At once, Lindsay dropped her gaze and fussed with the hem of her skirt, making it look like she was distracted so Ashton wouldn't catch her staring.

When she dared to look back up, he was gone.

For a second, she wondered if she'd imagined him, like a shadow created by the shifting lights.

So... what was Ashton really doing here?

The question coiled in her chest and refused to loosen, leaving her restless even as the celebration continued around her.

Tyler had spared no expense for Lindsay's birthday. The venue glittered with extravagance, and it seemed as though every prominent name in the city had shown up.

At his insistence, Lindsay wore a custom gown flown in from overseas, and earlier that evening, he had clasped a diamond necklace around her neck himself.

The diamonds rested cool and weighty against her collarbone. Instead of feeling like a gift, they felt almost like a chain.

It wasn't hard to notice the way people were looking at her. Some eyes held envy, others curiosity, but many carried open judgment.

"What was Tyler thinking, marrying someone like her? If I were in her place, I wouldn't even dare step outside."

"With her past, and he still treats her like royalty. What does he even see in her?"

"Maybe that's just his preference. Not everyone has the same standards, though."

Soft murmurs drifted through the room and wrapped around Lindsay from every direction.

Lindsay refused to react. With her shoulders squared and chin lifted, she acted as though none of it had reached her ears.

Not long after the celebration officially began, Tyler stepped forward and presented her with yet another lavish surprise. This time, it was a sapphire ring.

As soon as he lifted the lid of the velvet box, the crowd let out a collective gasp.

Lindsay offered a small smile. "Thank you," she said gently.

Jenna made her entrance noticeably late. Wrapped in a high end designer gown and layered in glittering jewels, she moved with practiced elegance. The moment she appeared, conversations stalled and eyes shifted toward her.

For a brief instant, it felt as though the spotlight had changed owners.

"My apologies for arriving late, Lindsay," Jenna said, her tone carefully sweet. "I brought something for your birthday as well. Why don't you open it and see if it suits you?"

A faint trace of satisfaction lingered in her expression.

"I appreciate it," Lindsay responded calmly as she accepted the box.

Inside lay a brooch.

The design was unmistakable. It mirrored the piece Lindsay had once admired on her first wedding anniversary with Tyler, a creation from an independent designer that symbolized perseverance and rebirth.

Locking eyes with Lindsay, Jenna added, "Someone gifted this to me. I was told it resembles the anniversary present you treasured most. Personally, I don't care much for the meaning behind those ginkgo leaves. It feels too simple for my taste, so I figured it might suit you better."

Still holding the brooch, Lindsay examined it with an unhurried expression. "I appreciate the gesture. But this doesn't really resemble the piece I selected."

Her gaze lifted and locked onto Jenna's face. "The one I chose had rare natural stones lining the edges of the leaves, and every leaf was uniquely crafted. This version..." A faint smile touched her lips. "It's an imitation. Nicely done, yes, but the stones are rhinestones. The weight and the shine aren't the same."

With deliberate care, she placed the brooch back into its box. "The original has been in my safe the entire time. It hasn't gone anywhere."

A hush fell over the surrounding guests. The color drained from Jenna's face.

Beside them, Tyler glanced at Jenna, a crease forming between his brows as irritation flickered in his eyes.

So he hadn't been aware of this little performance, Lindsay realized.

"I must've made a mistake..." Jenna muttered, forcing a strained smile.

"It's alright. Intent matters more than anything. Just make sure you examine things carefully next time, Jenna. Sometimes people pass off replicas as the real thing," Lindsay said, her voice gentle but firm, before the excuse could grow.

The message was clear enough. Jenna's expression nearly cracked under it.

Conversation gradually resumed around them, yet the air felt heavy to Lindsay. After a moment, she slipped away from the crowd and stepped into the garden for a breath of space.

Resting her hands on the railing, Lindsay inhaled slowly and lifted her glass for a measured sip of red wine.

Not long after, faint footsteps approached from behind.

She pivoted.

Jenna stood there, carrying herself with the confidence of someone who believed the game was already decided.

"Why are you hiding out here alone, Lindsay? Shouldn't the birthday girl be inside enjoying the spotlight?" Jenna asked softly, a wineglass balanced in her fingers.

Rather than respond, Lindsay shifted to pass her.

Before she could move away, Jenna tilted her glass and swirled the wine lazily. "Don't you want to know? About Tyler. About what your marriage really looks like."

In the next instant, her hand shot out and caught Lindsay's arm. The sudden movement sent red wine cascading forward. It splashed across the front of Lindsay's champagne gown, spreading into a dark stain over the fabric.

"Oh no, Lindsay. I'm so sorry!"

