Chapter 3


    -MILLIE-


    “Have a nice evening, Miss,” the elderly cabby smiled at me through the rearview mirror.


    “I sure hope, sir.” I murmured, slurring each syble.


    I’d like to consider myself a bit tipsy, but who was I kidding? I was borderline drunk after drinking nine


    sses of wine at home. There’s an extremely unhealthy bond between alcohol and I. I leaned on it for


    courage every time shi tstorms hit my


    life.


    It’s a love-hate rtionship. The only rtionship I could keep, apparently.


    On wobbly legs, I stepped out of the cab and inhaled the familiar Roslin City summer air.


    I smoothed my hand down the skirt of my ck mini-dress andbed my hair with my fingers. I


    walked to the entry of the ck Hotel as confidently as possible, careful not to trip on my three-inch


    ck stilettos.


    Attending my high school reunion drunk was not how I pictured spending my weekend back in my


    hometown. I envision Hunter and Iing here together. But things got out of my control like a derailed


    train wagon.


    All I wanted to do was watch FRIENDS rerun and drink myself to oblivion. But my pride wouldn’t let me


    rest in peace in my childhood bedroom.


    There’s a high chance that I’d cross paths with Natalie tonight, but why would I change my ns? I


    wasn’t the ungrateful- bit ch who stole my friend’s fiance.


    I can look her in the eyes and make her feel any wrath. I can’t let her win and let her y the victim


    card.


    And the break up and cheating wasn’t the only thing that pushed me to drink nine sses of wine while


    getting dressed. Apart from going public on social media with her rtionship with Hunter hours after I


    found them f ucking in his apartment, Natalie been used of giarizing content for one of our


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    cobs. My backstabbing friend threw me under the bus, publicly stating that I was the mastermind of


    that vlog, and she merely followed my lead.


    Where was I when all of these were happening? I was on Malyons Lake, nursing my broken heart, only


    to be bombarded with more betrayals from someone I considered my friend when I opened my phone.


    A party, a walk down high school memoryne after my engagement ended, and my career as a social


    media influencer imploded in my face was just what I needed toplete this catastrophe I call my life.


    I easily found the function hall. The name and year of our ss were written on a glittery banner set on


    a canvas stand.


    A hotel staff member smiled as I approached, watching over the door.


    “Name, please?” The woman in a sharp suit asked.


    “Millicent Alejandro,” I smiled. She scrolled through the tablet before nodding at me.


    I inhaled a huge breath as the double doors opened. Live music instantly spilled through the silent


    hallway. The party was already in full swing. People were seated at round tables, filling tes at the


    buffet, waiting in line at the bar, standing in groups with drinks at hand, chatting,ughing, and having


    fun.


    Everything appeared to be in ce, just like I assumed. But Candice, my best friend and our ss


    president, was a nning freak. She’d be proud of the oue of her nning. Too bad she wasn’t


    here to see it in person.


    She recently tied the knot with her high school sweetheart, Aaron. They’re in Pwan for their


    honeymoon, but their flight got canceled because of a storm.


    y now


    Somehow, I’m d she wasn’t here to witness how Hunter tore my heart out of my chest. She’d


    probably killed him by if she was here.


    I crossed the dance floor and smiled at a few people as I passed them. Their existence was a mere


    shadow of thousand-dor suits and designer dresses. With every step I made, the sinking feeling this


    was a bad idea pulsed louder in my ears.


    Since when did I give a s hit about what people think about me? Since when did I let my pride rule over


    my rational thought? Coming here was a mistake.


    “Millie!” I heard a familiar warm voice over the pulsing music from the speaker.


    Madeline. She was at the bar, talking to a group of girls in sparkly designer dresses. Seeing her familiar


    face made my feet move with a strained smile on my lips, but as soon as I realized who she was talking


    to, I paused and thought of going back the way I went in.


    Toote, though. Madeline waved at me with a huge grin.


    “Millie!” she called again. The girls around her turned in my direction. The mean girls of our batch.


    Felicity, the homing queen and cheer captain, with her minions Hallie and Luna.


    So much for not drawing attention to myself.


