A divided heart

rriage was the talk of the town. The banquet being held in a luxurious hotel, the kind of place where the rich and powerful gathered to celebrate themselves. The building's exterior was a testamen

tyled to perfection. Yet, despite their elegance, there was a coldness in their eyes as they glanced at her. She was an outsider, someone who didn’t truly belong in their world of privilege and power. Williams excused himself to speak with a business associate, leaving Grace standing alone near a large potted plant. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The physical pain had subsided to a dull throb, but the emotional strain was almost too much to bear. She spotted a restroom sign and decided to take a moment to collect herself. The restroom was a sanctuary of quiet compared to the bustling hall outside. She stepped up to the large mirror, her reflection staring back at her. The makeup she had applied earlier was still intact, but she felt the need to touch it up, to have something to do with her hands. As she opened her clutch to retrieve her lipstick, the door opened, and two women entered. They didn’t notice her at first, too engrossed in their conversation. “Did you see Grace’s dress?” one of them said, her tone dripping with envy. “Yes, she does look beautiful,” the other replied. “But I can’t believe she still has the guts to appeawith David, given that she forced him into their marriage”. The rumors are horrible.” “Do you think they’re true? That David’s…..?” “Absolutely. He’s always been so controlling. And she… well, she just lets him.” Grace’s hands trembled as she applied her lipstick, trying to ignore the sting of their words. She had known they would talk about her, but hearing it so blatantly was more painful than she had expected. She felt a mix of shame and anger, wanting to confront them but knowing it would only make things worse. The women finally noticed her and fell silent, their eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Oh, Grace,” one of them said with a tight smile. “We didn’t see you there. Your dress is lovely.” “Thank you,” Grace replied quietly, forcing a smile. “Excuse me.” She hurried out of the restroom, her heart pounding. The encounter had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She re-entered the banquet hall, searching for Williams. She spotted him across the room, deep in conversation with a group of men. He looked up and saw her, his eyes narrowing slightly in displeasure. She quickly made her way over, trying to compose herself. “Where have you been?” he demanded quietly when she reached his side. “Just freshening up,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. He gave her a curt nod, his attention already shifting