Chapter 2

Curled up on the plush carpet, I hugged my knees to my chest, numb fingers mindlessly scrolling through my phone.

And that was when I stumbled upon Heidi's latest post.

She had just shared a picture of the "Only Star in the Galaxy"—a pink diamond so rare and dazzling it looked as if it had been plucked straight from the heavens.

I still remembered how Cassian had fought tooth and nail for that diamond at the auction, going back and forth with rival bidders for dozens of rounds before finally winning it.

Everyone had assumed, without a shadow of doubt, that he had bought it for me.

But now, that very same diamond was perched prettily on Heidi's delicate hand.

The caption beneath the photo read: [Who says a fleeting moment of brilliance can't rival a lifetime of companionship? Grateful to God for letting me meet you.]

Fleeting moment of brilliance. Lifetime of companionship.

I stared at the words, feeling the sting in their hidden meanings.

Without thinking, I clicked open my chat with Richard Henderson. Our conversation was still frozen on the last message he had sent—the one where he had confessed his feelings, asking if I would be his girlfriend.

Slowly and deliberately, I typed a reply: [Okay. I accept.]

Almost immediately, a message bounced back: [Changed your mind?]

Once upon a time, my heart had been so tiny, so narrow, it could hold only one person. Now it was vast and hollow, and yet, no one seemed able to fill it.

If that was the case, why not give Richard and myself a chance?

The next morning, I submitted my application for the overseas exchange program without a second thought.

And I made another decision: I would move back into the school dormitory.

I returned home to pack a few of my things, expecting a quiet, uneventful visit. Instead, the moment I pushed open the door, I was greeted by the sight of Heidi standing in the kitchen, casually stirring something over the stove.

She wore a flimsy, provocative camisole dress, and in one hand she held a tablet, watching something with leisurely amusement.

Something about the tablet caught my eye—it looked alarmingly familiar.

It was mine.

She was flipping through it with complete disregard, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth every so often, as if mocking what she saw.

"Give it back!" I cried, rushing forward in a panic, reaching out to snatch it from her.

That tablet had no password. It contained important files, countless photos, and worst of all—my personal diaries, chronicling years of memories with Cassian, all the private little confessions and foolish daydreams I had never dared to say out loud.

They were all exposed now. Violated.

Heidi, quick and agile, easily dodged my grasp. Then, without so much as a second's hesitation, she hurled the entire tablet into the bubbling pot on the stove.

The scalding broth swallowed the device whole. Within seconds, the screen flickered once—then went black.

Frantic, I plunged my hand into the boiling liquid, but the searing heat burned my skin instantly, leaving an angry, red welt across the back of my hand.

Blinded by rage, I turned and slapped her—hard.

Heidi stumbled back, her hand pressed against her cheek, her eyes burning with venomous hatred.

For a long moment, neither of us moved.

Then, slowly, she lowered her hand and gave a soft, derisive laugh.

"You're so in love with Cassian, aren't you?" she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "Too bad all your precious little fantasies will come true today, for me."