Jenna's cry rang out before Lindsay had the chance to speak. The volume was deliberate, loud enough to pull attention from the garden entrance.

Lindsay wrenched her arm free.

"Why would you push me, Lindsay..." Jenna stumbled back as if unsteady. The glass slipped from her grasp and shattered against the stone path.

In one fluid motion, she dropped with it. A fragment grazed her hand, and her eyes filled at once, turning red.

A rush of hurried steps broke the tension as people flooded into the garden.

Tyler reached them first, his eyes scanning the shattered glass, the stain on the gown, and Jenna on the ground. "What happened here?"

His expression darkened almost immediately. "Lindsay, why would you push her?"

Behind him, murmurs rose without restraint.

"Oh no, Miss Oliver fell so hard..."

"Mrs. Hardy really has a temper. It was only a splash of wine."

"Exactly. Miss Oliver didn't mean it, and now she's the one bleeding."

With Tyler steadying her, Jenna rose slowly, as if she might collapse again. Tears shimmered in her eyes. "Please don't be upset with Lindsay. I slipped on my own. It's unfortunate about her gown... and that glass of vintage wine..."

As she spoke, she lifted her injured hand just enough for everyone to notice the thin line of blood.

Tyler's gaze lingered on the cut before shifting to the dark stain spreading across Lindsay's dress. His voice lost its warmth. "It's only a dress. Jenna already said she was sorry. Lindsay, you crossed a line."

Facing him, Lindsay didn't raise her voice. "You're still just as quick to take her side," she said evenly, her calm so steady it almost startled her.

For a second, Tyler didn't move.

Without breaking her composure, Lindsay lifted a fresh glass of red wine from a server who had frozen mid-step. Every pair of eyes followed her as she turned and approached Jenna.

"You wouldn't..." Jenna's voice faltered as she caught on. Fear flickered across her face, and she instinctively shifted behind Tyler for cover.

Lindsay didn't hesitate.

With a smooth turn of her wrist, she tipped the glass. The deep red liquid spilled over Jenna's perfectly arranged hair, sliding down her stunned face and drenching her designer gown in one sweeping motion.

Silence fell so abruptly it felt unnatural. Then Jenna let out a piercing scream that cut through the garden.

Wine clung to her from head to toe.

No one spoke.

All the guests stood frozen, their expressions locked in disbelief at what had just unfolded.

Tyler remained rooted in place as well. His gaze jumped from Jenna, soaked and unraveling, to Lindsay, who stood there composed. His lips parted, yet no words came out.

Without a word, Lindsay placed the empty glass onto a nearby table.

Before anyone could react, she stepped forward and seized a handful of Jenna's soaked hair, pulling sharply until Jenna's wine drenched face tilted upward in shock.

Leaning close to her ear, Lindsay spoke in a voice so low it barely carried. "That last glass was meant for you. Make sure you savor it."

Tyler finally found his voice. "Lindsay! What are you doing? Have you completely lost it?"

She didn't answer him. Holding her posture straight and her expression steady, she moved through the stunned crowd. Guests instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path as she left the heavy air of the garden behind.

Moments later, she swiped her keycard and entered the private lounge.

The room was dim, lit only by faint ambient light. A sharp cedar scent lingered in the air, different from the hotel's usual fragrance, though she paid it little attention. All she wanted was to change out of the ruined dress.

She reached behind her and lowered the zipper. The silk gown slid down her body and settled around her feet.

Clad only in her undergarments, she bent to pick up a fresh outfit.

Before she could straighten, something collided with her from behind.

An arm wrapped tightly around her waist with sudden force, heat pressing against her back, while another hand clamped firmly over her mouth and cut off the cry rising in her throat.

A violent tug sent Lindsay stumbling backward until her spine collided with a bare, burning chest.

Heat pressed in from behind, and that sharp cedar scent wrapped around her, thick and overwhelming.

"Mmph—!"

The protest never made it past his hand.

Close to her ear, a man's voice dropped low, edged with danger. "Is this how you planned to tempt me?"

Upon hearing that voice, a face flashed through her mind—Ashton.

How had he gotten inside?

Before she could think—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

From the hallway, Tyler's voice cut through the wood, strained and barely contained. "Lindsay? I know you're inside. Open the door."

A sharp double beep sounded as a keycard struck the lock, followed by the faint mechanical click of it trying to grant access.

The loud banging on the door and the electronic sound of the keycard were as loud as thunder in the quiet room.

Ashton immediately pressed his hand harder against Lindsay's mouth. His entire body became stiff with tension.

Lindsay's heart beat wildly because she knew Tyler was about to walk inside.

The second the lock turned and the door started to open, Ashton let go of her waist. He disappeared from behind her so quickly and quietly that it was scary.

