Maurene''S POV


    I walked away from him before he could say anything. The memory of him reaching out to hold me was blurry. All I knew was that I had hurried my steps away from him. The tears I have been trying to hold back escaped traitorously as I continued to wipe them off. I bumped into someone, muttering my apology and not bothering to look up.


    "Maurene?" Nathaniel ''s voice called me and I halted to a pause immediately. My eyes twitched as the tears rolled down, staining my cheeks. I quickly wiped them off andported myself before turning to him, and offering him a tight smile. "Nathaniel." I bit out, hoping I had appeared to be okay.


    "You..." His eyes keened on me as he took one step further. "Are you okay?"


    "I am okay. You don''t need to worry-"


    "Babe," Liam''s voice interrupted us and I flickered my gaze to him. His chest heaved with rapid breaths as he paused to sh his eyes between Nathaniel and I. I flickered my gaze to him and he swallowed hard, taking moderate steps toward me as he stood beside me and snaked his arms around me. The urge to puke at the word he just called me filled me to the guts. I held his hands in ce as I frowned slightly, ducking my head to hide my face.


    Nathaniel ''s gaze was fixated on the ce Liam held me for a moment before Liam cleared his throat. Nathaniel looked up, his jaw hardened as he red at Liam before casting a soft look on me.


    "Alright." His tone was clipped and tight as he turned to leave. The moment he stepped out of sight, I moved away from Liam and red at him before walking away to the hall. The ce was still bubbling with people who were still drinking and chattering.


    I wanted to go home. I needed thefort my home brought to me. Right now, I thought that was what would help me. I wanted to stay far away from the ce Liam or Nathaniel was. I needed a breathing space away from these men. Men!!! I nced around the hall for Alex and Evangeline and noticed they were not in sight. Have they gone already? So quick?


    I was alone now. How do I navigate this?


    My prayer was answered in the reversed way because Amanda was heading my way now. I wanted to run away but it would only put me out as a coward so I watched her with nk eyes until she reached me. The smile that curled on her lips are venomous as she twirled the drink in her wine ss.


    "What is it? Your man is definitely not ogling me right now or is he?" I looked around for Nathaniel but couldn''t find him either.


    Where were they?


    Amanda uttered a scoff. "You remember?" She narrowed her eyes on me and I looked at her bluntly, not bothering to reply to her. She has been suspecting me. I did not me her. She was not quick in deriving conclusions.


    When I did not reply, she took a step closer to me and just on cue, a waiter passed by us. She pushed her feet out and in the blink of an eye, the content of what the waiter was carrying emptied on me, the cups ttering to the floor. I froze into ce, my mouth parted in shock as Amanda let out a fake gasp.


    "Maurene!" Two masculine voices called out as steps rushed toward me. I skimmed my gaze between Liam and Nathaniel who both reached to hold me. I looked up to see Nathaniel staring at me with a worried look. He bombarded me with questions. If I was okay. If I was not hurt.


    I stood rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do. My brain was telling me to step away from him but the way he was essing to see whether I was fine made me still. I caught sight of Liam, not really far from me as he watched Nathaniel. He did not even move close to me.


    What a best friend! So much for being my best friend.


    "What kind of carelessness is that?" She yelled at the waiter who scrambled. I flinched back into reality, looking around to see people gathering and watching us. Watching me.


    I instantly stepped out of Nathaniel ''s hold as he also seemed to realize what he did. The worried expression on his face intensified as he wanted to move towards me but Liam walked faster.


    "Maurene." He pulled me into his grip as Nathaniel ''s hand paused mid air. He seemed like he was struggling with his thoughts before he took steps back, swallowing hard as he turned on his heels and walked out of the hall. Pain clouded my eyes as I peeked a look at his retreating back. Grayson joined him, none of them speaking a word to each other.


    "Maurene." Liam brought my attention back to the hall and the waiter had already been dragged away. I looked down and noticed the red liquid in the midst of the wine. Blood. The waiter must have bled because I was not feeling any pain. Looking down, I noticed my dress was already stained at the edges and I suddenly regretted wearing the gown.


    "I don''t know what is wrong with these people! They don''t know their ss at all." Amanda hissed through her teeth before stepping away from the scene. I caught a ghost of a smirk on her lips as her eyes glinted with satisfaction. She had done this! I wanted to yell out but the crowd began to murmur, pointing fingers at the waiter who was crying at the corner, her finger was bleeding.


    I swiveled and walked toward her. Staring at her bleeding finger, I faced the other waiter standing close to her and consoling her. "You should get her the first air box." I suggested this to her friend who eyed me hard before snatching her friend and taking her out of the hall. I suddenly felt bad as I was the only one left.


    "If Loretta had known, she would not have made the dress for her!"


    "Exactly! Thedy is not even careful with the dress. Doesn''t she know who Loretta is?"


    I heard the murmurs as they poured out. A while ago, everyone was ogling the dress and wanted it for themselves. Now, Amanda had managed to ruin the dress. I immediately rushed out of the hall and went after the waiter. I noticed them at the ce where the bus was and I strode towards them. They stilled when they saw me. The friend was already applying a patch on the finger and she frowned when she met my eyes.


    "What do you want? Isn''t the humiliation enough, huh?" She hissed at me. I was shocked at her outburst.


    "Stop," The waiter who had been insulted cautioned her by holding her hand but she shrugged her off, ring at me as if I was behind her misery. The friend stepped forward and dropped her head in a bow.


    "I''m sorry." Her apology threw me off guard.


    "For what?" I stuttered.


    "For being greedy." she bit her lips nervously. My heartbeat fast at the next answer.