Anna stumbled out of the bar, her movements sluggish, her breath curling into the cold night air. Through the haze of her still-clouded vision, she caught a glimpse of William slipping into the back seat of a sleek black car. The engine purred softly before the vehicle disappeared into the river of traffic flowing through the rain-slicked streets.
William Stark… The name echoed in her mind as she stood there, watching the city swallow him whole. How long has he been back? And why? If he had returned, surely someone would have mentioned it. A man like William never went unnoticed—his name alone would have been the talk of high society by now.
But no one had said a word.
The rain showed no mercy, soaking through her already damp clothes, the cold seeping into her bones. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
I have enough for a cab, but where can I go?
There was no one left for her to turn to. Robert had never allowed her to build a life beyond him, keeping her isolated in a gilded cage. Over time, friendships had faded, social connections had withered, and now, she was truly alone.
Aunt Lilian had been the last thread tying her to family, and she had severed it without a second thought—without even facing her.
A hotel? Even the cheapest room was beyond her reach. The weight of reality pressed down on her, suffocating.
What am I supposed to do now?
"Anna!"
The sharp call of her name jolted her from her thoughts. Her heart lurched, and she frantically scanned the street, rain blurring her vision.
Then she saw her.
Marienne.
"What are you doing here?" Anna murmured, barely audible over the city's din and the steady patter of rain. The words slipped from her lips, but Marienne didn't seem to hear them—her saccharine smile remained perfectly intact.
"Oh, you poor thing!" Marienne cooed, leaning out of the car's rolled-down window, her voice laced with feigned concern. "You're drenched! You'll catch a cold at this rate."
The car door swung open with a soft click, and Marienne gestured for Anna to come closer. "Come on, get in. Let me take you somewhere warm. You need to dry off before you get sick."
Anna hesitated, frozen in place. As miserable as she was—soaked to the bone, shivering, stranded in the rain—the thought of stepping into a car with Marienne made her stomach churn.
"No." She shook her head. "Thanks, but I'll pass."
Marienne sighed dramatically, tilting her head in exaggerated exasperation. "Anna, don't be ridiculous," she chided, her voice slipping into a honeyed plea. "Just because things… turned out this way doesn't mean I don't want what's best for you. I'm only trying to help."
Anna's heart wavered for just a moment.
Once, long time ago, they had been friends. The three of them—Robert, Marienne, and herself—inseparable as children, bound by a friendship that felt unbreakable.
She had no idea when Marienne had started loving Robert. Sometimes, she wondered if she always had—just as she herself had.
And when Anna discovered the truth about their affair, the betrayal had cut even deeper. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be her?
Marienne's deep, ocean-blue eyes locked onto Anna's pale face, her pouty pink lips curving into a delicate frown—an almost exaggerated display of pity.
"Anna," she pressed on, stepping out of the car and into the downpour, her blonde hair clinging to her skin as the rain drenched her instantly. "I really just want to help you."
Anna exhaled sharply, shutting her eyes as frustration and exhaustion warred inside her. Did Marienne mean it? Did it even matter? Whether sincere or not, Anna didn't want her help.
But she needed it.
Maybe it was the lingering haze of alcohol clouding her judgment, its grip tightening the moment she left the warmth of the bar. Or maybe it was sheer, crushing self-pity, pressing down on her, urging her to surrender.
Whatever the reason, Anna found herself giving in. After all, how much worse could things get?
"Fine," she murmured, her voice barely above the sound of the rain. Slowly, she slid into the car's plush interior, feeling the warmth immediately wrap around her. "Where are we going?"
"I got you a room at the Diamond Hotel," Marienne said, draping her expensive blazer over Anna's trembling shoulders. "When I heard what your aunt did to you, I just couldn't stand by and watch you hit rock bottom! How could she throw you out like that? Her only niece?"
Anna stiffened. My aunt? Of all things, that's what concerned her?
What about Robert? What about the Hydes?
More importantly—how had Marienne found out about Aunt Lilian kicking her out so fast?
A swarm of questions buzzed through Anna's mind, but she was too drained to chase the answers. Right now, all she needed was rest. Everything else could wait.
"Anyway," Marienne continued, completely unfazed by Anna's flustered expression. "Don't worry about anything. I've already paid for the room—you can stay as long as you need. And I'll leave you some cash, too, for your daily expenses."
She flashed a wide, practiced smile, her warm fingers reaching out to clasp Anna's icy hands.
"Oh my God!" she gasped, eyes widening. "You're as cold as a corpse!" Without hesitation, she turned to the driver. "Michael, turn the heater on. Now."
Anna barely reacted, too caught up in her own thoughts. The generosity, the concern—it didn't add up. Her lips parted before she could stop herself.
"Why are you doing this?" she blurted out, studying Marienne with a sharp, searching gaze.
Marienne batted her thick lashes, tilting her head in an expression of feigned innocence. "What do you mean?" She let out a soft chuckle. "I told you—I just want to help you… for old times' sake."
For old times' sake? Anna echoed the words in her mind, her chest tightening with unease. What times exactly?
But before she could press for answers, the car rolled to a smooth stop.
Marienne clapped her hands together, beaming. "We're here!"