LOGINChapter 5
Raya turned and walked over to the door as Alina began searching her wardrobe for a dress. Normally, Raya would be right there beside Alina, throwing clothes around, pulling dresses off the hangers and helping her pick the perfect outfit. They always laughed together whenever they got ready for an event. But tonight, she looked like she didn't give a damn. Alina noticed her friend's distant mood, but she quickly brushed it off again. Raya was always lazy when it came to searching for things anyway. She hated digging through clothes. Maybe she's just tired, she thought. Meanwhile, as Raya stood by the door, her thoughts were spiraling out of control. “Bryce has a place in his heart for Alina?” Raya asked herself under her breath, her eyes burning with hatred. “He sent her flowers and wrote a love letter to apologize? He even said he loves her and called her sweetie!?” Raya clenched her fists,the muscles in her face tightened. “No…” she muttered, running her fingers through her hair. He can't possibly love her... No, never! Did he forget she's fat, she's ugly and would ruin his reputation if he's seen outside with her!? Don't you dare you fall for her! She's not the beauty standard for a billionaire like you! She's meant for the street!” Raya screamed in her head and bit down on her lower lip so hard she felt the sharp sting of pain. Suddenly, a hand tapped her shoulder, snapping her back to reality. "Raya? Are you okay?" Alina asked, peering into her eyes. "I've been calling your name and tapping you for about a minute now. What were you so lost thinking about?" Raya quickly forced a sweet smile, doing her absolute best to hide the rage boiling inside her blood. "Oh nothing! I was just... thinking about some school stuff," Raya lied smoothly. Then she stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering they had both already graduated. She quickly laughed to cover up her mistake. "I mean… never mind! Forget about it. It's nothing important. I'm fine." "Are you sure?" Alina asked softly. Raya laughed. "Of course I'm sure!" "Okay!" Alina said joyfully. "Look at my dress!" Alina twirled around in a circle, doing a full 360-degree spin for Raya. She was smiling happily, looking completely transformed from the heart-broken bride who was crying helplessly at the altar just hours ago. "Oh, this is so beautiful!" Raya gasped. "You look breathtaking, sweetie. That dress complements your skin so perfectly!" For once, Raya wasn't lying. As much as she hated to admit it, Alina was stunning. Alina had impossibly smooth, glowing skin, and every color she wore seemed to light her up. And Besides being a brilliant accountant, Alina was also a talented fashion stylist. She always knew exactly how to dress for any occasion and never appeared dull. Whenever she entered a room, eyes naturally followed her. No matter where she went, people couldn't help stealing glances at her and talking about her clean smooth skin. In fact, their famous superstar, actress Angelina Volz had noticed her excellent fashion skill and once hired Alina to style her for an award ceremony. Most people paid thousands of dollars just to catch a glimpse of Angelina and style her for free, but the screen goddess had personally sought Alina out. That one opportunity had made Alina famous among the city's elite, and that was how she crossed paths with the Damian family in the first place. All These were the exact things Raya envied most. “How can one person be this stunning?” Raya thought bitterly, staring at her best friend. “ I'm so jealous I could die.” Thinking about everything made her anger and envy grow even stronger. Why would God give one person so much? Beauty, talent, intelligence. Even a Ruthless billionaire CEO was sending her flowers. “It's not fair…” Raya thought bitterly. Deep down, Raya knew that most of the people who bullied Alina were just jealous of her natural beauty, talent, and intelligence, things they wished they had but could never have. And Raya knew she was one of them. "I wish I had everything she has," Raya whispered to herself, but this time, Alina heard her loud and clear. "What did you say?" Alina asked. Raya quickly forced a smiled to cover up her mistake "I said you're too beautiful." She said, clapping her hands in up in the air. “Thank you so much Raya. You make me feel like a queen,” Alina laughed happily. "You are a queen… Come on, sit down!" Raya said, suddenly acting super excited. She pulled the chair in front of the dressing table into the middle of the room. "Let me do your makeup for you tonight!" "Really, oh mine!" Alina clapped her hands happily. “ I've always wanted to see what I'd look like if you did my make up.” Alina had wanted Raya to do her makeup for years, just like she always did for her. But Raya never agreed for once. Tonight was surprising for Alina and she was so excited but Raya was in for something else entirely. "Yes! And I promise you're going to love it, Alina." "Okay, let's go!" Alina smiled, sitting down. "Make it light and soft, just like the makeup on your face. I love how natural yours looks." Raya nodded eagerly. "You got it, girl!" Raya quickly applied the foundation, brushed powder across Alina's face, and blended different colors around her eyes. The moment she finished, she threw her brushes down and checked her watch, acting completely rushed. "Oh no, look at the time!" Raya gasped. "We need to go right now, Alina! We've wasted way too much time already!" Alina turned to look at herself in the dressing mirror, but Raya quickly stepped in front of it, blocking her view. “Why, Raya?” " We're running late, girlfriend. No time for mirrors!" Raya laughed nervously, pulling Alina up by her hand. "Don't you trust that I did a good job?" "Of course I trust you," Alina nodded warmly. “You look amazing and beautiful as always,” Raya said with a smile, gently brushing a strand of hair off Alina's face and tucking it behind her ear. Alina hesitated for a second before smiling back. “ Now let's go, girl. Bryce is waiting for