Chapter 11

Lily slept soundly that night. After an evening of such public humiliation and anger, she would have tossed and turned before. Not this time. After realizing that no matter how much she had cared, David had never truly respected her. He had sided with Marina without hesitation, letting her be stripped of dignity in a crowd—as if she were nothing. So Lily was done. She had cried enough tears for him. It was over. In the early morning, her phone vibrated on the nightstand. Lily groaned, reaching for it sleepily. A notification for an email. She blinked awake, tapping to open it. Her eyes widened. It was from the design firm she’d sent her portfolio to ages ago—back when she still had hope for her career, before David had systematically crushed every opportunity that came her way. She sat up abruptly, fully awake. > *Dear Ms. Collins,* > *Thank you for your submission. We have reviewed your design concepts and would like to sincerely invite you in for an initial meeting…* Her heart began