Chapter 83 They Lied To Us

• Avery's hands trembled on the steering wheel, each breathing a shallow gasp as she navigated the familiar streets through a veil of tears. Her mind reeled with the overwhelming impossibility—Cathleen had taken her place at the altar—Cathleen, who was supposed to be nothing more than a footnote in Avery's grand life plan. The sting of betrayal burned hot within her as salt rubbed vigorously into an open wound. Avery's heart pounded in her chest in a frantic attempt to escape the suffocating weight of it all. She'd fled from the restaurant, the taste of humiliation heavy on her tongue and threatening to choke her with every swallow.
• The gravel driveway echoed under her tires as she raced back to the house. Each pebble seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of the shattered illusions that awaited her inside. Her fingers trembled as she yanked out the keys, snatched her purse, and carelessly flung off her high heels, discarding them near the car. The shoes felt like shackles, symbols of the false life she had been leading.
• Inside, Dora lounged with William, wrapped up in the latest reality TV drama, their own lives an echo of the on-screen theatrics. But at the sight of Avery's tear-streaked face, Dora surged to action, her maternal instinct sharpened by the scent of a potential scandal. "Darling, why are you crying?" she demanded, her voice edged with a mixture of concern and calculation.