you.” Alina picked up her handbag, and without getting a single glance in the mirror, she let Raya rush her out of the room down to the cab outside.Chapter 9Victoria had shot upright from the bed effortlessly, with a speed and strength that made no sense.This was the same woman who had spent the last several minutes claiming she was in unbearable pain, bleeding, and unable to move her body.Yet she had just lunged at him like a perfectly healthy athlete.Bryce's expression hardened as he slowly looked down at the white bedsheets. There wasn't a single drop of blood anywhere. He looked back up at Victoria, who was still sitting up completely fine. Her breathing was steady. Her face was calm. There wasn't even the slightest trace of pain in her expression."I thought you said you were in so much pain that you couldn't move?" Bryce asked, his voice dropping low. "I thought you said you were bleeding?"Bryce's gaze dropped briefly to her stomach before returning to her face. "Then how did you just move like that?”"Uh…Uwuuu..."She quickly realized her mistake and switched to the act again.“Ouch!”A pathetic whimper escaped her l
Chapter 8At the hospital, Bryce sat beside Victoria's bed, staring at her beautiful, calm face. She looked peaceful enough to be sleeping, but she was still pretending to be in unbearable agony.Every now and then, she would wince dramatically and shift beneath the blankets, as though even the slightest movement sent waves of pain through her body.Then she slowly reached for Bryce's hand and squeezed it weakly."Bryce..." she whispered, her voice trembling with feigned pain. "You have to make sure Alina pays with her life for doing this to me!"Her fingers tightened around his hand as she stared at him through tear-filled eyes."Do whatever you have to do, Bryce. I don't care how far you have to go. Even if it means wiping her entire family off the face of the earth, make sure they pay for what she did to me tonight."Her voice grew colder despite the weakness she was pretending to feel."Make her regret the day she ever crossed me. I want her to lose everything, her family, her rep
Chapter 7 Ashford ended the call without another word. "By the time she realizes what she's lost," he murmured as he walked away from the balcony, "she'll learn that carrying the Ashford name is a privilege, not a birthright.” Alina's cheeks burned with unbearable shame, but she forced herself to hold back her tears as she took a step forward and held out the small velvet box. "I... I bought this for you, Bryce. Happy birthday," she whispered, her trembling hands carefully holding out the gift. A faint, hopeful smile touched her lips despite the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. But Bryce didn't even spare the gift a single glance. His expression remained cold and indifferent, as though she were nothing more than a stranger standing before him. "I don't accept gifts from women I don't love," he said flatly, his emotionless voice slicing through the ballroom like a blade. The words struck Alina harder than a slap across the face. The smile on her face vanished in
Chapter 6 The grand ballroom sparkled beneath magnificent crystal chandeliers. Every polished floor, golden decoration, and expensive piece of furniture reflected wealth and perfection. A soft melody filled the room as influential businessmen, celebrities, and wealthy families enjoyed Bryce Damian's birthday celebration. Then Alina and Raya walked through the entrance, holding hands like inseparable lovers. Almost immediately, every conversation stopped. Alina looked around with a hopeful smile and noticed that all eyes immediately turned toward them, guests staring with their mouths slightly open. At first, Alina thought they were admiring her outfit. She wore a simple, elegant navy-blue dress that fitted her curvy figure perfectly. Her matching heels, handbag, and jewelry blended perfectly with the dress. As a talented excellent stylist, she had always known how to dress elegantly to steal glances in every gathering she walked into. But it wasn't her dress the
Chapter 5Raya turned and walked over to the door as Alina began searching her wardrobe for a dress.Normally, Raya would be right there beside Alina, throwing clothes around, pulling dresses off the hangers and helping her pick the perfect outfit.They always laughed together whenever they got ready for an event. But tonight, she looked like she didn't give a damn.Alina noticed her friend's distant mood, but she quickly brushed it off again. Raya was always lazy when it came to searching for things anyway. She hated digging through clothes.Maybe she's just tired, she thought.Meanwhile, as Raya stood by the door, her thoughts were spiraling out of control.“Bryce has a place in his heart for Alina?” Raya asked herself under her breath, her eyes burning with hatred. “He sent her flowers and wrote a love letter to apologize? He even said he loves her and called her sweetie!?” Raya clenched her fists,the muscles in her face tightened. “No…” she muttered, running her fingers through
Chapter 4Later that evening, Alina sat alone on her favourite seat in the balcony outside her bedroom, rested her arms on the railing and stared at the darkening sky as countless thoughts filled her mind.Her marriage to Bryce was over. No matter how much Beatrice Roth begged her to fix things with him, she had already made up her mind she was done. For five years, she had always been the one apologizing, forgiving, and fighting to keep their relationship alive. Bryce had never done the same for her.She was tired of begging him to love her.She was tired of trying to prove that she was enough.After everything that had happened at the church, she finally accepted the truth.Bryce had never loved her. And he was never going to love her anyway.His heart had always belonged to Victoria Ashford, his beautiful childhood friend. An actress a lot of men were dying to have in their life.Alina knew she could never compete with her in Bryce's heart. She thought about running away to an







