Chapter 2

I whispered it, so softly. Maybe Julian heard me, his eyes shining intensely in the dark room.

What happened next was a blur, a natural progression. Lips met, teeth grazed. He held me fiercely, as if trying to merge me into his very bones, yet his kisses were incredibly gentle.

I stayed with him in that private room, drinking all night. His eyes, still hazy with drink, traced my face. His fingers, surprisingly rough, brushed over the beauty mark near my eye. He just stared at me for a long, long time.

Suddenly, a smile touched his lips, as if he’d remembered something amusing. “You like me that much, huh?” he chuckled.

“Is this your first kiss? Be my girlfriend.”

I agreed.

No flowers, no grand confession. Just like that, we were together.

A month passed, and my relationship with Julian felt unchanged.

I still went through my daily routine of classes and studying, and Julian still frequented the same party spots.

Then, one day, Julian stopped me after class. He stood there, hesitating for a long moment, before finally telling me, “Come to a party with me tonight. I want to introduce you to everyone.”

“And make sure you wear that white dress I gave you.”

My fingers brushed the smooth, elegant fabric of the white dress, and I felt a pang of emotion.

The girl staring back from the mirror didn’t quite suit this dress; she wasn’t poised or tall enough, and she certainly lacked that innate elegance and air of superiority.

I sighed, but remembering Julian's instruction, I reluctantly put it on. I stepped into the waiting car, heading to the party.

Like Cinderella at midnight, riding in a pumpkin carriage to meet her cherished Prince Charming. But how could reality ever be like a fairy tale?

It was a chilly autumn night in the city. I wore the thin white dress, feeling utterly out of place in the decadent VIP lounge of the upscale club.

The air was thick with smoke, expensive liquor, and designer perfumes, suffocating me.

I sat beside Julian, feeling like a carefully dressed doll.

He casually draped an arm behind me, lazily introducing me to his friends as his “official” girlfriend.

The others snickered, their gazes unsettling.

Julian didn’t say anything, just lifted his eyes to me with a bored look, as if I were an insignificant object.

But his fingers gently hooked the hem of my dress, tightening as if testing my reaction.

I lowered my gaze, picked up the lemonade on the table, and took a few sips. Then, slowly, I refilled Julian’s glass with liquor, my movements so practiced it was as if I’d done it a thousand times.

I had long anticipated a scene like this. Over the years, I’d been mocked behind my back countless times by these "friends," yet Julian had never once intervened.

I could only try my best to suppress my emotions. But a heart is made of flesh and blood, and a dense, prickly ache spread through me.

Unaccustomed to the environment, I excused myself to the restroom. When I returned, I heard a burst of laughter erupting from the private room, some of it clearly directed at me.

“Hey, Julian, you’re something else! Did you actually convince her to wear Serena’s dress?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, that’s not Serena’s dress. Julian takes such good care of Serena’s clothes. That’s just a cheap knock-off. Look at that poor girl, so thrilled with it, it’s hilarious!”

Through the crack in the door, I saw a new girl had taken my seat. Julian didn’t object, just casually smoked.

“Alright, enough. Watch what you say.”

“Remember not to let Serena hear about this.”