MARRIED TO MR POPULAR 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 20

Laughter bubbled around Cynthia as she stood with her friends near the garden section of the hall. The music was soft in the background one of those upbeat tracks that made everyone loosen up. Louisa, as usual, was in the middle of a ridiculous story, making the others clutch their sides in laughter.Cynthia laughed too, finally allowing herself to relax. For the first time that evening, she wasn’t thinking about her dress, or the whispers, or the Sanchez family sitting elegantly at the far end of the room.“Girl, your party is a dream,” Louisa said, fanning herself dramatically. “If I had this kind of setup, I’d just live here forever.”Cynthia rolled her eyes, smiling. “You’d get bored after two days.”“Maybe,” Louisa teased, “but you’d still visit me.”Before Cynthia could reply, her mother’s voice carried through the music. “Cynthia, sweetheart!”She turned, spotting her mother gesturing gracefully toward the Sancheses’ table. “Come say hello to our guests properly.”Cynthia nodde

The Sanchez mansion buzzed with quiet tension that evening. Servants moved briskly through the wide marble halls, arranging last-minute gifts and flowers bound for the Sinclair estate.Mrs. Sanchez stood by the door, elegant in a wine-colored gown, her diamond earrings catching the chandelier’s light. Her husband, Mr. Sanchez, checked his watch impatiently.“Where is he?” he asked, voice clipped.“Upstairs,” she replied tightly. “Still claiming he isn’t coming.”Mr. Sanchez’s jaw tightened. “That boy is becoming impossible.”He turned toward the stairs. “Xavier!” his voice thundered up the hall. “Don’t test my patience tonight!”---Upstairs, Xavier sat on the edge of his bed, sleeves rolled, expression cold. He could hear the footsteps below the kind that always came before an argument.The door swung open. His mother stepped in, every movement controlled. “Xavier, enough. We’re leaving for the Sinclairs’ now. Get ready.”He didn’t even look up. “I told you, I’m not going.”Her compo

The morning after Cynthia’s birthday party, Xavier woke to sunlight slicing through his blinds like a quiet accusation. He lay in bed for a long moment, staring at the ceiling. The memory of her descending the staircase last night lingered in his mind, vivid and impossible to ignore. The way she moved graceful, composed, almost untouchable had struck him harder than he cared to admit. He tried to shake it off, telling himself it was just another obligation, another social performance he had survived. Yet, the thought refused to fade.His phone buzzed beside him. It was Amelia, already awake and probably stirring trouble. He swiped to read her message.> Did you do it yet? He groaned, burying his face in the pillow. “Of course she’s texting me,” he muttered.> Not yet. Relax. It’s just a birthday gift, not a life decision.Xavier rolled over onto his side, staring at the ceiling again, trying to ignore the familiar, teasing tone of her words. But the next message arrived immediately.

The morning sun slipped through the curtains, painting the room in soft streaks of gold. Cynthia stretched lazily, trying to shake off the lingering weight of yesterday’s thoughts. The silver bracelet on her wrist caught the light, gleaming softly, and she stared at it for a moment. She still didn’t fully understand why she felt conflicted over it. Was it anger? Confusion? Or something else she wasn’t ready to name?Downstairs, the warm aroma of breakfast reached her before she did. Grandma was already at the kitchen table, smiling as she chatted with Cynthia’s mother. Her father, as usual, was flipping through the morning paper, occasionally grumbling at some headline. It was ordinary, peaceful a contrast to the whirlwind of emotions that had overtaken her life recently.“Good morning, my little sunflower,” Grandma said, her eyes twinkling as Cynthia entered. “You slept well?”Cynthia smiled softly, nodding. “Yes, Grandma. I… I feel better today.”“You look rested,” her mom chimed in

The sunlight spilled through Cynthia’s bedroom window, painting the walls in warm streaks of gold. She blinked awake, her heart still heavy with the lingering excitement and emotions from the weekend sleepover with Louisa. The silver bracelet on her wrist caught the first light, glinting softly a quiet reminder that some things were changing, even as life marched on with exams and responsibilities.Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted her before she reached the dining room. Grandma was perched on a chair, sipping tea, and smiling as she read a small book. Her mother fussed over the plates of food while her father flipped through the newspaper, occasionally muttering at some headline. The scene was ordinary and comforting, a grounding presence before the whirlwind of exams began.“Good morning, Cynthia,” Grandma said, her voice soft and knowing. “Ready for your first exam?”Cynthia smiled, sliding into her seat. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”Her mother fussed with her hair. “Eat we