The noise around me was loud, but I could still hear the voicesing from over there,

    “Jonathan I’m sorry. I just feel so terrible…” Alicia said.

    Her bface /bwas flushed red as shey on the bar counter. In front of her was a triangr ss filled with a sky–blue liquid that reflected the rosy color on bher /bbcheeks/b.

    Jonathan sat beside her, frowning as he looked at her. Though he wore his usual cold and serious expression, he patiently stayed by her side.

    I snorted coldly, pretending not to see, and tumed to leave.

    Gabrielle instinctively called out, “Elise..”

    The bpeople /bover there seemed to notice themotion, and ball /blooked bour /bbway/bb. /b

    The moment jonathan saw me, his expression shifted, and he bstood /bup toe over.

    “You said you were going to the hospital. Why are you here?” he questioned sharply.

    I caught the darkemotion flickering in his eyes let out a bitterugh but didn’t respond, simply brushing past him to leave.

    People around us frozeb, /bclearly not expecting me to ignore bJonathan /blike that.

    Gabrielle quickly followed behind meb, /bcalling out, “Elise..

    Her worried expression made me give her a ceassuring blook/b, signaling that she didn’t need to worry.

    Jonathan’s face dadened as he grabbed my wrist tightly. “Why are you here?” he bdemanded/b.

    frowned and tried to pull away.

    “Let go of me!” I snapped.

    Since he already caught me, there was no point in lying anymoter

    “where I go is none of your business! I’ll go wherever I want! 1 shot bback /b

    “Why did you lie to me?” bhe /bpressed.

    “Because you wouldn’t let me go out. What choice did I have but to lie?” I replied defiantly

    My blunt words clearly angered Jonathan. His face grew stem aghis grip on my wrist tightened painfully.

    b“/bCome back with me,” he ordered,

    I’m not going! Let me go!” I insisted

    Just as we were at a stalenute, Frederick stepped forward,

    With a smile, he gently pulled Jonathan’s hand away and stood by my side.

    she doesn’t want to go back, then don’t force her,” Prederick bsaid /bcalmly.

    Jonathan’s exprecision instantly darkened

    “Who do you think byou /bare, Insertering in our marriageb?/b” he spat.

    Frederick’s expression turned cold as well. The two of them locked beyes/b, and in that instantb, /bthe balt /bgrew thick with tension

    Alicia couldn’t stand the atmosphere and tugged on Jonathan’s sleeve. “Jonathan, bI’m /bsorry. Did I bake Elise angry again?” she asked nervously.

    Jonathan bnced /bat me deeply. I sorted coldly, refusing to respond to Alicia’s attempt to stir trouble.

    “Elite,e back with me,” nathan said with a frown.

    “Take care ut Alicia and stay out of my business!” I snapped, yanding my hand free and shooting the two of them ba /bscathing look. “And don’t bother questioning why bI’m /bnot at the hospital. You blied /btoo. You said you were visiting Alicia’s grandmother, but somehow ended up in a bar.”

    My words bwere /bblunt,ced with both sarcasm and usation.

    jonathan’s Lace dashed to the extreme. “Whalese are you maling up now?“)

    “Am I the one making dings up?” I asked, ncing at the tipsy Alicia, whose cheeks were lushed, “She’s drinking herselt miserable, and you’re better offdosting her! That’s what bars like this are for,n’s It? Peoplee to drown the sorrows, and it a man and a bwoman /bhit it off, they just end up bin /bbed. Problem solved, right?–

    1 kneww Bacaliny words sounded, and i said them on purpose,

    Jonathan’s handsome face flushed bred/b, and is eyes bued with suppressed auger “Elise, do y

    you even know what you’re Lying?” he growled.