Lindsay heard the sound of water in the bathroom nearby. Then, she heard a window being pushed open and quickly closed again.

At that exact moment, Tyler pushed the door open and walked into the lounge with long, angry steps.

Tyler looked furious. He stared at the messy bed and saw the dirty dress Lindsay had dropped on the floor. Then he stared at Lindsay, who was standing still in only her underwear.

Tyler looked both very angry and very suspicious of what was happening.

"Who was in this room with you?" Tyler asked in a deep, scary voice.

Lindsay snatched a clean dress and held it up to cover her body. The cold cloth made her shiver, but it also helped her feel calm and in control again.

"Does a husband really need to force his way in and question his wife like a criminal?" Lindsay asked without looking at him. "Do you actually think I am hiding a person in here?"

Tyler walked over to her quickly and grabbed her wrist. He squeezed so hard that Lindsay felt a sharp pain.

"Lindsay, you were too cruel tonight!" Tyler yelled. "Jenna is in pain because of you, and now you are acting like you've done nothing wrong?"

Tyler was breathing very hard from anger. He looked around the room like a hunter, and then he walked straight into the bathroom to search it.

Lindsay felt terrified, and her heart felt like it was stuck in her throat.

There was still steam in the air from the shower. The floor was wet, and although the window was closed, there was a little bit of water on the window ledge.

Tyler looked at the wet window ledge and then looked back at Lindsay. "Explain why this window is wet," he demanded.

"I opened it earlier because it was too hot and steamy, and I wanted some air," Lindsay lied as she zipped up her dress. "Are you done searching now? If you are, then get out."

"Why are you being so rude?" Tyler snapped. He was very angry that she was acting so cold. He moved close and trapped her against the wall with his body. "Lindsay, you embarrassed Jenna in front of everyone. You were mean to her, and now you are acting like this!"

"Like what, exactly?" Lindsay snapped, looking him straight in the eyes. "Tyler, you saw the scratch on Jenna's hand, you saw me pour wine over her, and you definitely saw how pitiful she looked before you."

Her voice was trembling, but it wasn't because she was scared. It was because she was finally letting out all the anger she had been bottling up after finding out the truth.

"But what about me? Did you miss the part where she dumped a glass of red wine all over me? Did you see her making fun of me in front of every guest we invited before she started her little performance?"

She pulled at the fresh dress she had just put on. "Are you only capable of seeing her? Do you honestly expect me to just sit there and take it without ever standing up for myself? Which one of us are you actually married to?"

Tyler went completely still. Without even realizing it, he let his grip on her wrist go slack.

"I..." He started to speak, but all his anger seemed to vanish instantly. He looked frustrated, but mostly, he just looked uncomfortable. "I just... I didn't want you to get so mean. So bitter..."

"You mean you didn't want me to stop being the pushover you can all bully?" Lindsay finished, pulling her arm away. "Enough, Tyler. Get out. I'll keep acting like the perfect wife for as long as you need me to, so don't worry about your reputation."

Those words clearly hurt him. The color drained from his face as he stared at her.

He looked torn, like he wanted to argue but didn't know how. Finally, he just dropped his hand. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I was just... really frustrated."

He didn't say another word. He turned around, walked out of the lounge, and closed the door behind him.

The room went quiet again. The only sound was Lindsay's shaky breathing, and she could still smell the faint scent of Ashton's cologne in the air.

Her knees felt weak, so she leaned back against the wall and took a long, trembling breath to try and calm down.

A moment later, the bathroom window, which had been closed, started to slide open again.

A man soaked in water climbed inside and landed on the floor without making a single noise.

Ashton was only wearing a towel. Water was dripping from his hair and running down his chest. He wiped his face, stepped toward Lindsay, and gave her a look that was half-serious and half-smirk.

"That was a close call, Mrs. Hardy," he said in a deep, gravelly voice. "So, are you done dealing with your husband's little tantrum now?"

"Sorry about that," Lindsay said, her voice steady. "I didn't exactly plan for him to barge in."

"Lindsay Hardy..." Ashton ground out her name, his voice so freezing it made her skin crawl. "You're Tyler Hardy's wife."

Lindsay couldn't stop a shiver from running down her spine, but she forced herself to look him in the eye. "I won't be his wife for much longer," she replied.

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "So, was our night together part of your plan? Did you get close to me just to use me?"

He sounded more dangerous with every word. "What's the game here, Mrs. Hardy? Was I the target? Or were you just using me to get revenge on your husband and his mistress?"

The air in the room felt ice-cold as his anger intensified.

He wasn't the vulnerable man from the other night anymore. This was the real Ashton Clarke—a powerful man who controlled everything and despised being manipulated.