Chasing my Runaway Ex-Wife

11: Lily's Fiancee?

Lavender's POV

I wiped the sweat off my forehead as I grabbed my tumbler and took a long sip of water after playing golf with Belle. The game had been satisfying, not just because I played well, but because I held my ground against Lily without breaking a sweat.

Just as I was capping my tumbler, I heard hurried footsteps. Belle rushed toward me.

"Hey girl , I swear, again I had no idea Lily would be here today," she said for the hundredth time, shaking her head. "If I had, I wouldn't have invited you. Let's just go home. I'll cook for you and Angel, consider it an apology dinner."

I chuckled, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Belle, relax. You don't need to keep apologizing."

She pouted. "But—"

"No buts," I interrupted, giving her a playful nudge. "It's still early. Let's talk to your friends for a bit before we leave."

Belle hesitated, still looking unsure, but I gave her a knowing smile. "Look, I'm not the same Lavender who used to cower every time Lily opened her mouth. She doesn't intimidate me anymore."

Her worried expression softened into a proud smile. "You've really changed, girl," she said, shaking her head in admiration. "But just so you know, I always have your back."

Before I could respond, one of Belle's friends waved at us from the gazebo nearby, calling our names. We started walking over, and the moment I saw Lily sitting there, sipping her drink with her usual arrogant smirk, I knew she was waiting for another round.

Good.

I was in the mood to play with her.

As soon as we reached the gazebo, Lily's sharp eyes flicked up to me. "I actually never expected to see you her, Lavender. Golf is such an... expensive sport, don't you think?"**

I didn't even blink. "Not if you can afford it." I took a seat across from her, keeping my composure cool and unbothered.

Lily let out a fake laugh. "Afford it? Now that's funny." She leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly, but making sure everyone around could still hear. "I mean, where exactly are you getting all this money? Last I checked, you were cast out of the family with nothing. So tell me, is there some rich old man funding this little lifestyle of yours?"

Belle sucked in a sharp breath beside me, already ready to lunge, but I placed a hand on her arm to stop her.

I smiled. "You flatter me, Lily. You think a man is responsible for my success? That's adorable." I rested my chin on my hand. "I mean, I get it. You can't imagine a woman making it on her own, can you?"

Lily's smirk faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, please," she scoffed. "Women can be successful, sure. Just not women like you. You were a nobody when you left, and now you're suddenly playing golf at elite clubs and wearing designer clothes? It's obvious someone is footing the bill."

I leaned back, crossing my legs as I let out a light laugh. "And who would that be, Lily? Please, enlighten me. I'm dying to know who's supposedly paying for my extravagant life."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "I don't know... Maybe some desperate CEO? Or a lonely investor? There are plenty of rich men in New York looking for a young woman to spoil."

I raised a brow, my smile unwavering. "Sounds like you're speaking from experience. Is that how you've been maintaining your lifestyle?"

Lily's face darkened instantly, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Belle snorted beside me, barely holding back her laughter.

I continued, my voice smooth and casual. "Lily, I'd love to sit here and entertain your delusions, but unlike you, I actually built something for myself. That's why I can afford to be here. That's why I can afford anything I want. No handouts. No sugar daddies. Just my hard work." I tilted my head. "But if you're jealous, just say that."

Lily looked like she wanted to throw her drink at me. Her fingers gripped her glass so tightly that I half expected it to crack.

She forced a laugh. "Jealous? Of you?" She shook her head, feigning amusement. "Please, Lavender, I have everything I could ever want. Unlike you, I don't have to claw my way up from the bottom."

"And yet, here you are, pressed about how I afford my life. If that's not jealousy, I don't know what is."

Belle burst out laughing, and even Tiana and Alexa exchanged amused glances.

Lily's face was a mix of frustration and barely controlled rage, but I wasn't done yet.

But before she could even respond, the sound of tires rolling to a stop on the gravel path made her stop, including us. A black luxury car arrived.

I straightened slightly, my fingers still wrapped around my tumbler as the car door swung open.

I froze. It was August Stanford.

For a split second, I felt the air shift. My fingers instinctively tightened around my tumbler, but my face remained unreadable.

"August! My baby!" she called out, her voice soft, almost childlike, as she rushed towards him.

I watched as she wrapped her arms around his, tilting her head up at him with wide, adoring eyes.

"You're finally here," she muttered, before turning to look at me. And then, she leaned up and pressed a lingering kiss on his cheek. “My fiancee is here to fetch me. I have to go now, girls.”

Fiancee?

I felt Belle tense beside me, ready to react, but I placed a hand on her arm, silently telling her to let it go.

I just smiled. Without another word, she pulled August towards the car, getting inside first. But before August could enter the car he turned his head and our eyes met.

A strange expression flashed across his face. But before I could even begin to decipher it, Lily's voice rang out from inside the car.

“Baby, let’s go!"

He blinked and after a few seconds, he turned away, sliding into the driver's seat and the car door shut.

As August’s car disappeared down the street, I exhaled slowly, keeping my expression smooth and unaffected.

Belle, however, was another story.

“What. The. Hell," she muttered under her breath. “Did that just happen? Did she really just—?" She turned to me, eyes wide with disbelief.

I smiled, picking up my tumbler and taking another slow sip of water. ”Don’t worry, I’m not affected. I was actually satisfied that I get to roast her on our first meeting after a few years.”

Belle let out a dramatic sigh, fanning herself. s”Well, you know what? That was the most entertaining thing I've seen all week."

I smirked. ”Glad you enjoyed the show."

Tiana chuckled. ”Damn, Lavender. I've seen people go head-to-head with Lily before, but I've never seen her lose this badly."

Alexa shook her head, clearly impressed. ”She didn't just lose. She got obliterated."

I just smiled, knowing that this was only the beginning. Lily could try to belittle me all she wanted, but I was no longer the weak girl she used to toy with. Even with August on her side…as her fiancee.