Chapter 3 — The One She Chose

The service cart rolled forward slowly.

Aurelia kept her head lowered, her posture steady, blending into the background like any other staff member.

Around her, the banquet hall buzzed with life—soft laughter, clinking glasses, voices layered with politeness and pretense.

Above, golden chandeliers bathed everything in warm light. It looked elegant and almost perfect, but underneath it all… something felt tight and Unsettled.

Then the cart bumped into someone, not hard, just enough to draw attention. Before anyone else could speak, Alexander’s voice came first. “Careful with that.”

His tone was soft, controlled, gentle, but firm enough to carry weight. “If you bump into someone, it won’t end well for anyone.”

It sounded like a warning, but not a harsh one. There was no real anger in it, just… quiet authority. Aurelia stilled, even now…

He still sounded like he was protecting her. Beside him, Clara glanced over and gave a small, easy smile. “It’s fine,” she said lightly. “She didn’t mean it.”

Then her eyes lingered a second longer.r Something clicked. Her brows lifted slightly. “…Aurelia?”

The name slipped out naturally, but it cut cleanly through the surrounding noise.

Aurelia’s fingers tightened slightly on the cart. Slowly, she raised her head. Their eyes met. For a moment, everything else faded. They had gone to the same university, but they were never close.

Aurelia only knew Clara through whispers and passing conversations. Back then, there had only ever been one story people liked to tell— Alexander.

How he had chased Clara without holding back, waiting outside lecture halls, bringing her drinks, following her everywhere without shame. Everyone knew. Then one day, Clara left the country, and just like that, everything changed.

Not long after Alexander turned his attention to Aurelia, some people joked about it quietly, cruelly, that Aurelia was just… a replacement, someone chosen because the real one was gone.

Aurelia never believed it because what Alexander gave her… never felt fake. The way he brought her breakfast, left snacks on her desk, waited for her after class, no one had ever been that patient with her, not even her own family.

Those memories stayed. Even now, which made this moment feel strangely bitter. “Aurelia?”

Alexander’s voice came again—this time softer. Surprised, a little unsure, she looked at him properly now. Recognition settled in her eyes. Then something more complicated followed. “Why are you here?” she asked.

Her tone softened without meaning to. Almost… familiar. “Shouldn’t you be at home?”

Then her gaze dropped to the uniform. She paused. Her brows tightened slightly. “If you need money, just tell me,” she said quickly. “I’ll give it to you.”

Her voice lowered, more cautious now. “Why take a job like this?”

A brief pause. “If my parents see you… It’ll only make things worse.”

As she spoke, she reached out lightly—guiding him back, subtly trying to push him toward the exit. Aurelia blinked. The anger she had walked in with Faltered.

For a moment, she almost forgot why she came. Then it came back: the empty house, the cold dinner.

The silence. “I thought you were working late,” she said quietly.

Her voice dropped. “Why are you here?”

Alexander’s expression changed instantly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His tone sharpened. “I said I’m working. Can’t I work at a hotel?”

Aurelia held his gaze. “Even if you are…”

Her eyes shifted briefly—to Clara. Then back. “Do you have to be that close to her?”

Her voice hardened. “Is she your wife… or am I?”

The air stilled. Something in Alexander’s expression shifted the moment Clara was mentioned. The softness disappeared. In its place, irritation, cold, and immediate. “I already explained,” he said flatly. “We’re colleagues.”

“Stop turning it into something else.”

Aurelia felt something twist inside her. “You were practically in her arms.”

Her voice sharpened. “If there had been a bed nearby, would that count as work too?”

The words came out before she could stop them. Even she froze slightly. Alexander’s eyes widened—just a fraction. In all their time together…

She had never spoken like that. Never raised her voice, never looked at him like this. “We’re colleagues,” he repeated, more firmly this time.

“We went out because of work. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”

He turned slightly, ready to walk away. Aurelia stepped forward, blocking him. “What kind of work needs that?” she asked quietly.

Her gaze dropped briefly to their hands to the distance that didn’t exist.

Alexander noticed. He pulled his hand away from Clara, but he didn’t explain. Instead, his voice turned colder. “Aurelia.”

The surrounding noise seemed to fade. “I’ll say this once.”

“Go home. Take care of the house.”

Each word landed cleanly, Controlled Distant. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

A pause. Then he said, “We’re just colleagues.”

Something in Aurelia’s chest tightened hard and sharp. Then, suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the hall. A towering champagne display tilted, time slowed, and the structure tipped straight toward Alexander.

Clara reacted first. She stepped back. Instinct Clean. Fast.

Aurelia didn’t think. She moved, pulled Alexander into her arms, shielding him, crash, glass shattered everywhere.

The display slammed into her back. Sharp fragments tore across her arm. Pain shot through instantly. Warm blood soaked into her sleeve, but she didn’t move.

She held him there. Complete silence followed. Then Noise rushed back in. Clara hurried forward but misstepped, twisting her ankle slightly.

Alexander reacted instantly. He pushed Aurelia away and turned to Clara. “Are you okay?”

His voice was filled with concern. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine,” Clara said softly.

Then, after a pause, “You should check on your wife first.”

“She’s bleeding.”

Alexander barely glanced back.  “She’ll be fine.”

His tone was casual, detached. “She can handle it.”

Aurelia stood there, Still Blood dripping slowly down her arm. Without another word, Alexander helped Clara pick up his keys and walked away. He didn’t look back, not once.

Aurelia remained where she was, in the middle of shattered glass. The banquet slowly returned to life around her whispers, movement, and distant chatter.

As if nothing had happened, but for her, everything had changed.