Chapter 1: GRADUATION BALL

It was graduation ball night. Everyone was having fun. It was the only occasion when all the senior students from every department in the university could gather together in one place.

Jewel had been looking for Cherrie everywhere, but with no luck. Eventually, she decided to return to their assigned table.

She walked slowly, trying to ignore the painful blisters on her heels. As she made her way across the venue, she accidentally bumped into another student who was passing by the dance floor.

Turning to apologize, her gaze drifted toward the east hallway.

There, she spotted Cherrie.

"Finally found you," Jewel muttered under her breath.

However, Cherrie was not alone. She was with her boyfriend, Larry.

Even from a distance, Jewel could tell they were arguing, and she had a pretty good idea why. Earlier, before losing sight of Cherrie, she had seen her dancing with Frank Mason. Based on all the stories her best friend had shared; Larry was extremely jealous whenever Frank was involved.

With a sigh, Jewel gave up on interrupting them and returned to her seat.

After a while, Cherrie finally headed in her direction

"Jewel, I'm heading home first. I'm not feeling well."

"Are you sure?" Jewel asked.

Cherrie answered with a nod.

"Alright, I'll go back with you."

They had been friends and neighbors since childhood, so they usually went home together after school, especially when neither of them had any other commitments.

Jewel was about to get up from her seat and put down her drink when Cherrie waved her hand, signaling for her to stay where she was.

Jewel looked at her questioningly, as if asking, Why?

"Stay here and enjoy the party."

"Cherrie, you said you're not feeling well. I'll worry if you head home alone."

Cherrie recognized the concern in Jewel's voice. They had been friends and neighbors since they were nine years old. Jewel had always worried about her whenever her health was involved.

Cherrie slowly sat down beside Jewel.

"I'm just upset with Larry. I know I won't be able to enjoy tonight, so I want to go home."

Cherrie gently held Jewel's hands.

"So don't mind me. Enjoy the last night of our college days. Don't let my childish fight with my boyfriend spoil your evening."

Cherrie kissed Jewel on the cheek and stood up.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Without waiting for a reply, Cherrie turned and walked away.

Jewel did not insist. She already knew that her best friend wanted to be alone.

Suddenly, she remembered that she still had the keys to Cherrie's car. They had driven to the university together in Cherrie's vehicle, and Jewel figured it would be better to let her take it home. Besides, she planned on drinking later and wouldn't be able to drive anyway.

She got up, excused herself from the table, and hurried after Cherrie.

Looking left and right along the cross-wing corridor, she searched for her friend, but there was no sign of her.

Jewel headed outside and scanned the parking lot.

"Wow, she was fast!"

Jewel couldn't help but shrug her shoulders before turning back toward the building.

She was about to enter the complex when she noticed a silhouette inside a nearby car. Without thinking, she walked closer, intending to ask if the person had seen Cherrie pass by.

Before she could get any closer, she froze in surprise.

It was Cherrie.

She was kissing a man inside the car.

When the heated kiss finally ended, Jewel was able to recognize him.

Frank Mason.

A law student at their university.

Jewel stared in disbelief.

Her best friend, the girl she had always thought was as pure as snow, was cheating on Larry.

She bit her lower lip as thoughts of Larry flooded her mind. A flicker of pain crossed her eyes, revealing emotions she had buried deep within her heart for a long time.

The two people inside the car seemed completely unaware of her presence.

Just as Jewel was about to let them know she was there, she heard Cherrie speak.

"Let's go. Where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise. You'll love it."

Cherrie straightened her crumpled clothes.

On impulse, Jewel ducked behind a nearby pillar.

A moment later, she groaned inwardly. She had come after Cherrie intending to confront her about Larry, yet her first reaction had been to hide.

What am I doing?

She was about to step out and make her presence known when the sound of an engine brought her back to her senses.

The car pulled away, speeding out of the parking lot before she could react.

Jewel was completely dumbfounded by her best friend's behavior.

How could Cherrie cheat on Larry?

They had been together for almost two years.

Jewel still remembered the love-struck look on Cherrie's face whenever she talked about her first boyfriend. Back then, she had been genuinely happy for her friend. Cherrie had looked as though she were floating on cloud nine, and her excitement had made Jewel curious to meet this so-called boyfriend.

