Aristocracy101

Chapter 19

They stepped into a restaurant called 'Foodland.' It wasn’t the best place, but it had a relaxed atmosphere that made people feel at ease. The soft hum of conversation and clinking plates created a comforting vibe.

Lilian, still uneasy, ordered pasta—a light meal. Her stomach was still unsettled from earlier, but she knew she had to eat. She couldn’t keep avoiding food, not with the way things were going.

They sat near the window. The view was nice, the sunlight casting soft shadows across the street. It was a pleasant distraction from the chaos in her mind.

The food finally brought some appetite back to her, and she managed to engage in a pleasant conversation with her best friends. It had been so long since she stepped out of the house. She hadn’t wanted to miss a chance to see if Oliver would come home, but, as usual, he hadn’t..

They were finishing their meal when Ivy suddenly leaned forward, her eyes widening. “Isn’t that your hubby?”

Lilian froze. The words hit her like a spark. Oliver. She immediately felt her mood lift, just a little. It was like a child receiving a candy bar after a long wait.

She adjusted her hair, smoothed her dress, and stood up, eager to greet him. She could feel the anticipation rising in her chest.

“Wow, such a friend you are,” Zoey scoffed, flashing a teasing grin. “As soon as you see your hubby, you forget your friends.”

Lilian laughed softly, not bothering to argue. She was happy to see him, that was all.

As she walked toward him, ready to wave, something stopped her.

Oliver was smiling. It wasn’t just a casual smile—it was warm, genuine, and full of affection. She followed the line of his gaze and saw the source of his happiness.

Bella.

Her heart plummeted. The joy she had felt moments before drained away in an instant. It was like the air had been sucked out of her lungs.

Who was she kidding? Oliver never loved her. The marriage had been a lie—a sham. She had forced him into it.

She turned quickly, retreating back to the table without looking back.

Zoey and Ivy exchanged confused glances. “Why are you back?” Zoey asked, tilting her head, her voice tinged with concern. She followed Lilian’s gaze to the table where Oliver and Bella were laughing together.

The sight felt like a punch in the gut. Lilian deserves so much better, Zoey thought, her anger rising.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Zoey’s words echoed as she stood up, her voice low but filled with fury. Without a second thought, she marched toward Oliver and Bella, leaving Ivy and a still-confused Lilian behind.

Voice dripping with disdain, Zoey called out to the couple.

“Well, if it isn’t the happy couple! Fancy seeing you two here. How lovely of you, Oliver, to enjoy a date while your wife’s in the HOSPITAL!”

Oliver’s expression faltered, guilt flooding his face. Bella, on the other hand, smirked, completely unfazed by the confrontation.

“We were just catching up, Zoey,” Bella said innocently, her tone sweet, but it only served to tick Zoey off even more.

Zoey couldn’t believe how Bella tried to play the innocent card. How could someone who looked so much like Lilian be so... vile? Lilian carried herself with grace, every movement poised and elegant. Bella, on the other hand, was like a toad trying to mimic a swan.

It was nauseating.

And the worst part? Oliver seemed to prefer her.

“Catching up, huh? Good for you! You clearly don’t mind that his real ‘project-his wife' was lying in a hospital bed. But of course, let's face it, you’ve got no moral compass,” Zoey sneered, her words sharp as knives.

Bella rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her composure. She threw a quick glance at Oliver, silently signaling him to step in. But Oliver remained frozen, like a kid caught red-handed. “Jealous much?”

“Jealous?” Zoey scoffed. “Of what? A sad little affair built on lies? If I wanted to watch a train wreck, I’d binge-watch reruns. At least those are entertaining and don’t involve breaking someone’s heart.”

Oliver shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the weight of the eyes now on them. Whispers were spreading through the restaurant, people exchanging looks and wondering what was going on.

“Zoey, please, let’s just...” Oliver started, but Zoey wasn’t having it.

“Oh spare me, Oliver! You think this is about you?” Zoey’s voice rose, matching the anger she felt. “You’re pathetic! Caught in this marriage because you’re too much of a coward to stand up for what you really want. You know you like Bella, but you still married Lilian. Now that you’re married, you should at least try to make it work! Even if it’s a forced marriage, you should be responsible!”

Zoey didn’t realize how loud she was until the murmurs in the restaurant became louder, their eyes fixed on her. But she didn’t care. When she was angry, she had no filter. She had three protective older brothers and a whole family to back her up if needed.

“Such an irresponsible husband,” someone muttered. “Wife’s in the hospital while he’s out on a date with someone else.”

“The girl is also to blame. Doesn’t she know he’s married?”

“That’s just how this generation is,” another voice chimed in. “They don’t care anymore.”

Bella’s confidence started to waver as the comments continued. “And what would you know about love?” she spat at Zoey, trying to regain some composure.

Zoey smirked, her voice calm but dripping with pride. “More than you, obviously. At least my relationships aren’t built on a foundation of lies and betrayal.”

Bella opened her mouth to retort, but Zoey wasn’t finished.

“Honestly, it’s almost impressive how low you’re willing to sink. Does it feel good to play the role of the other woman? You must really enjoy watching someone’s marriage fall apart just so you can feel special at night.”

Oliver sat frozen, his mind a mess of conflicting emotions. A part of him was questioning if he had really treated Lilian that badly. Did she deserve this? Maybe she was framed, like she said. But before he could sort out his thoughts, Zoey’s words pierced through his haze.

“And you!” Zoey snapped, turning her fury on him. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Your wife’s in the hospital, fighting for her life. I called you a dozen times using her phone, and when you finally picked up, you hung up saying you were in a meeting. I guess this is your so-called meeting.”

Her voice rose again as the anger built. “I even texted you that she was sick and needed comfort, but you left it unread! You’re really too much!”

Lilian had been sitting quietly at the table, watching the entire scene unfold. Her heart felt like it was being pricked with needles. But it wasn’t Oliver’s actions that hurt her; it was the fact that even her friends could see it. The cracks in her perfect facade were widening, and Oliver was tearing apart everything she had tried to keep under wraps.

He was making a spectacle of their marriage, and it was ruining her family’s reputation.

She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if her father found out that she couldn’t keep her position as Oliver's wife in check.

But despite the hurt, a small spark of gratitude flickered inside her. Zoey and Ivy were defending her. They had her back.

“Come on, Lily,” Ivy said, her voice sharp but softening with concern. “You can’t just sit there while that lowlife flaunts her mediocrity in your face.”