Chapter 38: Attending a Cocktail Party

Ursula slipped back into the Marketplace's rhythm, sharing quick smiles with her colleagues before plunging into her work.

The summer crowds thrived, and Ursula moved through her tasks with relentless energy.

Dylan breezed into the store with Matthew, and Timothy was close on their heels.

"Ursula, came to whisk you away. Where's your knight in shining armor?" Dylan quipped, a playful glint in her eye.

Ursula, caught off guard, flicked her gaze to Matthew, then quickly back to Dylan with a forced smile. "Just met at the door." Timothy, sliding past Matthew to check on Ursula. His touch was gentle on her forehead. "You should be resting, not working. Luckily, you're not feverish."

The brief contact startled them both. Ursula, a bit dazed, said "I'm fine."

Dylan couldn't resist a jab at Matthew, "Worried about Ursula's health, weren't you? Seems she's in good hands."

Despite their relationship, Ursula felt nothing for Matthew, only a cold distance. His response to Dylan's tease was frosty, "She doesn't need anyone's concern."

Dylan's mock protest was cut short by Timothy's protective stance. "As her boyfriend, I've got her well-being covered." he said, facing down Matthew's icy stare.

Matthew's lips curled slightly, his disdain thinly veiled. Timothy sensed the sarcasm but dismissed it, puzzled by the tension.

Ursula, feeling the undercurrents, stepped forward to break the silence. "Dylan, what brings you here?"

Dylan, snapping out of her thoughts, blurted, "Almost forgot, there's a business cocktail party tonight. You should come with Timothy."

Ursula, reluctant after declining Dylan's invitation the day before, looked to Timothy for a cue. He accepted gracefully, and she followed.

"See you at 8 at the Empire Hotel," Dylan winked, then turned to Matthew, "Let's get ready."

Matthew's parting glance at Ursula was unreadable, and once outside, he distanced himself from Dylan, who felt a sting of rejection.

"Let's head out, I'll drive you home." Timothy offered Ursula, who quickly apologized for any earlier confusion.

Timothy's gaze was intense, "No need for formalities, Ursula. I'm your boyfriend, remember?"

Ursula nodded, and Timothy's demeanor softened. "Trust me," he urged gently.

After dropping her off at her apartment, Timothy left to prepare for the evening. Ursula was left alone, her heart heavy with unspoken truths.

She decided to come clean to Timothy after the reception, but the thought of the possibility of hurting him weighed on her.

Opening her closet, Ursula faced all the clothes that Matthew had gifted her, they are like a reminder of her gilded cage. She chose a simple black dress, eager to shut the door on the past.

Timothy called to pick her up, but Ursula, feeling a sudden urge for independence, insisted on meeting him downstairs.

"Alright," came Timothy's reply, a hint of reluctance in his voice.