Chapter 26
There were soft murmurs, whispers barely audible, and sudden gasps among the students. The surprise rippled through the crowd like an electric current.
“Is that Sophia?” one of the girls whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. “I never noticed her looking that good before.”
A boy leaned in closer to his friend, eyes wide. “Look at the gown she’s wearing. That’s a designer piece from “Lumière Couture“! I’ve only ever seen it in fashion magazines.”
Another girl, her voice sharp with envy, scoffed. “How can *she*, the daughter of a servant, afford something like that? It must be a fake.”
“Vanity can be overwhelming,” someone else chimed in. “I can’t stand people who flaunt fakes.”
I could hear every word, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t here for their approval. I was just about to step into the grand entrance of the hotel when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Sophia!” Mia’s tone was filled with disdain, and I turned to see her standing there with arms
here?” crossed. “You really have the nerve to show up
I raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. “Why shouldn’t I come?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.
She let out a cold laugh, eyes glinting with malice. “Oh please, don’t pretend like you don’t know. Ryan’s been ignoring you all week at school, and now, at his birthday party, you still dare to show your face?”
Ryan’s birthday? Oh, right. Today was his birthday.
I had been so consumed with my classes recently that the thought had completely slipped my mind. Had Mia not mentioned it, I might have forgotten altogether. It hit me then- this was his eighteenth
birthday.
I couldn’t help
remember what had happened last time.
In my past life, for his eighteenth, I had thrown him a grand, extravagant party right here at the Lunar Crown Hotel. I had spared no expense, pouring my heart into every detail – the decorations, the entertainment, even down to the floral arrangements.
But that night, I saw him and Linda cuddling in a corner with no one around, talking intimately to pach other about something.
Chapter 26
Back then, I’d confronted him, demanding answers, but Ryan’s response had been cold, indifferent.
There’s nothing between Linda and me,” he had said with a straight face. “You’re overreacting. Sophia. I don’t like women who are so paranoid and suspicious.”
His words had stung, but I hadn’t backed down. We ended up in a cold war for two days before I caved and apologized, even though I knew deep down I wasn’t in the wrong.
From that point onward, it was like Ryan was testing my limits.
He and Linda began spending more time together, their interactions growing increasingly bold, right
in front of me.
Whenever I expressed discomfort, Ryan would accuse me of being jealous, insisting that their relationship was purely platonic, like a brother and sister bond.
He would say, “Linda is just an orphan. She’s had such a hard life, Sophia. You should be kinder to
her.”
And Linda, ever the actress, would stand by with tears in her eyes, playing the victim.
“It’s okay,” she would say, her voice trembling. “I know Sister Sophia doesn’t like me. I’m just a girl from the orphanage, after all. It’s only natural she looks down on me…”
And Ryan, always the white knight, would console her, wiping away her tears. “Don’t say that, Linda. Sophia’s not better than you in any way. Don’t let anyone make you feel inferior.”
It was like I had become the outsider in their twisted game. No one remembered that I had poured! thousands of dollars into Ryan’s party. I had planned every detail, but none of that mattered
anymore.
Now, as I stood here, looking at the bustling scene in front of me, I felt detached.
I didn’t care about Ryan’s party. He had dared to bring Linda and his group here again, and the irony wasn’t lost on me.
The Lunar Crown Hotel was part of the Stardustpack properties, which made me part owner. I could come and go as I pleased, but more amusingly, I wondered how Ryan planned to cover the expenses this time.
Ignoring the judgmental stares from my classmates, I stepped into the elevator, leaving their murmurs behind.
had arrived a little early: the Moon Shadowpack celebration hadn’t started yet. I wondered if
Lirian had come. Would he even accept the invitation?
As my thoughts wandered, the elevator doors slid open, and I stepped out into the grand lobby. And there they were – Ryan and Linda, standing together, chatting like they always did.
The moment Ryan spotted me, his gaze locked onto mine. He sauntered over, a smug smile on his face. “Sophia, I knew you’d come,” he said, sounding triumphant, like he’d just won a bet.
I raised an eyebrow, glancing at him briefly before focusing on the floor ahead of me. “Why are you here?” I asked, my tone neutral.
Ryan blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You’re… not here for my birthday?”