Unlike Cherrie, Jewel had been in relationships before, so she had done her best to support her first romance.

Thinking back, she also remembered the heartbreak that had consumed her when she discovered that the man she secretly loved was the same man who made her best friend blush.

She had buried those feelings deep within her heart and convinced herself they no longer mattered.

Yet now, seeing Cherrie betray Larry's trust made all those old emotions resurface.

Standing motionless, Jewel continued staring at the spot where Frank's car had disappeared.

A mixture of confusion, disappointment, and guilt churned inside her.

"What should I do?" she murmured softly.

Jewel felt sorry for Larry, but at the same time, a small part of her heart dared to hope that she still had a chance.

She walked back into the university complex where the graduation ball was being held. The music still echoed through the halls, and students continued to laugh and celebrate the final night of their college lives.

Unable to resist, Jewel found herself looking for Larry.

She headed to the east hallway where she had last seen him with Cherrie, but he was nowhere to be found. She checked the buffet lounge next, scanning the crowd, yet there was still no sign of him.

Disappointed, she returned to her seat without finding the man she had long admired.

Not long after, the dean announced the end of the ball.

Jewel let out a quiet groan, unable to hide her disappointment. She had hoped to find Larry before the night ended, but it seemed that chance had slipped away from her.

She was now out in the parking lot and noticed a group of students chatting while planning where to go for the after-party.

She overheard them agreeing to visit the most popular bar in West Country.

Watching them, Jewel couldn't help but smile. Most of them were rich kids. After graduation, they would likely undergo training before taking positions in their respective family businesses.

The thought reminded her of Cherrie and Larry.

Cherrie's family owned a global chain of malls and hotels, while Larry's family owned an international entertainment, advertising, and marketing corporation.

Some people might wonder how she had become friends with someone like Cherrie.

Jewel didn't come from a wealthy family, but they were well-off compared to most households in West Country. Her father worked as the CEO's assistant at Hall Industries, one of the largest construction and real estate companies in the country.

Although there was a significant difference in their social status, it had never affected her friendship with Cherrie. From the moment they met as children, they had simply clicked.

Looking back, Cherrie had become her best friend because of an incident that happened when they were nine years old.

Jewel had saved Cherrie from a dangerous stranger.

The Miller family lived in the most exclusive and luxurious neighborhood in West Country. Yet somehow, on that particular day, an outsider had managed to slip past the area's strict security.

As Jewel recalled, after her mother left, her father often took her on small adventures whenever he had free time, especially on weekends.

One Saturday morning, they were supposed to go fishing and camping. However, just as they were about to leave, the CEO called her father and asked him to pick up some important documents from the office and deliver them to a residence in the neighborhood.

The Halls happened to live in the same neighborhood as Cherrie.

Jewel gasped when their car stopped in front of the Hall residence. The mansion was enormous. At nine years old, she thought it looked like a castle straight out of a fairy tale.

Her father instructed her to stay in the car and wait for him. Unfortunately, patience was not one of her strengths.

The moment he disappeared inside, she climbed out of the car.

Mesmerized by the beautiful surroundings, she wandered around without a destination in mind. Eventually, she found herself in the neighborhood park.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of the playground and all its attractions.

She was about to try the swings when she heard an angry voice nearby.

Jewel looked around but saw no one.

Thinking she had imagined it, she turned away, only to hear a faint whimper moments later.

The sound was coming from behind the large slide.

Curious, she quietly crept closer and peeked around the corner.

There, she saw a man restraining a little girl.

Jewel immediately realized something was wrong.

She glanced around for help, but the park was empty.

When she looked back, she noticed the man wasn't carrying anything that could be used as a weapon.

Fortunately, she had recently started taking taekwondo lessons.

Gathering what little courage she had, she searched for something nearby and spotted a broomstick that had likely been left behind by one of the maintenance workers.

She carefully picked it up and, without hesitation, swung it with all her strength.

The blow caught the man by surprise and forced him to release the frightened girl.

Knowing she would be overpowered if he recovered quickly, Jewel continued swinging the broomstick, determined to keep him away.

