One week later, the engagement party finally arrived.
The event was being held at one of the most prestigious hotels in the city, where the ballroom had been transformed into an elegant sea of white and gold.
Crystal chandeliers glittered above the guests, while enormous arrangements of fresh flowers decorated the tables and the entrance.
Everything looked expensive without being overly flashy.
The guest list was equally impressive.
Business executives, wealthy families, famous actors, singers, fashion designers, and influential figures from different industries filled the ballroom.
Since Lillian was a celebrity, several entertainment reporters and photographers had also been invited.
Everyone knew that Lillian Moore was getting engaged.
What they did not know was the identity of the man she was marrying.
That mystery had already caused endless speculation online.
Inside one of the private rooms, Lillian stood in front of the mirror while Evelyn adjusted the final details of her dress.
The elegant gown fitted her perfectly, making her petite figure look even more delicate.
Her hair had been styled beautifully, and the jewelry around her neck and ears caught the light whenever she moved.
Evelyn smiled proudly.
“My daughter looks beautiful.”
Lillian looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
“Of course I do.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You really have no modesty.”
“I’m just being honest.”
Downstairs, Victor and Alexander were already welcoming guests while Perry moved around looking for desserts.
Across the ballroom, Ryan was standing beside Edward, looking at the crowd with amusement.
“Grandfather, how long do you think Perry can stay away from the dessert table?”
Edward glanced toward him.
“Not long.”
Ryan laughed.
“You know him too well.”
The engagement ceremony was about to begin when Lillian finally entered the ballroom with Victor.
The room immediately became quiet.
Dozens of heads turned toward her.
Cameras flashed from different directions as people admired the bride-to-be.
“She looks beautiful.”
“She really does.”
“She’s much prettier in person.”
“She’s an actress, right?”
“Yes.
She’s still a C-list actress, I think.”
Most of the guests spoke politely, but not everyone was pleased to see her there.
Near one of the tables stood Isabella, Adrian’s stepmother’s cousin, surrounded by several of her friends.
Isabella looked Lillian up and down before taking a sip of her drink.
“So that’s her.”
One of her friends smiled faintly.
“She doesn’t look like someone who would marry into the Sterling family.”
Another friend glanced toward the stage.
“She’s just an actress.”
Isabella’s lips curled into a small smile.
“She must be very lucky.”
The women exchanged amused looks.
Lillian happened to hear them as she passed.
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned around.
The smile on her face remained, but her eyes became noticeably colder.
“Was there something you wanted to say to me?”
The conversation around the women immediately stopped.
Isabella smiled sweetly.
“Oh, nothing serious.
We were only talking.”
“About me?”
“No.”
Lillian looked at the glass in Isabella’s hand, then back at her.
“Then why did you stop talking when I came over?”
A few nearby guests quietly turned their attention toward them.
Isabella’s expression tightened.
“You seem rather sensitive.”
Lillian gave a small laugh.
“No.
I’m actually very patient.”
She stepped closer.
“But if you’re going to talk about me, at least have enough courage to say it while I’m standing here.”
The atmosphere became tense.
One of Isabella’s friends scoffed.
“You’re only getting engaged today.
You don’t have to act as though you’ve already become a Sterling.”
Lillian raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t need to act like anything.”
Another woman laughed.
“You’re an actress.
Maybe you’re simply good at pretending.”
Lillian smiled.
“Thank you.”
The woman blinked.
“For what?”
“For reminding me that pretending is my profession.
But judging by this conversation, some of you seem to be doing a much better job than I am.”
Several guests immediately lowered their heads, trying to hide their reactions.
Isabella’s smile disappeared.
Lillian calmly picked up a glass from the table.
“What?”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed.
“You really think you’re better than everyone here?”
“No.”
Lillian took a small sip.
“I just don’t think being wealthy gives anyone permission to be rude.”
That answer made several guests glance at one another.
Isabella’s face flushed.
“Don’t act so proud.
Without your engagement to the Sterling family, would anyone here even care about you?”
Lillian’s expression remained calm.
“Perhaps not.”
She placed her glass down.
“But fortunately, I’m not here to beg anyone to care about me.”
Isabella’s friend suddenly picked up her own drink.
“You’re really irritating.”
Before Lillian could respond, the woman raised the glass and attempted to throw the drink directly at her.
Lillian reacted instantly.
She stepped aside.
The drink flew past her and splashed onto the floor.
Gasps filled the surrounding area.
The woman stared at Lillian in disbelief.
“You—”
Lillian didn’t wait for another word.
Slap!
The sound echoed across the ballroom.
The woman stumbled sideways, clutching her cheek.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Lillian looked at her coldly.
“You tried to throw a drink at me.”
The woman stared at her.
“You slapped me!”
“Yes.”
Lillian nodded calmly.
“You tried to pour a drink on me.
