The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 213: Attention

Chapter 213: Attention

As Remo’s public display of affection towards Abby drew the attention of the onlookers, a few individuals in the crowd couldn’t help but feel a prickling sense of jealousy and resentment bubbling up within them.

Among the spectators, Abby’s jealous ex-fiancé, Alex, watched with narrowed eyes, his jaw clenched tight as he observed Remo’s tender gesture towards Abby. Despite their past, he couldn’t deny the pang of envy that shot through him at the sight of Abby looking so radiant in Remo’s arms. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to suppress the surge of bitterness that threatened to consume him.

Nearby, Abby’s cousin,Lily who harbored a deep-seated resentment towards her, scowled as she watched the intimate moment between Remo and Abby unfold before her eyes. The envy burned hot within her, fueling the flames of her disdain for Abby’s seemingly perfect life. She glanced away, unable to bear the sight of her cousin basking in the affection of a man who seemed to adore her every move.

And then there was the man who secretly harbored feelings for Abby,Cage, his heart sinking as he witnessed the undeniable chemistry between her and Remo. He swallowed hard, a knot forming in his throat as he realized that his chances with Abby were slipping further and further away with each passing moment. Despite his efforts to hide his emotions, a flicker of sadness crossed his features before he quickly masked it with a forced smile, unwilling to let his true feelings show.

Lily’s eyes narrowed as she followed Cage’s gaze, her heart sinking as she saw him staring at Abby with a look of longing and adoration. A surge of jealousy pierced through her, the bitter realization setting in that Cage couldn’t tear his eyes away from her cousin.

But it wasn’t just Cage. As Lily glanced around the room, she noticed that everyone’s attention seemed to be focused solely on Abby. The whispers and glances that followed her every move only fueled Lily’s growing resentment.

Abby stood at the center of the room, a vision of beauty and grace that captivated everyone who laid eyes on her. Her radiant smile and effortless charm seemed to draw people in like moths to a flame, leaving Lily feeling overshadowed and overlooked.

All of the attention should have been on her, not Abby. After all, she was the one who deserved to be the center of attention, the one who deserved to be adored and admired by all.

But as Lily’s eyes landed on her boyfriend, she felt a surge of anger bubbling up within her. His gaze was fixed on Abby, his expression filled with a mixture of fascination and desire that made Lily’s blood boil.

At that moment, all hell broke loose. The simmering jealousy and resentment that had been brewing within Lily erupted into a storm of fury

As Lily’s anger reached a boiling point, she grabbed her glass and drowned the alcohol in one swift motion, the bitterness of the liquid matching the bitterness in her heart. With determination etched on her features, she made her way through the crowd, her eyes fixed on Abby like a hawk stalking its prey.

Abby, sensing Lily’s approach, pulled away to face her cousin with a polite smile, though she couldn’t ignore the venomous glint in Lily’s eyes.

"Well, well, if it isn’t my dear cousin Abby," Lily began, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "You certainly do know how to steal the spotlight, don’t you? I must say, it’s quite impressive."

Abby’s smile remained unchanged, though there was a glint of steel in her eyes as she met Lily’s gaze head-on. "Why thank you, Lily," she replied smoothly, her tone deceptively light. "But I must say, you’re looking positively radiant tonight. Must be all the attention you’re getting."

Lily’s smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of irritation flashing across her features before she quickly masked it with a forced grin. "Oh, you flatter me, Abby," she replied through gritted teeth. "But we both know who the real star of the show is tonight."

Abby chuckled softly, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Of course, Lily," she replied, her tone playful. "After all, there’s only room for one shining star in this galaxy, isn’t there?"

Lily’s grip tightened around her glass, the icy bitterness of the alcohol burning her throat as she fought to maintain her composure in the face of Abby’s calm confidence. Her facade of sweetness cracked ever so slightly, revealing the simmering anger that lurked just beneath the surface.

"That’s right, Abby," Lily shot back, her voice laced with thinly veiled contempt. "And it’s clear who that star is tonight."

Abby’s smile remained firmly in place, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes as she watched Lily struggle to keep up the pretense. "Oh, Lily," she said with a small shake of her head. "I had no idea you were so fond of stargazing."

The subtle jab hit its mark, and Lily’s forced grin faltered for a moment as a flash of frustration crossed her features. But she quickly recovered, masking her irritation with a forced laugh.

Abby’s smile widened ever so slightly, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she leaned in closer to Lily, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It seems your dear fiancé can’t take his eyes off you" she murmured, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Maybe not," Abby whispered, her voice laced with a hint of mockery.

Lily’s jaw clenched tightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. She could feel the heat of anger rising within her, threatening to erupt like a volcano ready to spew its molten fury.

Her eyes darted towards her fiancé, Alex, only to find him unabashedly gazing at Abby, his expression filled with admiration and desire. It was as if Lily was invisible, her presence overshadowed by the captivating allure of her cousin.

But before she could respond, the tension between them was interrupted by the sound of applause from the surrounding crowd.

The attention shifted away from their exchange as the Master of Ceremonies announced Abby’s uncle to the stage for the welcoming speech.

As the applause filled the room, Lily’s frustration only intensified. She felt overshadowed, ignored, and belittled in front of everyone.

As the applause died down and her father began his speech, Lily’s mind raced with thoughts of revenge. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed by Abby, and the burning desire to reclaim the spotlight consumed her every thought.

With a steely resolve, Lily scanned the room, her eyes landing on Alex, her fiancé, who was still engrossed in watching Abby. The sight only fueled her anger further. How dare he pay more attention to Abby than to her, his own fiancée?

Determined to make her presence known, Lily took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. With calculated precision, she maneuvered through the crowd, her eyes fixed on Alex as she approached him.

"Alex," she said, her voice tight with barely concealed fury. "Is something distracting you?"

Alex tore his gaze away from Abby, blinking in surprise at Lily’s sudden appearance. "Oh, uh, sorry, Lily," he stammered, a guilty flush creeping up his neck. "I was just... lost in thought."

Lily’s eyes narrowed as she studied Alex’s reaction, her mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and insecurity. With a calculated move, she tilted her head slightly, allowing a hint of suspicion to color her tone.

"Are you sure it’s just ’lost in thought’?" Lily asked, her voice tinged with a touch of skepticism. "Because it certainly seemed like you were captivated by someone else’s presence."

Alex’s eyes widened in surprise at Lily’s accusation, his face flushing with discomfort. "Lily, I swear, you’re reading too much into it," he protested, his voice tinged with defensiveness. "I was just... admiring the decorations, that’s all."

But Lily was not convinced by his feeble explanation. She could see the hesitation in his eyes, the guilt that lingered just beneath the surface. Her suspicions only grew stronger, fueling the fire of her resentment towards Abby and the growing rift between her and Alex.

With a curt nod, Lily forced a tight smile, though the bitterness in her heart was palpable. "Of course, Alex," she replied, her voice laced with thinly veiled sarcasm. "I’m sure you were just admiring the decorations. How silly of me to think otherwise."

Alex nodded, "Yes."

"Well, perhaps you should focus a little more on the person you came here with," Lily said, her tone icy. "After all, I am your fiancée."

Alex’s expression faltered, a flicker of guilt crossing his features. "Of course, Lily," he replied, his voice tinged with regret. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you."

But Lily was not satisfied with his apology. The damage had already been done, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of being overlooked and disregarded. His eyes is supposed to be on her only!