    I wore an Oscar-worthy smile as I walked to the bar.


    “Oh, look at you. I love that dress! You look stunning. Madeline wrapped her arms around me, air


    kissing my cheeks.


    I locked eyes with Felicity. She smirked at me as if she knew something I didn’t.


    ‘Oh, this is bad.


    Madeline pulled away, and Felicity’s smirk turned into a c unningly sweet smile.


    “I missed you,


    Maddie. You look hot in red,” I slurred, taking in her sequined red dress. My eyes were unfocused, so I


    didn’t really know if it looked good on her or not


    “I know, right?” Madeline giggled. “Too bad Candice couldn’te. She did an amazing job nning


    everything!”


    Everyone in our small circle agreed.


    “She’s in Pwan for the honeymoon, right?” Felicity pressed a hand on her chest, eyes roaming


    around the circle of people around her. “I hear a storm is about to hit the Philippines. I hope they’re


    safe.


    They are,” I murmured, turning to Madeline again. “She just wanted to make sure you have me if you


    need help. You know how she is.”


    Madeline giggled. “Her n was spotless. I’m just enjoying my time reconnecting with our high school


    friends.”


    They all hummed andplimented the venue, the food, and the music. Candice would be happy to


    hear this.


    “I saw her prenup and wedding video,” Felicity butted in, a diamond ring on her left hand catching the


    light from the bar. “It’s every bride’s dream.”


    “Maybe you can ask Max to hold your wedding at Amalfi Coast as well,” Luna suggested. “I heard


    Candice nned her own wedding. Oh, you work for Candice at Effortless Events, right?”


    My eyes twitched at herst statement. I don’t work for Candice. We were business partners, and they


    knew that. They’ve been our chent on more than one asion.


    I kept my cool and nodded a yes.


    “Felicity is engaged,” Hallie added, oblivious to the annoyance string inside me.


    “Oh, wow.” My poker face was worth millions. “Congrattions. We would be honored to n your


    wedding, Felicity,” I said, batting my eyshes.


    Everyone quieted down, their gaze pinned on something behind me. Looking over my shoulder, Natalie


    had just walked in a skin-tight white dress, a pageantry smile stered on her fake face.


    The way the circle of people around me quieted down meant that they knew every detail of Natalie’s


    usation against me. I had hoped she would somehow have the decency to keep a low profile after


    everything she did to me, but who was I kidding? She f ucked my fiance. She doesn’t give a s hit about


    respect.


    A hundred sets of eyes bore holes in my body from every direction. Some were prying, but most people


    were just waiting for my reaction.


    “Nat!” Felicity waved at Natalie. They were besties in high school. She was fifteen steps away from


    the one who wronged Natalie, but that doesn’t mean this situation was gonna be a walk in the park.


    I took one of the sses avable on the bar counter. It was blue with lemons and ice. I nearly spit it


    out. It tastes like astringent and rotten eggs blended together.


    Natalie’s eyes flew in my direction as she greeted everyone, exchanging pleasantries. I stayed in the


    background, keeping my fury at bay. I badly wanted to throw the contents of my shot ss in her face.


    Better yet, get a bucket of ice-cold water and pour it over her head to wipe off that fake smile on her


    face.


    I never knew I could loathe someone the way I despise her. She doesn’t seem a little remorseful of


    what she did to me. How did I not see how f ucking fake she was?


    “Oh. I hate to make things awkward for Millicent,” Natalie replied when Felicity asked her to stay.


    “What?! Why would it be awkward?” Felicity gasped, feigning innocence.


    Natalie wasn’t the only one who could pretend that we weren’t in the state of World War III. “Yeah,


    Natalie,” I smiled. “Why would it be awkward?”


    Unphased. Natalie shrugged. “Coz you know, about you and Hunter’s break up and that giarizing


    issue.”


    I hummed, nodding. “Why? Did you backstab me? It would only be awkward if my fiance cheated on


    me with you before we ended things, right? And that issue…” I dismissed her with a hand. “The truth


    wille out in due time.”


    Our friends eyes moved from me and Natalie as if they were watching a tennis match.


