Episode 86
Meanwhile, outside in the hallway, a group of sharply dressed men approached the private rooms. Elijah strode at their center, his expression stormy, his patience frayed.
Albin, walking beside him, cast a sidelong glance and cautiously offered, “Elijah, if you’re so worried, perhaps we should call it a night. Go home and talk things out. There’s no shame in compromising for someone you care about. Or… are you truly determined on this divorce?”
Elijah’s jaw tightened at the word “divorce.” It was a constant irritant, growing more painful with each passing moment. Elizabeth had been pushing boundaries lately, flaunting her newfound independence, yet he felt infuriatingly powerless to stop her. His gaze turned icy as he shot Albin a glare. “If you have nothing constructive to say, be silent.”
As they neared the private rooms, Camille emerged, eyes glued to her phone, oblivious to the approaching tension. The men in Elijah’s group paused, their attention drawn to the glimpse of young men lounging inside her room.
“Wow, these women know how to live it up,” one quipped. “A whole room of young men? That’s impressive.” Another chuckled, “She’s stunning, too. Makes you wonder if she has a married friend inside who’s just as adventurous.”
The mention of married women shifted their thoughts to Elizabeth. Elijah’s notable absence from home had left her to endure years of loneliness. Someone, emboldened by drink, blurted out, “Elijah, you’ve left your wife to fend for herself for so long. Aren’t you worried she might find someone else?”
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly. A heavy silence fell, and all eyes darted nervously toward Elijah. He remained silent, absently turning the ring on his finger. The words “find someone else” echoed in his mind, each repetition deepening the wound.
Images of Elizabeth flickered through his thoughts—her quiet defiance earlier, her pale face masking her pain. She had endured far worse silently before, yet today, she was crumbling before another man over a minor scald. The irony was a cruel twist of the knife.