1 - Wrong Kiss

Elena’s POV

“Run, girl! Run!”

My body froze.

I wish I’d paid attention to those two words. Because maybe—just, maybe, I could’ve saved myself from the most humiliating moment in my life.

The Company’s dinner party.

Just as usual as it used to be. Couples dancing, orchestra, suit, formal gown. Freshmen pretended to smile because they were not allowed to go home before the President came over and talked to the stage.

Table seven. We drank so much that we lost count. Daniella—my best friend, grabbed my shoulder out of nowhere.

“What’s up?” I asked, feeling her trembled hand.

She almost spilled her wine with that pale skin on her face.

“Fuck. Turn your head away.” She suddenly pushed my back. “I said, turn your head away!”

“From what?” I tried to look back when Daniella pushed me away.

I hope I just ran away instead of being so curious.

I had to drop my wine glass—

at the sight that was supposed not to be here.

Gabriel Beresford. My boyfriend.

Yesterday, he called me to say he couldn’t join the company dinner because his mom went to the hospital again.

That Gabriel. The same Gabriel.

But, that wasn’t what made me lost my breath.

My eyes rolled down, to his hand that grabbed a woman’s waist in front of our seniors. My eyes stopped at the ring. They’re wearing matching rings. So casually. Almost looked like they had been doing that for years.

Ten years. We’ve been dating since high school. I’ve been defending him every time my parents told me he’s a trash man. So all his family members. All my friends told me to left him, but because my grandfather loves him so much, I tried to do so.

I can’t believe now I can see why my friends pushed me away to run away.

“Just… go. Okay? Just let’s go.” Danielle noticed my expression. She tried to grab my hand before I could do anything, but—

“Yes. This is Belle, my fiancée—”

/SLAP!/

“What the fuck!?”

Murmured voices circled around us. I slapped Gabriel in the face right when he tried to introduce that woman to our seniors.

“Hey! How dare you—wait, Elena? D-darling, what are you doing here?”

His hand was raised already as he was about to punch me. His hand stopped the moment he recognized my face. Those sharp eyes suddenly widened in terror. Behind him, our seniors started to murmur.

I saw a fake guilt in his eyes as he tried to gain the crowd’s attention.

“Elena, this is not what you think—”

“Since when?” I snapped at his hand that tried to hold me. “Since your mom tried to poisoned me? Or, when you always were late for our anniversary?”

None of those questions were answered. His eyes, fixated on that woman. I think I have seen her, somewhere. God suddenly lit up my brain. The crowds glanced at me as I clapped. “I see. So, that woman is YOU? The one he met every time my grandfather sent him an allowance?”

“Elena.” His voice suddenly punched me. “Don’t drag her. She knows nothing.”

“You said your mom is sick,” I said, feeling my throat burning. “Is that why you are lying? Because you fucking cheated on me?”

I gritted my teeth. The words that my mom used to say in front of our grandfather, popped up out of nowhere.

‘He only after our money.’ Yeah. I wonder why I just realized that.

Our family is pretty well off. My parents hate him to the grave. But my grandfather, favours him so much that he forgot I’m his own grandchild.

Grandfather used to give us a ‘task’ when we were still in college. The task was to handle one of his company branches. I always failed, but Gabriel always exceeded his expectation. I have better skill at handling companies, to be honest. It’s just that I don’t have that much confidence, unlike Gabriel who was raised by love.

Since then, my grandfather threatened me if I don’t marry him, he’ll cancelled my share.

But now I understand why my parents hate him that much.

“Sigh.” Gabriel let out a long breath. He glared at me. That tiny little guilt I felt earlier, now flipped into despise.

“I need a woman who can match my intelligence, okay?” he said, voice annoyed. “I couldn’t just bring any woman as my partner and embarrass my seniors. Look at yourself. You couldn’t even control your emotion.”

He looked up and down at me. “I only dated because your grandfather asked me to. But I can’t be with an immature woman for the rest of my life, right? You know me. I like smart women.”

It’s like my body snapped into two.

I clenched my fist, trying not to cry in front of him. I started to glance at that woman—then, the ring. The ring that was supposed to be mine.

Suddenly, the sadness turned into anger. Gabriel flinched as he noticed my expression grow colder.

“…”

“Nathan Stallard.”

“Yeah, try to beg me once more time and I’ll—what?” Gabriel paused. He suddenly frowned. “What did you say?”

“Nathan Stallard,” I said, louder, to make sure everyone in the building heard me. “I forgot to tell you, since you’re busy cheating on me. But, my parents already arranged a marriage with Nathan Stallard.”

I lifted my face, grinning, “I regret rejecting his proposal for you. Seemed I need to see him after the party.”

“Nathan—that Nathan Stallard?” He was shocked. “Our high school student president? That one Nepo fucking Baby?”

“Is that Nathan Stallard you said proposed to you?”

I smirked. I love how panicked he was, knowing Nathan Stallard is his forever enemy since we were students.

“Yes,” I said, confidence. I grabbed the ring that I borrowed from my mom for this party accessory, put it on in front of him. “He already gave me a ring. I just almost threw it away.”

Gabriel forced his pale face into a smile, “You little bitch—”

I roamed around, trying to find the tall figure that had been annoying me since earlier.

Nathan Stallard—there is he.

Perfect as ever.

Holding his wine glass so classically like a nobleman. I never guessed I’d ever use his name after so long without greeting.

“Elena! What were you thinking!?” I could hear Daniella whispering from the back as she watched me walk toward him.

“Don’t!”

It’s too late.

I grabbed a bottle of new wine and finished it in one tug. Make me drugs so I can gain some confidence. I found Nathan Stallard next to the food table. I could hear our seniors gasp as Gabriel kept shouting my name.

I grabbed him by the collar. My head started spinning.

My hand pulled his maroon tie. Our chests bumped. I kissed him brutally in front of everyone, until they heard the voice of my moving tongue. I shared the remaining wine in my lips with him.

I could feel eyes flickering in confusion. The party started to roam. Everyone gasped as a strange woman dared to kiss their nepo baby out of nowhere. Between our brutal kiss, my ears flinched as I heard Danniella screaming.

“Fuck, Elena!”

“You kissed the wrong guy!”