    “Right-”


    “Oh, my Go d!” Luna cut off Natalie’s reply, sna tching her left hand. “You’re engaged?”


    Nothing prepared me for the pain of seeing my engagement ring in another woman’s hands. A


    whirlwind of emo su cker-punched me in the face. I had to clutch the counter edge to keep myself


    upright.


    Natalie’s cheeks reddened, retracting her hand from Luna. “Hunter insisted that we tie the knot soon,”


    she murmu looking at me with wary eyes.


    Was she afraid that I’d make a scene? She shouldn’t havee here in the first ce. She shouldn’t


    have f ucked my fia the first ce!


    I want to scream. I want to break something. Natalie’s face would be an excellent ce to start. But no.


    I wasn’t brought up that way. Besides, I honestly don’t get why Natalie epted that ring. If it were me,


    I wouldn’t have my boyfriend’s ex- fiancee’s engagement ring. What was going on inside Natalie’s


    head? I guess I would never understand.


    “Okay… that was freaking fast.” Surprised, Felicity turned to me, the space between her brows knitted.


    It was rare to see a genuine expression on her face; I wanted tough. “When did you two even break


    up?”


    His betrayal stings. It’s breaking me inside, but no one has to know that. I have to fake it to make it


    through this night.


    “Recently, I replied, reaching for a ss of wine. “Congrattions on your engagement, Natalie. That’s


    a fancy-looking ring”


    Two karat diamond in six prong setting on a tinum band. My dream engagement ring now rests on


    another woman’s finger. Though I kept my rtionship with Hunter away from social media, I posted a


    photo of that ring on my profile.


    That definitely made things awkward in our circle. The shame that crossed Natalie’s face was priceless,


    but the ever- persistent Felicity butted in once again, hoax empathy masking her face. “I don’t know


    how you’re handling things this well, but I guess this calls for a celebration?”


    Everyone followed Felicity’s lead and grabbed a ss of wine from the counter, raising a toast for


    Natalie’s engagement Maddie locked eyes with me, mouthing are you okay? I nodded and down my


    drink in one go.


    I knew this night wouldn’t go down without anyone rubbing my failed engagement in my face. And I


    happened to flock around the right people for that job.


    The conversation circled around Natalie’s engagement. She kept spitting lies after lies about how she


    and Hunter started dating. She said they started dating about five months ago. The whole time she


    spoke of how happy they’ve been since they got together, she didn’t dare look my way. Maybe there


    was truth in her story, but I was too drunk and hurt to listen and give a sh it anymore. I just want to get


    out of here.


    Zoning out. I searched the crowd for anything to save me from this situation. Probably someone I knew


    who I could go to and extract myself from this conversation.


    That’s when my eyesnded on the guy at the other end of the bar. Damian ck, Candice’s


    stepbrother. I used to have a massive crush on him. He was already looking at me, nodding,


    acknowledging me.


    “Excuse me, I murmured and skirted past Madeline.


    “Hey, you good Madeline gripped my arm gently.


    “Never been better.” I shed another award-winning smile, giggling when my legs almost gave out on


    me.


    G od. The world was f ucking spinning


    “Where are you going” Madeline gripped my arm tighter; concern nketed her pretty face.


    I patted her hand, my drunk mind driving my mouth to spit lies. To my date.” I murmured, smiling at her


    sweetly.


    Five pairs of intent eyes burned holes in the back of my head as I made a beeline for Damian


    He lifted a rock ss to his lips, watching me remove the distance between us,


    “Damian.”


    “Millicent”


    We were at eye level since he was sitting on a barstool. I had to slot myself between his long legs so I


    could grab his tie. lean forward, and whisper in his ears. “I need a favor.”


    “What?” His breath was warin against my skin. Gooseflesh coated my body.


    “Act along. I murmured as I ran my fingers along thepel of his suit. He doesn’t inch. He doesn’t say


    anything. Darksh gaze pinned me with intense curiosity, waiting.


    I ran my hands over the nes of his chest. He was solid, hard everywhere, like a wall of warm and


    delicious muscles.


    Knowing everyone was watching. I continued my n. Stood on the tip of my toes and pressed my lips


    against Damian’s


    III