Lauren smirked, her eyes cold and unrepentant as she slowly turned and walked off the stage. Her heels clicked sharply on the polished floor, swaying confidently with every step. Mark's gaze followed her, lingering a moment too long on the curve of her hips. Anna caught the look and felt a sudden sting of something fierce and painful deep in her chest.
Mark took Anna's hand gently but firmly and led her away from the lively chatter and clinking glasses of the party, toward a quiet, dimly lit room near the back of the venue. The muffled sounds of music and conversation faded behind the closed door, but the tension between them thickened like a storm ready to break.
Anna's fingers dug into her palms as she fought to keep her voice steady. "Who is she, Mark? Why did she just come up on stage and punch me like that? What does she want from you?"
Mark exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm. "Anna, Lauren is my ex. She's unstable, and I didn't expect her to come here."
"Your ex?" Anna's voice rose sharply, a mix of disbelief and hurt. "And you didn't think to tell me? Did you think I wouldn't care?"
Mark frowned, feeling defensive. "I didn't want to ruin the party. It was supposed to be about us."
Anna shook her head, frustration spilling over. "But it's never just about us, is it? You looked at her — really looked at her — like she still owns a piece of you."
Mark's eyes narrowed. "I was surprised, Anna. That's all."
"Surprised? You don't just stare like that at a woman who punched your fiancée. What am I supposed to think? That you're still interested? That you want her back?"
"No! That's not what I want." Mark's voice hardened. "You're making this into something it's not."
Anna's voice cracked, tears threatening. "Maybe it is something, Mark. Maybe it's the truth you've been hiding from me."
"Don't put words in my mouth," he snapped. "I love you. You have to believe that."
Anna took a step back, her whole body trembling with anger and pain. "If you loved me, you would have told me about her. You'd have stood up to her instead of just letting her walk all over me."
Mark's jaw clenched. "I didn't want a scene. I wanted to protect you."
Anna shook her head bitterly. "Protect me? By lying? By pretending everything's fine while she shows up and ruins our night?"
The silence between them grew heavy, filled with everything left unsaid. The fiancé party — meant to be a night of joy — had become a battlefield where trust was shattered and doubt ruled.