Chapter 144

I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, really? Then why am I the one married to Jonathan, and not you?”

I stepped closer, looked at Alicia with indifference, and said sincerely, “You could have had him marry you. I never stopped that from happening. So, why didn’t you?”

Her face contorted with frustration. She looked ready to lunge at me, but noticing the onlookers, swallowed her anger, biting her lip hard.

I let out a cold snort and turned to leave. The venue was massive, and finding Frederick proved difficult. I had to weave through the crowd.

The party was extravagant—a clear testament to Jonathan’s regard for Alicia. The champagne tower alone seemed to have over a hundred layers, grand and towering, its imposing presence keeping people at a respectful distance.

Far ahead, I spotted someone who looked like Frederick. My eyes lit up, and I lifted my dress hem to approach him. But steady footsteps sounded behind me, and I heard Jonathan’s deep voice.

“Elise,” he called, but I pretended not to hear, refusing to look back and quickening my pace towards Frederick.

I walked faster, trying to lose Jonathan, but when I looked again, Frederick was gone. I spun around, scanning the crowd, finally spotting him not far away.

“Frederick!” I called, running toward him.

I had only taken a few steps when I saw a server pushing a dessert cart towards the champagne tower. He didn’t see it; the cart clipped the table, and the tower began to sway, trembling on its base.

I looked up and saw Frederick and Jonathan standing nearby, unaware of the impending disaster. My heart leaped into my throat. Blood rushed through me in reverse. In a split second, I lunged forward, shoving Frederick out of the way. “Watch out!” I shouted, and everyone looked over.

The champagne tower tipped and crashed to the floor with a loud, splintering sound that cut through to the bone. I pulled Frederick aside, my chest heaving. Before checking on him, I instinctively looked to where Jonathan had been standing. Had he not moved, he would have been hit by the falling glass.

But the spot was empty. Only broken glass and spilled champagne remained; no one was on the ground, no blood. He'd gotten out of the way in time.

Relieved, I looked up and locked eyes with Jonathan across the crowd. Even from a distance, I saw the pure shock and grief in his eyes—breathtaking in its intensity.

I had never seen him like that. Anger, sorrow, and a confusion he couldn't suppress were evident. He stood there, staring at me and Frederick. He didn’t say a word.

Someone screamed, and people rushed towards him.

“Mr. Ford! Are you okay?”

“Jonathan! Are you hurt?”

Alicia and her parents circled him, frantic, terrified something had happened. He said nothing, only continuing to look at me. That suffocating sadness lingered momentarily in his eyes before vanishing behind his usual calm mask.