Aristocracy101

Chapter 20

Ivy yanked Lilian to her feet, pushing her to face the chaos unfolding in front of them. They moved quickly, the argument still raging in the distance.

"You think you can just waltz in here and act like a saint?" Bella said, her voice cracking with fake vulnerability. "You don't know anything about love or loyalty. Oliver liked me first! It’s Lilian who’s the third wheel."

Tears flooded Bella’s eyes, making it all seem like she was the one who’d been wronged by fate. But Lilian could see through it. It was nothing more than a performance.

"Oh trust me, Bella, I know plenty about loyalty. It’s just a shame you wouldn’t recognize it even if it slapped you in the face." Zoey’s voice cut through the air, calm but loaded with disdain. "You don’t deserve someone like Oliver. You’re just a distraction for him, a pit stop until he figures out how to escape the mess you’ve roped him into."

Oliver stood up, visibly frustrated, his hand raised in defense.

"This isn’t helping anyone, Zoey. You don’t understand…"

"No, you’re right. I don’t understand," Zoey’s voice was like a whip, sharp and unforgiving. "I don’t understand how you can betray someone who genuinely cares for you. Lilian deserves honesty—not this pathetic charade. You owe her more than this."

Bella, her facade cracking under Zoey’s words, crossed her arms and tried to hold herself together.

"Maybe you should worry about yourself instead of playing the hero," Bella snapped, her voice wavering.

Zoey smirked, her voice drawing out with a slow, mocking drawl. "Worry about myself? Sweetheart, I’ll worry about myself after I make sure you’re out of the picture."

Zoey took a step back, her eyes blazing as she surveyed the situation one last time—until she accidentally stepped on something.

"Sorry. Lily!" Zoey cursed under her breath. "Shit... did I take too long?"

"Lilian…" Oliver’s voice was strained. His face was pale with guilt, but there was no time for a deeper conversation.

Lilian, unfazed, turned her gaze toward him with chilling indifference. "Grandpa called. We need to visit."

The words were empty to her, almost robotic. She felt like an outsider, watching a ridiculous spectacle unfold, one that didn’t concern her.

But in that instant, Oliver’s expression faltered, hurt flashing in his eyes for a split second. For the first time, he looked like a man who didn’t have all the answers.

Lilian turned to Bella, her eyes narrowing with quiet disdain. "I know my husband is handsome, but could you stop throwing yourself at him?"

"Lilian!" Oliver’s warning was too little, too late. The fire in her gaze had already set the stage.

Lilian’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, her calm demeanor slipping away to reveal something far more threatening. "I may be calm and forgiving, but when I get angry, I can make you wish you were never born. Don’t push your luck, Bella, because if you do, even Oliver—the one you have so much faith in—won’t be able to protect you. And do you know why?"

A chilling silence blanketed the group, the air growing cold and suffocating.

Bella’s skin prickled under the weight of Lilian’s words. She had no idea why Lilian still had this power over her. After all, Bella had subdued Oliver. She had him wrapped around her finger, convinced he was the one who needed to protect her. Yet Lilian stood tall, unbroken, the very definition of strength.

With a smirk, Lilian leaned in, her voice low and calculated. "It’s because I’m a Chen. I was born destined for greatness, whether I liked it or not. You, Bella, are nothing more than an ordinary person. A nobody. You don’t have the background or the skills to contend with me."

She let her words sink in, her gaze never leaving Bella’s red eyes, now full of rage and humiliation.

"This is your last chance, Bella," Lilian’s voice was laced with malice. "Don’t waste it."

Lilian straightened up, her lips curling into a smirk as she watched Bella’s hands clench into fists, her tears barely held in check. It was as if Lilian had wanted this—to see her crumble, to watch her struggle.

She didn’t even feel sorry for it.

"Waiter!" Lilian called, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I’ll pay for our table and theirs. I wouldn’t want my husband’s mistress going hungry, now would I?"

The sound of Zoey and Ivy’s laughter behind her only fueled her amusement. Oliver’s expression was a mixture of anger and guilt, but Lilian didn’t care. She didn’t glance back at Bella, who stood there, defeated.

With her head held high, Lilian walked out, her friends following her. She was a Chen. She wouldn’t let herself appear weak, especially not in front of Oliver—or that b***h named Bella.

Once outside the restaurant, where no one could see them, Ivy and Zoey embraced her, offering silent comfort. It was the kind of support that didn’t need words, just their presence, their understanding.

And then, Zoey’s voice broke the stillness. "It’s okay, Lilian. We’re here for you. No one’s here to see you break. Let it out."

Lilian’s breath hitched, and for the first time, she fought to keep the tears at bay. Her body trembled as one tear escaped.

"Hic... hiccup..."

"Shhhh… It’s okay. You don’t need to be strong for us," Zoey whispered, her hand on Lilian’s back.

And in that moment, Lilian finally let go.