Lahat ng Kabanata ng No Longer A Fool For You : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

The grand doors of the family Event Hall loomed ahead, just like they had in my past life tall, intimidating, and reeking of tradition I paused just before them, my fingers grazing the delicate slit of my wine-colored dress My heels clicked against the marble floor as I shifted my weight, letting the silence settle in I knew they were already inside, Waiting and I liked it that way because, In my first life, I had arrived on time dressed modestly, politely, quietly and I had waited three long hours before anyone arrived But not today Because today, I had came five hours late And I came dressed to remind them exactly who I was now As I raised my hand to push open the doors, I could already hear them murmurs layered with irritation and judgment “… so disrespectful…” “Does she think the world revolves around her?” “I told you, that woman has no manners” I smiled Oh, how familiar it all sounded With one elegant push, the double doors creaked open And then there was silence

I leaned against the closed door, my breath shallow, chest rising and falling in quiet rhythm My hand was still gripping the knob, knuckles white And my heart pounded no, roared against my ribs as if demanding to burst free from the rage locked inside me My lips trembled, but I clenched them shut, biting back the scream I wanted to unleash I couldn’t believe it I had done it I had finally told them all exactly what I thought No more nodding through their insults No more letting their words crawl over my skin like acid and as satisfying as it had been… it had left me shaking A murmur slipped through the thick wooden door behind me. Voices rising and falling, angry and startled. I straightened slightly, pressing my ear closer, curiosity and fury battling in my chest “Matthew, are you going to let her speak to us like that?” Uncle Peter’s voice barked. “Are we fools? Do we look like people with no honor? Your wife insulted us in front of everyone!” “ I think she has final

The second the cab door shut behind me, I leaned back into the seat, letting my head rest against the leather, and I exhaled deeply The world outside blurred into motion, but my mind was already racing I pulled my phone from my purse, my fingers still slightly trembling, and tapped my father’s number It rang only once before he answered His voice was hoarse with sleep. “Hello?” “Pa…” I hesitated, unsure if I should continue. “Did I wake you?” “Not exactly,” he mumbled, followed by a small yawn. “Just took a short nap. Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I just… I need to ask you something. And it might sound a little crazy” “You know I’d do anything for you, baby What is it?” I paused for a breath, collecting my words. “You remember when I told you I was tired of being the fool in that house… tired of letting people trample all over me?” A pause “Of course I remember,” he replied. “But why are you asking me about that now?” “Well Pa I want to take that step forward,” I said quietly

The sharp clink of glass against metal cut through the smooth jazz playing in the background. As a hush rolled across the grand ballroom like a velvet curtain being drawn. Forks paused mid-air, conversations stilled, and all eyes turned to the center stage where the MC, dressed in a dark velvet tuxedo, stood with an uneasy smile.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice amplified across the room, “I do apologize for the interruption, but it appears we have a small... issue.”I knew this was coming.I didn’t flinch I did not even bat a lash. Just tilted the wine glass gently against my lips, sipping slowly, pretending like my pulse wasn’t steady and cold. I had known the moment they slipped it into my bag earlier. Mata’s clumsy fingers and Sarah’s poorly masked smug glances had been a dead giveaway apart from the fact that I had experienced something like this in my past life.“I’ve just been informed,” the MC continued, voice a little tighter now, “that a necklace is missing.

The door clicked softly behind me as I stepped out of Matthew's room, and the familiar scent of the hallway hit me — clean, cold, clinical, just the way I remembered it. I didn’t need to look around to know exactly where I was, because every inch of this place was etched into my memory.My eyes, almost instinctively, trailed down the corridor, slowly, until they landed on it like they had always known where to go.My old room.The room I had once called mine not just in this life, but even in the life before this one. The place where I had cried, ached, and endured, tucked away at the far end of the corridor, quiet and forgotten, just like I had been.A chill ran down my spine, sharp and sudden, as my footsteps echoed softly while I walked toward it, each sound bouncing off the silence.My heart thudded against my ribs, harder now, each step somehow heavier than the last one I had taken, as if the weight of the past grew with every inch I moved closer.I stopped in front of the door