Chapter 2

Just like I planned, I landed right in a warm, solid chest.

The guy barely looked at me. After steadying me, he let go fast. "You okay?"

I gave a tiny nod, playing tough even though my cheek was throbbing. "I'm fine. Just tripped."

Our eyes met—and yeah, he paused.

But Chloe? She saw a whole different movie.

She screeched and came flying at me. "Darian, why are you touching her?! Is that tramp trying to seduce you again?!"

Before she could get close, Darian caught her arm.

His expression twitched—definitely annoyed—but his voice stayed calm. "Chloe, what's with you today?

"Leah's just the fiancée my parents picked. It's not even real.

"You know I love you. But if she gets hurt because of this, my parents are gonna hate you even more. Then how am I supposed to marry you?"

Bernard jumped in. "Leah's been nothing but nice. Chloe, why'd you slap her?"

Chloe, breathing hard, realized fast the room wasn't on her side. She forced out a smile that was somehow worse than crying. "Sorry, Leah. Thought you were someone else."

I glanced at Darian, then dropped my gaze with a quiet, disappointed tone. "It's fine. I didn't mean to step into your relationship."

He looked over, a little stiff. Then he pulled a small box from his pocket. "A gift. Under my mom's order."

From the shopping bag in his hand, he pulled out a velvet box and handed it to Chloe. "I bought this one myself. If someone else gets something, so do you."

Chloe's whole vibe shifted. The second she spotted the full ruby set, she lit up. "Thank you, Darian! I love you so much!"

I opened mine. Just a branded hair clip. Decent label. Nothing special.

Yeah... she got love. I got a polite gesture.

Chloe shot me a look, practically glowing with smugness. "Wow, Leah, your little hair clip is so cute. You should totally put it on."

Under all those eyes, a few silent tears slid down my face.

Bernard looked panicked. Even Darian's smile vanished.

"Thank you... but I can't accept this."

Darian frowned. "Why not?"

I looked up, eyes full of quiet defeat. "Chloe's the future Mrs. Drummond. She deserves the best—designer everything, the spotlight, the fairytale.

"I'm just a small-town nobody. Getting into the same college as you guys was already a miracle. I wouldn't dare ask for more."

I wiped my cheeks, then turned to the girl standing behind Chloe. Smile soft, steady. "You're really pretty. I think it'd suit you better. And since Chloe already has enough to fill a boutique, I figured sharing wouldn't hurt. Here—my gift to you."

And knowing Chloe? Sharing anything wasn't in her vocabulary.

Sure enough, the girl lit up. "Thank you! No one's ever given me something this nice! I'm Rainee Gomez. We're besties now. You ever need anything, I got you!"

I'd played the quiet, humble act so well, no one even thought to question it.

Darian's eyes flickered—just a hint of admiration.

Meanwhile, Chloe stood frozen, clutching her ruby box like she couldn't decide if she should keep it or fake generosity.

One move, and I had the room's sympathy wrapped around my finger.

And Chloe? She just looked petty.

Just as I was heading out, Darian called after me and handed me a credit card. "My family hasn't treated you right. Don't sell yourself short. Use this to get something you actually want."

My ears went hot. I gave a small, shy nod.

Chloe shot me a death glare, seething—but stayed quiet.

It wasn't until I stepped through the school gates that it hit me why she'd been holding back all day.

Because there they were storming toward me.

Walter and Diana. My oh-so-loving parents.