HILDA’S POV

A wave of gasps erupted through the room at my declaration. Everyone turned to look at Lillian, their gazes demanding that she somehow explain why she was lying.

Her mouth fell wide open as rapidly as it closed. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to out her like that but I couldn’t care less. I did not in any way owe her any commitment.

If not for anything, I have stayed silent, kept my head down, let her have what she wanted for so long. But no, not this time.

Wilson stiffened beside me, his jaw clenching as he cut me a hard glare. I could see his chest heaving up and down with simmering, but I couldn’t care less.

I’ve had enough of his humiliation and I wasn’t going to act like he owns me anymore.

Eleanor, his mother, shot up from her chair, her face contorting into a grimace as she cut Lillian a deadly glare.

She vehemently slammed her palms onto the big round table, the glasses of wine trembling with a clinking noise as they threatened to shatter.

Caught unaware, the guest's gaze moved between me, Wilson, and Lillian.

“Then what the hell are you doing here, Lillian?” she shouted, her sharp voice piercing through the murmurs of the crowd.

Yes, Madam Eleanor wasn’t one to be played with. She’s always been selective of the kind of people that she kept in her circle and Lillian definitely stood no chance of getting in.

It was Madam Eleanor who ensured that Lillian leave town when Wilson and I got engaged. She simply didn't like how Lillian was throwing herself at Wilson after we lost our baby.

Lillian shook but quickly masked her fear by tilting her chin up defiantly. “I… I was invited,” she stammered, her voice shaking just a little.

Madam Eleanor let out a cold empty laugh, her gaze scrutinizing her head to toe in disgust as she demanded, “Invited? By who? Certainly not me, and clearly not Hilda. So tell me. Who the hell let you in here?”

Lillian’s eyes darted to Wilson and then back to Eleanor, “I only came because I wanted to support Wilson,” she answered with feigned confidence. “He’s still my friend after all.”

“Mom, maybe you should calm down,” Jason, Wilson’s younger brother, spoke up gently, trying to ease the tension.

Eleanor’s glare shot to him instantly. “Will you shut up? Jason!” Eleanor commanded.

He sank back into his chair, raising his hands in surrender.

Wilson’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, his eyes fixated on the table but he wasn't looking at anything in particular.

He looked like he wanted to say something but was restraining himself.

“Get out,” Eleanor snarled, pointing a finger toward the grand entrance. “Get out now before I have the guards throw you out!”

Lillian’s face flushed with embarrassment as she stole glances around through the corner of her eyes.

She glanced back at Wilson, hoping that he would defend her, but no. He didn’t even glance her way or utter a word.

With her fist clenched by her side, she gave one last long look at me before rushing out of the hall.

The silence that followed after her departure was suffocating but I couldn’t care less.

Letting out a slow long breath, relief flooded through my veins as I realised the worst was over.

Well, that’s what I had thought until I turned and locked gaze with Wilson. He looked at me as if he wanted to tear my flesh apart.

I could feel the heat coming out of his burning gaze. A loud scraping sound reverberated through the hall as he abruptly stood up, pushed his chair back, and stormed out after Lillian.

“W-Wilson,” I called out.

“Edwilson!” Eleanor shouted right after me, her tone sharp and commanding, but that didn’t stop him.

He didn’t even look back.

He just kept walking, his footsteps echoing rhythmically till he reached the entrance. With a single yank, the door opened as fast as it slammed shut behind him.

Eleanor collapsed back into her chair, pressing her hand to her chest and fanning herself with trembling fingers. “Oh, for the love of God,” she muttered.

I sat still, my heart slowly becoming heavy as everything closed in on me.

He left. He actually left…to go after her in the presence of everyone.

Not that I wasn’t expecting him not to but at least he should have kept his part of the agreement we made the other day. That we will pretend to be the happy couple till he decides the right time to let them know about the divorce.

A sob clawed its way up my throat but I swallowed it back. I forced a smile on my face, though my lips trembled.

I reached for my glass of wine from the table, the bitter taste of it burning all the way down my throat as I took a long sip.

Putting the glass back down, my gaze met that of Eleanor’s. She tried but she couldn’t mask the pity she was feeling for me. Even though Eleanor acts ignorant, she was very much aware of how distant Wilson was towards me.

She straightened her back, smoothing out her dress, and said. “Hilda, dear,” she began softly. “You did well by voicing the truth. You don’t have to cover up for her.”

I gave her a curt nod in response.