December had arrived in Crestwood, bringing with it the full force of winter.

Andrew Saunders’s birthday fell on the twelfth, and the celebration was nothing short of spectacular. Aside from his usual circle of friends, every prominent figure in Crestwood was in attendance.

Elise Scott had received an invitation. She had been tirelessly working on launching Stellar High Fashion into the market, so she decided to use the event as a chance to relax.

She moved through the grand banquet hall wearing a gown that was both understated and elegant. In the distance, she spotted Samantha. Samantha was holding onto Andrew’s arm, gracefully mingling with the guests.

Elise had never seen Samantha wear red before. As a lawyer, Samantha typically dressed in a more conservative manner. The vibrant red gown was therefore exceptionally striking.

For some reason, Samantha looked as though she truly belonged by Andrew’s side. She almost embodied the perfect image of a trophy wife.

"Elise," a familiar male voice called out just then. Elise turned to find Ethan standing beside her.

He appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight. His once fair complexion now seemed unnaturally pale.

"It's been a while," she greeted him.

"Yes, it has," Ethan replied with a polite smile.

A pang of sorrow struck Elise's chest. Ethan seemed to be handling things better than Elizabeth was, yet there was a palpable sense that he was broken inside.

"William is here," Ethan informed her, his gaze fixed on the entrance.

Elise turned as well, just in time to see William and Victoria making their entrance into the banquet hall together.

In the next moment, Ethan watched as Elise quietly slipped away, disappearing into the distance.

Stepping out into the secluded back garden, Elise sought refuge on a swing. She let out a soft sigh, thinking to herself how utterly tedious socializing with business partners could be.

Nevertheless, it was a necessary part of her life.

She heard footsteps on the gravel path and turned to see Samantha approaching. "Elise."

Elise offered a warm smile. "Feeling tired already?"

"Absolutely. I feel like my legs are about to give out," Samantha confessed bluntly as she settled onto the swing next to Elise's. "I'm really not accustomed to wearing high heels."

"Why don't you take them off? Let your feet breathe for a moment. I used to do that all the time," Elise suggested kindly.

Samantha glanced around discreetly before slipping off her shoes. The immediate relief was undeniable.

"Elizabeth has been doing quite well lately," Samantha mentioned after a comfortable pause.

"She's far more resilient than people give her credit for," Elise remarked, a genuine grin spreading across her face as she nodded in agreement.

"Yes, she is," Samantha agreed, a visible wave of relief washing over her.

Their quiet moment of conversation was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of a man Elise didn't recognize. She had a faint feeling she might have seen him somewhere before, but she was fairly certain they had never actually met.

"So, this is where you were hiding," the man said to Samantha, his tone noticeably tender.

Elise could practically feel Samantha's posture stiffen beside her.

So, there was something between them...

"It's getting quite chilly out here, Samantha. I think I'll head back inside," Elise said tactfully, preparing to take her leave.

Samantha simply nodded in response.