Lily's POV
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this conflicted about seeing someone. After everything with Connor—the betrayal, the cruel mocking of his first love, the heartbreak—I wanted to crawl into bed and hide from the world. Yet, the next day, I found myself dressing carefully, choosing an outfit that said composed and polite, even though inside I felt raw and exposed. Connor’s mother had called me the night before, her voice hesitant but laced with regret, asking if we could meet.
She wanted to apologize, she said, and discuss how to handle the engagement banquet. I hated the idea of seeing anyone from that family, but for the sake of respect—and because I couldn’t stomach leaving things unresolved—I agreed. She was all I had after all. Even though I was hurt that Connor ha
