LILA'S POV
The food arrived, and we began to eat in a tense silence. Mr. Porter occasionally leaned over, whispering sweet nothings to my mother, causing her to giggle like a schoolgirl.
Every laugh made my stomach churn, and I cringed as I watched them.
The way she flirted with him... it was revolting.
Old bastards.
I barely touched my meal, too distracted by her presence.
I couldn't shake the anger bubbling up inside me.
How dare she act like nothing happened after all these years?
"Lila." Alexander's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
My gaze snapped to him. "Yes, sir?"
He raised an eyebrow, his face as unreadable as ever.
"You okay? You're not taking notes."
I bit my lip, realizing how obvious my feelings were.
His piercing eyes seemed to see right through me, but I wasn't about to give anything away.
"I'm fine, sorry, sir." I replied quickly, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
His brow arched slightly, but he didn't push further.
I turned my gaze back to my plate, stabbing at the food absentmindedly before glancing once more at her.
Focus, Lila. You can't lose your composure now.
I clenched my jaw and forced myself to eat, but my mind was still spinning with anger.
The sight of her sitting there, smiling, like nothing had ever happened between us, made my blood boil.
"Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom," I said abruptly, pushing back my chair and walking swiftly away from the table.
My heart was racing, and I needed to get out of there before I exploded.
Once inside the bathroom, I slipped into one of the stalls, trying to calm myself down.
After finishing my business, I stepped out and walked toward the sink, splashing cold water onto my face.
The shock of it helped a little, but the frustration was still there, simmering beneath the surface.
Grabbing the small towel from my bag, I patted my face dry, then quickly reapplied some light makeup.
The last thing I needed was to look like I had been crying.
"Lila..."
I froze, my hands tightening around the towel.
That voice—so familiar, yet so unwelcome.
Turning around slowly, I came face to face with her.
My mother. Or Lucy, as I had come to know her.
She stood there, awkward and hesitant, as if trying to figure out what to say.
"What do you want, Lucy?" I asked, my voice cold as ice.
Her face fell slightly, but I didn't care.
She had lost the right to my warmth a long time ago.
"Gumdrop—"
"Don't call me that!" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended.
The word hit me like a punch, and I saw her flinch at my outburst.
YOU ARE READING
Breaking The Wall
Любовные романыBook #1 of DEVEREAUX SERIES. ~~~~~ "You're playing a dangerous game, Lila," he said, his fingers still resting at the small of my back, the unspoken tension between us thicker than ever. "I'm not the one breaking the rules, sir," I replied, my voice...