I dodged.
Then I slapped you.
I don’t see the confusing part.”
Isabella stepped forward angrily.
“How dare you hit my friend!”
Lillian looked at her.
“How dare she throw a drink at me?”
“You’re just an actress!”
“And?”
Isabella grabbed another glass from the table.
“If you think you’re so powerful—”
She lifted the glass.
Lillian’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t.”
Isabella ignored her and moved to pour the drink.
Lillian stepped backward just as the liquid came toward her.
Again, it missed.
Before Isabella could recover, Lillian caught her wrist and slapped her across the face.
Slap!
The ballroom became completely silent.
Isabella stood frozen.
Her friends were equally stunned.
Lillian released her wrist and calmly straightened her dress.
“You should really stop wasting expensive drinks.”
Nobody knew what to say.
Even the photographers had stopped taking pictures.
Everyone was staring at the petite actress standing in the middle of the ballroom as though they had just discovered that the person they thought was delicate had a very different personality.
Then footsteps sounded from behind the crowd.
Adrian had finally arrived.
He had been speaking with Edward and a few business guests in another part of the hotel and had not witnessed the beginning of the argument.
As he walked toward Lillian, the room seemed to hold its breath.
Lillian saw him.
Her expression changed instantly.
The coldness disappeared.
Her shoulders relaxed.
Her eyes became soft.
She walked toward him with an almost pitiful expression.
“Adrian…”
He looked at her.
“What happened?”
Lillian glanced at the women behind her before lightly touching his arm.
“they are bullying your fiancee.”she said softly with little tear on her eyes
Adrian’s eyebrow lifted.
“they bullied you?”
“Yes.”
She nodded innocently.
“I didn’t do anything.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
The guests stared at her.
A few people almost couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
One woman whispered,
“She just slapped two people.”
Adrian clearly heard it.
He looked at Lillian for a moment.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, he placed an arm around her shoulders.
His expression remained calm.
“Please don’t bully my wife.”
The entire room went silent again.
Adrian looked at the women.
“My wife is weak.”
Lillian immediately leaned slightly closer to him.
“Exactly.”
Several guests stared at her.
One man’s mouth actually fell open.
Another woman whispered in disbelief,
“Weak?”
Someone else murmured,
“You call that weak?”
“She dodged a drink twice!”
“And slapped them twice!”
“She was the one bullying them!”
Ryan turned his face away, trying desperately not to laugh.
Perry covered his mouth.
Edward’s lips twitched.
Even Alexander had to look away.
Adrian, however, remained completely serious.
He gently patted Lillian’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll protect you.”
Lillian lowered her eyes innocently.
“Thank you.”
The contrast was so ridiculous that several guests didn’t know whether to laugh or remain silent.
Adrian looked toward the women.
“If there is a problem, speak to me.”
Nobody answered.
The women immediately lowered their eyes.
Lillian secretly smiled.
She knew exactly what Adrian was doing.
And Adrian knew exactly what she was doing.
Neither of them exposed the other.
A moment later, Edward stepped forward and cleared his throat.
“Since everyone is here, perhaps we should begin the engagement ceremony.”
The guests quickly returned their attention to the stage.
Lillian walked beside Adrian, still wearing her innocent expression.
Ryan leaned toward Perry.
“She is definitely not weak.”
Perry whispered back.
“Not even a little.”
Ryan glanced at Adrian.
“And Adrian knows.”
Perry grinned.
“Of course he knows.”
The ceremony soon began.
Edward gave a short speech about family and marriage, followed by Victor, who spoke warmly about his daughter and his happiness at seeing her begin this new chapter of her life.
Then Adrian took the microphone.
He looked toward Lillian.
“I don’t know what the future will look like,” he said calmly, “but I’m happy she’s the person I’m going to share it with.
I want to understand her better, support her, and build something real with her.”
Lillian looked at him for several seconds before smiling.
The rings were brought forward.
Adrian took Lillian’s hand and carefully placed the engagement ring on her finger.
Then Lillian placed his ring on his finger.
Applause filled the ballroom.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations to the couple!”
“They look beautiful together.”
Lillian looked down at the ring before looking at Adrian.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian smiled slightly.
“Happy?”
Lillian nodded.
“Very.”
Around them, cameras continued flashing while their families smiled proudly.
And although the guests had arrived wondering who Adrian Sterling was engaged to, they left with a much more interesting question on their minds.
How could a woman everyone thought was delicate be so terrifying when someone crossed her?
And why did Adrian Sterling seem perfectly happy calling that woman weak?
For Lillian and Adrian, however, the engagement was only the beginning.
Their wedding was now one month away.
Because that slap said something completely different!
And Adrian calling her “weak” after seeing her performance… I can’t!
What do you think about their little act?
Tell me in the comments!
New chapters every day, so don’t forget to read, rate, and review!