The little girl watched with wide-eyed shock.

Luckily, Jewel's father had already started looking for her. He arrived with several security guards just as the man attempted to retaliate.

The guards immediately intervened and prevented him from reaching her.

It was a dreadful day for everyone in the neighborhood. Several security personnel reportedly lost their jobs because of the breach.

To nine-year-old Jewel, however, the greatest tragedy at the time was that their fishing and camping trip had been canceled.

Later, she and her father were taken to the police station to provide statements about what had happened.

 

After that day, the Millers invited Jewel and her father to dinner with the Halls.

Cherrie's mother was so grateful that she wanted Jewel to become her daughter's playmate. She even suggested transferring Jewel to the same school as Cherrie.

However, the school was one of the most prestigious and expensive institutions in West Country. Even though the Millers offered to pay her tuition, Jewel's father politely declined.

Respecting his decision, the Millers came up with another solution. Since Jewel's school was a reputable semi-private institution, they decided to transfer Cherrie there instead.

They believed it would be a valuable experience for their daughter to interact with children from different backgrounds and make genuine friendships outside their social circle.

The Halls and the Millers had long been business partners and close friends. Appreciative of what Jewel had done for Cherrie, they also arranged for her father's salary to be increased.

From that day on, Cherrie became her best friend.

They shared secrets, celebrated achievements together, and stood by each other through countless ups and downs.

Who would have thought that one day, they would both fall in love with the same man?

Someone called her name, pulling her back to the present.

It was Simon Hall, the young master of the Hall family and the man her father might one day serve directly. Fortunately, her father still had many years left before retirement as the CEO's assistant.

"Hi, Simon!"

Jewel startled when she noticed that Larry was among the group.

"Hey, we're continuing the celebration. Want to join us?" Simon asked.

"Where?"

The question slipped out absentmindedly as her gaze remained fixed on Larry.

Simon didn't seem to notice.

"Almost everyone is heading to Chateau Bar," he explained. "It's going to be packed, so we're planning to go to Berlin Bar instead. It's right next to the Williams Building."

Jewel's heart fluttered slightly. If Larry was going, then perhaps she would finally have a chance to talk to him.

She glanced at Simon's friends. They seemed harmless enough, and most of them had women hooked on their arms. Besides, Larry was with them.

Just this once, she wanted to be near him until she had the chance to talk to Cherrie and sort out her own feelings.

"Okay. Let me call my dad first."

After a brief phone call, they hurriedly left. Before heading out, Simon introduced her to the rest of his friends.

Jewel drove Cherrie's car and followed the group to the bar.

When they entered, Larry still seemed distracted, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked Simon, although she could already guess the reason.

Even though she had seen Cherrie leave with Frank, she didn't want to jump to conclusions.

Simon glanced at Larry before leaning closer and lowering his voice.

"He had a fight with Cherrie. You didn't know? He's jealous. Very jealous, if you ask me."

Simon lowered his voice even more and cast another look at Larry.

"I think it's because of Frank Mason."

Jewel was still wondering what to say when one of Simon's friends called them over.

"Come on! Sit down!"

Simon took a seat beside one of his friends, leaving only one empty chair.

The seat next to Larry.

Trying to remain calm, Jewel sat down beside him.

Larry turned toward her, and their eyes met.

She offered him a small nod and a smile.

He seemed to snap out of his daze as recognition flickered across his face. A moment later, he smiled back.

Jewel spent the next hour listening to one of Simon's friends tell hilarious stories. She was so absorbed in the conversation that she didn't notice Larry leaning closer until he spoke near her ear.

Startled, she nearly dropped her wine glass.

There was a seriousness in his tone that immediately caught her attention.

"Do you know where Cherrie went?"

The bar was loud, so she understood why he had to speak so close to her.

She could feel his warm breath against her skin, making her heart skip a beat.

To answer him, she leaned closer as well.

"She wasn't feeling well and went home early."

Lying left a bitter taste in her mouth, but what else could she do?

She didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

Tomorrow, she would talk to Cherrie. She needed to know how Cherrie truly felt about Larry. If Cherrie no longer loved him, then perhaps Jewel still had a chance.

