“Lila,” Elizabeth called out softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Lila gently brushed a stray hair from Elizabeth’s ear and nodded. “I’m here, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth clutched her chest, tears in her eyes, her heart aching. “We’re getting divorced. I’ve decided to let him go, so why does it still hurt?” Elizabeth frowned, hoping Lila had an answer.

Elizabeth wondered if Lila understood the electrifying pain she felt seeing Lane cling to Alexander.

“Elizabeth, you just need time,” Lila reassured her.

Elizabeth loved Alexander deeply, willing to sacrifice everything for him. Letting go wasn’t easy.

“But Lila,” Elizabeth’s tears flowed, “he never chose me. When Esme and I fell, he protected Esme. He said he’d take me home, but as soon as he saw Esme, he left me. Whenever Esme got hurt, he blamed me.”

Why couldn’t she let go after all this?

Elizabeth felt like a wronged child, pouring her heart out to Lila. “It really hurts,” she said. Loving Alexander was painful. If she could, she wished she’d never met him.

“Lila, am I not worthy of love?” Elizabeth asked.

Lila’s heart ached. “Elizabeth, don’t overthink it. You’re brave and passionate. Alexander just isn’t the right one for you.”

Elizabeth’s eyes, smudged with eyeliner, looked like a sad panda. “Really?”

Lila felt like crying and laughing. “Of course, you deserve love. Look, don’t I love you?” She tried to wipe Elizabeth’s makeup but only made it worse.

“Wait here, I’ll get a wet wipe,” Lila said.

Elizabeth nodded.

“Don’t go anywhere!” Lila reminded her. “If you get lost, I won’t come looking for you!”

Elizabeth tended to wander when she drank too much—she frowned at Lila’s nagging. Lila hurried to find a waiter for wet wipes.

Elizabeth leaned back on the sofa. After a while, her mind grew hazy, and she forgot Lila’s instructions. She got up and went to the dance floor, grabbing a man. ‘Am I not worthy of being liked?’

“Ms. Percy, are you okay?” the man asked, worried.

“Answer my question!” Elizabeth demanded.

“Of course, Ms. Percy, you’re definitely worthy.”

Satisfied, Elizabeth moved to the next person. She walked unsteadily, her face flushed, her smudged makeup making her look cute and comical. She squatted down, and a pair of men’s shoes appeared in front of her.

11:32 AM Chapter 169

Elizabeth felt her stomach churn, ready to throw up. Suddenly, there was a hush, and everyone stepped back. Elizabeth closed her eyes, numbed by alcohol. She tried to stand but leaned forward too quickly. A warm hand caught her waist, holding her up. She furrowed her brow and looked up hazily.

The stage lights were dim, and she couldn’t see the person’s face clearly. She asked softly, ‘Am I not worthy of love?’

The person frowned, puzzled.

“If not, why doesn’t the person I like, like me?” Elizabeth looked up again, stepping on his black shoes, everything feeling so natural.