Chapter 10

Lily stared at him for a long moment. The man she once trusted. The man she once thought had some shred of decency. A quiet, bitter laugh escaped her throat. Her eyes shimmered, not from tears—but from the sting of betrayal. “No,” she said clearly. Murmurs rippled through the crowd again. Marina stepped in quickly, feigning innocence. “Lily, don’t be so stubborn. A simple sorry and we can be done.” “I have nothing to apologize for,” Lily snapped, her voice rising now, ringing through the room. Her hands trembled, her cheeks were flushed from shame and rage. David didn’t flinch. His expression remained unreadable, lips pressed into a firm line. "It’s just a friendly suggestion. Just do it" he said, tone too casual for the gravity of the moment. Lily’s throat tightened. Friendly suggestion? After being publicly accused and humiliated over something she didn’t do? Her hands curled into fists at her sides. A dozen words burned on her tongue, but she swallowed them, not wanting to create a