All Chapters of Rejected by One, Wanted by Another : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

It was the night before the Gala. The dorm was filled with the smell of hairspray and the sound of girls laughing in the hallway. Lucy tried to stay calm. She carefully took the red silk dress out of its bag and hung it on the wardrobe. In the dim light, the dress was stunning. it sparkled like fire. She brushed her fingers against the soft fabric, making sure there were no wrinkles. Zoe was sitting on her bed, looking at her phone. She looked up and stared at the dress for a long time. "It really is pretty, Lucy," Zoe said. Her voice sounded flat. "Everyone will be looking at you tomorrow." "I just want the night to be over, Zoe," Lucy said. Her head was starting to hurt. "I’m going to the lounge to get some tea. Do you want some?" Zoe waited a second before answering. "Yeah, please." Lucy grabbed two mugs and left. The hot water machine was slow, and she had to wait behind three other girls. She stood there thinking about Jonathan. She had hidden her secret phone under her pil

. She took a deep breath, checked her reflection in the small vanity mirror, and nodded to the driver.The valet opened the door. As Lucy stepped out, the noise level doubled."Lucy! Lucy Quinn! Over here!""Look at the dress! What a beauty! Is that velvet?""Lucy, are you still ill? Look at the camera!"Lucy did not answer them. She did not stop to give an interview or explain her presence. She just stepped onto the red carpet and began to walk. Every movement she made made the dress to catch the light. The midnight-blue fabric seemed to shift in color, turning from a deep navy to a shimmering sapphire as the camera flashes hit it.People near the ropes gasped as she passed. One woman dropped her phone, staring at the way the dress draped across Lucy's shoulders. The reporters continued to scream questions, stretching their microphones towards her. Lucy kept her head high. It seemed like the dress gave her a different kind of confidence. She smiled softly as she cat walked down the r

Lucy stood near one of the large marble pillars with Zoe.A group of three girls in sparkling cocktail dresses walked toward them. They were students from the senior class, girls Lucy recognized from the art department. As they got closer, their eyes widened, and they stopped right in front of Lucy."Oh my god, Lucy," the girl in the middle said. She reached out as if to touch the sleeve of the dress but pulled her hand back just in time. "You look incredible. This dress is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.""Thank you," Lucy said, giving them a small, modest smile."Seriously," another girl added, leaning in. "You’re already all over the internet. There is this one photo of you from the red carpet where your back is turned to the camera. It’s everywhere. They’re calling it the shot of the night."Zoe shifted, smoothing the front of her green gown. She stepped slightly forward. "It’s a great night, right? The music is so good."The girls didn't turn to look at Zoe. Their eye

Adrian did not let go of Lucy’s wrist as they moved through the university hall. He walked with long, aggressive strides, forcing her to stumble slightly to keep up. Her gown bunched at her waist, and her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor."Adrian, you’re hurting me," Lucy said. "You should have thought about that before you decided to lie to me," Adrian replied. He didn't look back at her. He pushed through the heavy exit doors, and the cool night air hit them.The valet had already brought Adrian’s sleek car the curb. The security guard who had followed them out stood by the trunk, his arms crossed."Get in the car," Adrian commanded. He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to slide inside. "We are going back to the estate. You are going to sit in my office, and you are going to give me every single detail about where this dress came from and what you’ve been doing at the library. No more games, Lucy."Lucy looked at the dark interior of the car. She felt

Jonathan’s hands lingered on Lucy’s waist for several seconds before he reluctantly let go. His fingers brushed against her skin one last time as he stepped back, creating a few inches of space between them. Lucy felt the sudden loss of his warmth, her skin tingling where his bare chest had pressed against her.They stood in the center of the room, staring into each other’s eyes. Lucy’s chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. Her hair was slightly messed up from his fingers, and her lips felt tingly. Neither of them spoke for a long time. The only sound in the house was the ticking of a clock on the wall. Jonathan cleared his throat, but he didn't look away. He didn't try to hide the way he was looking at her. He looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. He took a deep breath, and started talking…"Lucy," he said, his voice quiet. "I’ve spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that this was just about helping a friend. I told myself I was just being