The Christmas lights twinkled like millions of stars, reflecting off the polished floors of the Ziegler mansion. The air was thick with the scent of spruce, champagne, and the anticipation of the holiday. On Christmas Eve, the Harfords' marriage seemed like an ice castle, sparkling on the outside, but empty and cold on the inside.

Alice fluttered around the room like a butterfly, her laughter ringing along with the music, attracting the attention of the men. Bill, lost in his thoughts, watched her with a distant and cold gaze, feeling the gap between them.

Suddenly, Alice disappeared from sight. Bill felt not only annoyed, but also strangely relieved that he did not have to maintain the pretense of being a perfect couple. While he was distracted by the endless stream of people, the glitter of the chandeliers, and the conversations, Alice was having a lively dialogue with a man. Their closeness was so obvious that the air between them seemed electric. Bill saw his wife leaving the hall with him and felt neither the reality of the event nor jealousy. Meanwhile, Bill found himself in the arms of two dazzling models, their graceful figures wrapped in elegant dresses. Suddenly, through the whirlwind of glitter and noise, Bill saw a familiar face. It was Nick, his old classmate, now a successful musician playing in an orchestra. However, Nick was not alone. Next to him stood a woman, incredibly beautiful. In that moment, Bill realized that this was not just attraction. This was a desire that he did not feel even for his wife. This was complete, absolute love, which he had been deprived of for many years. At that moment, his heart beat not from guilt, but from nascent hope. As soon as Nick stepped aside, Bill immediately appeared next to you, clearing his throat to attract attention.—"I did not know that Nick could have such a beautiful companion. You are just a ray of sunshine, lady."