And when that time came, she would finally confess her feelings.

The night stretched on as beer and wine continued to flow freely.

From time to time, Larry spoke to her. He looked much better when he smiled. Gradually, he started joining in with his friends and seemed less troubled than before.

Even so, he still carried that cold and enigmatic aura that made him stand out from everyone else.

Jewel also noticed how many girls at their table kept stealing glances at him.

When the party finally came to an end, almost everyone was drunk.

Jewel glanced at Simon and sighed. He had already fallen asleep.

Since he was the young master her father serve and also a childhood friend, she couldn't simply leave him there.

One by one, the others began to leave.

Jewel tried to wake Simon and called his residence, asking someone to come and pick him up.

Soon, only a handful of people remained in the bar, most of them waiting for their drivers to arrive.

Larry tapped her shoulder and asked,

"Why aren't you leaving?"

From Jewel's perspective, Larry was just as drunk as everyone else. Even so, she couldn't help but appreciate that he was concerned about her.

"I'm waiting for Simon's driver to come pick him up."

"You two seem close. Are you going out with him?"

Jewel glanced at him as he sat down beside her.

"We're childhood friends. My dad works as his father's assistant."

Before she could say anything more, her phone rang.

She stood up and gestured that she needed to take the call.

"Excuse me for a moment."

"Dad, yes, I'm still with Simon. I already called Mrs. Hall, and she's sending a driver to pick him up."

When Jewel looked back at Larry, he was sitting beside Simon, his head resting against the back of the chair. He had apparently dozed off as well.

A grin tugged at her lips.

He looked surprisingly adorable.

"Why are these big guys such lightweights?" she muttered under her breath.

Unlike them, she could hold her liquor quite well.

A few minutes later, the Hall family's driver arrived.

Jewel helped him hoist Simon over his shoulder.

After Simon was taken care of, she picked up her purse and gently tapped Larry's shoulder.

"Larry, wake up."

He didn't budge.

She tried again, but he remained fast asleep.

Letting out a sigh, Jewel slipped one of his arms over her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist to support him.

As they slowly made their way toward the exit, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

Larry was undeniably handsome.

She still couldn't understand why Cherrie had chosen to spend time with Frank that night.

Knowing that Larry lived in the building next door, Jewel carefully guided him along, making sure he didn't lose his balance.

By the time they reached the lobby of the Williams Building, Jewel was sweating and struggling to catch her breath.

The receptionist immediately recognized Larry and instructed one of the security guards to assist her.

Together, they entered a private elevator reserved for the building's owners.

Jewel's eyes widened in surprise.

When the elevator doors opened, the entrance to Larry's apartment was only a few steps away.

The guard used an access card to unlock the door.

Jewel finally felt relieved when he helped Larry onto the sofa.

"Thank you, miss," the guard said politely before excusing himself.

For the first time that night, Jewel found herself alone with Larry.

Looking around nervously, Jewel whispered,

"Sorry for intruding."

She headed to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Returning to the living room, she sat beside Larry and gently urged him to drink some water.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a message from her father.

Congratulations again on your graduation. Dad is sorry we can't celebrate today. I'm heading to the airport with the CEO. Let's celebrate when I get back. I've already filed for leave after this trip. Take care. I love you.

Jewel smiled as she read the message.

The CEO of Hall Industries had an urgent business trip, and as his assistant, her father had to accompany him.

When she was younger, situations like this used to make her sad, but now she understood.

Her father was an orphan, and they had no relatives. After her mother left them, he did everything he could to make sure they got through the difficult years together. Because he had a good relationship with the Hall family, they often allowed Jewel to stay in one of their guest rooms whenever he had to travel with his boss for work.

No one really needed to look after her anymore. She had always been a self-sufficient child.

She quickly typed a reply.

That's okay, Dad. Be careful too. I love you. And don't forget my graduation gift when you get back.

After sending the message, Jewel leaned back against the sofa.

She was starting to feel tired and a little tipsy.

Since her father wasn't home, there was no real need for her to drive all the way back to her apartment. Besides, it was already late.

She decided that she would book a room at one of the nearby hotels and spend the night there instead.