Lily's POV
After I got home, I rushed up to my room, feeling too embarrassed to face Dante again. I shut the door behind me and let out a long, shaky breath, leaning against the wood as if it could somehow hold me up against the rush of everything that had just happened. The gala replayed itself relentlessly in my mind: Victoria’s smirk, my stumble across the stage, the sudden collective stare of guests, and I couldn’t shake the humiliation settling like lead in my chest. I’d thought I’d been careful, but apparently, being cautious wasn’t enough. Not tonight.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, curling my legs underneath me, and pressed my palms to my face. “How did I let her do that?” I whispered into my own hands, scolding myself for falling for such a blatant trick. I should have known
