The Bride Confronts, The Cousin Strikes Back
Unable to contain herself, Lydia marched over mid-dance. “I didn’t know you knew William,” she said sharply, eyes darting between them.
William smiled politely, keeping his hand steady on Hannah’s back. “Old friends. Reconnected recently. Taking things slow.”
The meaning was clear, the delivery smooth, and Lydia’s smile faltered.
When she tried to regain control, William struck the final blow:
“What I’ve seen tonight isn’t care for your sister—it’s cruelty. A table in the corner. Public jokes about her being single. That’s not love. That’s humiliation.”
The ballroom fell silent. Lydia’s mask cracked, and she retreated, her gown trailing like defeat.
