25. A Dinner-II

|| Lilac’s POV || In my past, for a fleeting moment, I had believed I was living in that fairy tale. Kael had stood before me, a vision of power and devotion, his golden eyes filled with something I had foolishly thought was love. His voice had been steady as he vowed to cherish me forever, his hands warm as they cradled mine. I had let myself be swept away, believing that this moment, this love, was mine to keep. But then she had arrived. Coco. Her presence was like a storm cloud blotting out the sun, an omen of something dark lurking beneath the surface of my perfect day. She moved through the crowd with quiet confidence, her delicate frame wrapped in a soft peach dress that made her look even more innocent, more fragile. But I knew better. I saw beyond the demure smile, beyond the carefully placed vulnerability in her wide eyes. I should have known then, should have trusted the instinct that screamed at me the moment she stopped before me. The entire ballroom had fallen silent. The