Chapter 1

At our high school reunion, Tiffany, our former class valedictorian, stood in the grand foyer of my luxury villa and claimed she bought it with the massive profits from her latest project.

She pulled out an investment prospectus and swore to everyone, "Invest twenty thousand dollars today, and you’re guaranteed a million back."

Our former classmates bought into every word, scrambling to send her money. I was the only one who refused.

Tiffany pointed right at my face and sneered.

"Can't even scrape together twenty grand? Someone doing as poorly as you should be begging for an opportunity like this!"

I almost laughed out loud.

She rented my villa just to flex, and now she was calling me broke?

I had just locked my Lime bike by the gates of the gated hillside estate.

A sleek black Mercedes S-Class pulled up smoothly in front of me.

The tinted window rolled down, revealing an impeccably contoured yet visibly spiteful face.

It was Tiffany, our high school valedictorian.

She looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on the bright yellow-green rental bike before her lips curled into a mocking smirk.

"Well, well. Look who it is. Chloe?"

"After all these years, you're still living so... green?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was pitched just right for the classmates getting out of the car behind her to hear every syllable.

"Must be tough out there, huh?"

"Those rental bikes bumped up their rates lately, you know. A couple of bucks a ride adds up. Better pinch those pennies."

A few girls behind her covered their mouths, giggling with unconcealed condescension.

I didn't own a car, and since the transit stop right below my downtown loft was so convenient, I hadn't bothered to Uber.

The bus stop was just a bit far from the estate entrance, and I hadn't felt like walking up the hill, so I’d hopped on a bike for the last mile.

"It’s fine. Good workout," I replied casually.

I had zero interest in making small talk and headed straight for the front doors.

Tiffany was clearly annoyed by my indifferent brush-off.

She hurried to catch up, her stilettos clicking sharply against the cobblestones.

"Chloe, you really need to work on your personality. You're way too antisocial."

"When we get inside, don't just sit in the corner feeling inferior and keep quiet. We're all old friends here."

As she spoke, she punched in the digital code with practiced ease and pushed open the heavy mahogany double doors.

Watching her act like she owned the place, I felt a surge of pure amusement.

This villa had been awarded to me by my company just last month.

Since it was a bit far from the office, I usually lived in my downtown loft closer to work.

Leaving the place completely empty felt like a waste, so I’d listed it on an upscale short-term rental platform.

The booking had been handled entirely through the app. The guest simply mentioned it was for a class reunion, so I hadn't thought twice about it.

It wasn't until yesterday’s notification popped up in our high school SnapChat group that I realized the renter was Tiffany.

The second everyone stepped into the grand foyer, the crowd behind her erupted into gasps.

"Oh my god, Tiffany! This is the place you were talking about?"

"It's massive! Look at those vaulted ceilings and the floor-to-ceiling windows! The interior design alone must’ve cost millions!"

"You really are the most successful one in our class! It’s only been a few years, and you’re already living like royalty!"

Standing in the center of the hall, Tiffany bathed in their shameless flattery, putting on an air of modest elegance.

"Oh, it's really nothing. Just a little bonus my company awarded me for hitting my quarterly targets."

"I've been managing a major wellness and biotech fund recently, and the returns have been fantastic. The board decided to gift me this estate as a token of appreciation."

Turning her back to me, she pointed up at the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, her tone dripping with arrogance.

"Imported straight from Italy. Just that single fixture costs more than what an average person makes in a whole year."

I quietly walked over to a seat in the far corner.

It was right next to the kitchen serving station—traditionally the least noticeable and most overlooked spot in the dining room.

Tiffany scanned the room, and her eyes predictably landed on me.

She frowned slightly, visibly annoyed by my refusal to fawn over her.

"Chloe, why on earth are you sitting over there?"

"That's right next to where the catering staff passes through. It's dusty. Don't go ruining your cheap clothes."

There wasn't a trace of genuine concern in her voice—only dripping condescension.

"I'm fine. It's quiet here," I said, taking a sip of iced water.

"See? Still so distant," Tiffany chuckled, shaking her head as she turned to the rest of the room.

"Let's not give Chloe a hard time, guys. We’re all living in completely different worlds now."

"At her little day job, she probably makes a couple of grand a month. She's never seen anything this upscale before."

"Sitting over there is probably for the best. It'll keep her from having a panic attack."

The others immediately chimed in, bursting into knowing laughter.

"Seriously, Chloe. You should take notes from Tiffany. Look at her poise and presence."

"Back when we graduated, I actually thought you might amount to something. Who knew you'd end up looking so miserable?"

Their stinging remarks buzzed in my ears like annoying flies.

My fingers tightened slightly around my glass, but my face remained completely calm.