Chapter 2

The pain crept in slowly.

I could have shrugged off a friend's betrayal, but Julian had crossed that line, blurring the boundaries between friendship and something more. That made the cut deeper.

The day we agreed to transfer, he dragged me to a bar to celebrate our escape. The dim neon lights cast a hazy glow, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the guy I had secretly loved for years. My heart raced, wild and untamed.

When he leaned in to kiss me, I didn't pull away. Years of bottled-up feelings surged, overwhelming me like a tidal wave.

Unable to hold back, I asked, "Julian, what are we now?"

He dropped a tender kiss on my forehead. "What else, silly?"

The bar exploded with cheers, mirroring the spark in my heart. But just two days later, his words shattered that fragile hope.

I laughed through my tears, the sound bitter. It looked like that flirty, vague answer was just another trick to shove me aside and make way for Lily.

The wind chimes in my bedroom clinked, the breeze drying my tears bit by bit. My broken heart began to mend.

Julian was wrong about us from the very beginning. He was just the Thorne family's illegitimate son, while I was the sole heiress to the Vance empire.

We were never meant to be tethered together. We belonged to different worlds.

The transfer form in my hand was a wreck, the ink smudged by my tears, but it didn't matter.

I would print a new one. The Vance family always had a backup plan.

I filled out a new form, pausing at the section for the new school. Then I called Helena Vance. "Mom, what's that elite school you mentioned before? Yeah, I'm going alone."

The wind chimes rang out, crisp and joyful, as if they were cheering me on. I closed my eyes, and for the first time in years, Julian's face didn't haunt me.

Instead, I pictured a guy who looked a little like him. Sharper and more striking, he flashed a cocky grin, just like he had two years ago. "Mark my words, Clara. You'll ditch Julian for me."

Back then, I thought he was just messing around. Now, I was truly done with Julian.

I finished the form and heaved a deep sigh of relief. My heart was finally at peace.

A sudden knock on the door startled me. I lived alone in this house, and besides me, only one person knew the passcode.

I opened the door. Julian stood there, his voice as warm as ever. "You didn't show up to say goodbye to our friends. I was worried."

I kept my tone even. "My stomach's acting up, so I'm staying in."

As I moved to close the door, I caught a glimpse of someone behind him.

Lily, looking small and fragile, flinched when our eyes met. Julian noticed her reaction and pulled her close, using his arm as a protective shield. "Clara, you're scaring her."

There she went again, acting so timid. She treated me like a monster when I hadn't even done anything.

My expression hardened. "I told you, I don't want strangers in my house."

Julian's brow furrowed. "Lily's not a stranger. She came because she cares about you."

Before I could respond, Lily's eyes welled up with tears. "Clara, I'm sorry. I know you've always looked down on me, but I swear I shower every day."

She sniffled, looking entirely pitiful. "I won't mess up your house."

Julian glared at me. "Her family isn't rich, but she's not what you think. You're really letting me down here."

Lily tugged at his sleeve, playing the bigger person. "It's okay, Julian. Don't fight with her over me."

She forced a teary smile. "She said you two go way back. How could I ever compare?"

"Don't say that," Julian murmured, cupping her face gently. "You're one of a kind."

Then he turned to me, his expression cold as ice. "Lily is upset. I'm taking her home. Reflect on your behavior. And don't forget to get your transfer form stamped."

He was right about one thing. I did need to reflect, but only on my own blindness.

I changed the passcode without hesitation. The knot in my chest loosened, as if I had finally exhaled a breath I'd been holding for years.