what

lush creep

y," I said, m

course she is. Now, do try

aving us in a smal

I heard a snippet of c

, after all Ethan

nable choice

was a public shaming, o

o grab Lil

dimmed slightly. A hus

tage, looking impossibl

nt, resonant, talking about the foun

e. Or if he did,

a ghost from a

ching him with an adoring, possess

d. "Mommy, can we

baby.

eech, applau

ictoria was immediately

nd me, and then she deliberatel

d to see us standi

ll on Lily,

e softer now, away from the

," I co

"Isn' t it wonderful, Ethan?

s eyes searching. "Your husban

as. The a

th. "No. He'

ruth. That there was no hus

g eyes, with Victoria smirking beside hi

clear and firm, looking him straight in the eye

ness, perhaps by the implication I was a married woman, a mot

s rippled through

le faltered for

or words. He opened hi

t Lily, the

nodded slowl

g Victoria to lead him away towards

ment p

strangely liberated by th

again. The conve

phere around

d, her head drooping aga

ooping her into my arms. "Le

ut the gala, about

away from this, to find a s

deserted alcove ne

Lily curled up on my l

the party fel

d this night