Mercy for Everyone but Me

I didn't reply. Instead, I lifted my gaze to look at him.

Sean was undeniably handsome. He had eyes that were flirtatious yet passionate, the kind you could drown in if you weren't careful. I tugged at his slightly crooked tie. It was the one I'd picked out for him two days ago.

The banquet had been underway for quite some time now. There weren't many people by the entrance, so I leaned close to Sean's ear, my movements slow and deliberate.

"I'm not the only one in a mood, Mr. Thompson," I said.

Walking toward us in the distance was Mabel Hamilton, Sean's soon-to-be fiancee. Her smile almost faltered as she approached us.

As I watched her stride toward us as though she'd caught us cheating, I couldn't help but laugh.

"What do you think she'll call me when she gets here?" I asked Sean. "A mistress or a slut?"

Sean was long accustomed to my bold remarks. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"She wouldn't dare come over," he replied.

Sure enough, when Mabel was merely steps away from us, Sean lifted his gaze and glanced at her. She abruptly turned and walked off to the side.

I laughed openly.

As usual, I hooked my arm through Sean's as we mingled our way through the banquet. I quickly lost track of how many times my champagne glass had been emptied and refilled. The looks directed at me held both envy and disdain.

These people were all members of high society. No one would openly call me shameless even if they thought it, lest they offend the big shot next to me.

Still, their eyes spoke volumes, and standing at the center of it all, I felt every last ounce of their malice.

I didn't care, though. Perhaps it was because I was dressed too beautifully tonight.

…

"Today is Luke's birthday. There's another gathering later," Sean informed me.

The lights in the car were dim. I played with his fingers, nestled lazily in his embrace. I offered no objections upon hearing his words and merely yawned.

"Tired already?"

I didn't speak. I could sense that he was in a good mood, so I pulled his hand down. Sean chuckled, his grip tightening as he drew me closer. He brushed my lips with his fingertips, his heartbeat steady in my ears.

"We'll stay for a bit and then leave," he said.

Unable to resist Sean's rare display of tenderness, I fell asleep in his arms like that. At some point in my haze, I dreamed of the day we first met.

When we entered the private room, everyone else was already gathered. The man of the hour was Luke Short, Sean's childhood friend.

He seemed to be in the middle of some sort of game and was stripped down to his underwear. A few others were around him, trying to pull off his last shred of modesty.

Luke's face was bright red as he tugged at his underwear, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, Sean! Come join in the fun!"

Most of the people present were Luke's friends, many of whom also knew Sean. As I rarely attended private gatherings like this one, I quietly found a corner to sit in and watched the commotion unfold.

Sean had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Wherever he went, he always ended up being the center of attention. I noticed a few women nearby edge closer to him. It was quite amusing, really.

I stopped watching them after a while. The singer on stage had an incredible voice. When he sang a string of impressively high notes, I found myself almost reeling.

A sudden burst of commotion snapped me back to my senses. I turned to see the woman next to Sean looking all flustered as she gazed at him shyly.

The next moment, Sean dipped his head casually and kissed her on the cheek.