Chapter 2

"It's just a dress. It's not worth my attention!" Jude snapped.

She wiped her tears and stood her ground, looking like a fragile flower battered by the storm. She was so vulnerable that anyone would feel sorry for her.

"Just a piece of clothing, and you can stomp all over someone's dignity. Guess that's what it means to be rich and powerful like the Waller family," Jude said bitterly.

She added, "I'm just a nobody, drifting wherever life throws me, and people can do whatever they want to me."

Jude pleaded, "Miss Emilia Waller, I'll take it off right now and give it back to you. Please, just let me go."

But even as she spoke, her hand lingered on the sheer fabric at her shoulder, not moving to take it off.

Out of the corner of her eye, she kept sneaking glances at me, clearly hoping I'd step in and stop her.

After all, she still thought I was that pathetic best friend who'd hand her everything she wanted the moment she shed a tear.

I raised an eyebrow, silently telling her to go ahead.

Just then, a voice cut through the tension, stopping her in her tracks. "Enough! Emilia, have you had your fun yet?"

Jude shot a grateful look at the guy who just spoke. It was my fiancé, Brian.

Their eyes met, and I could almost see the sparks flying.

Brian puffed out his chest and stepped in front of Jude, shielding her.

He raised his voice, scolding me even louder. "It's just a dress. Let her wear it. What's the big deal?"

Brian sneered. "You're making a big deal out of it just because she looks better in it than you do, huh? Afraid she'll steal my attention, so you're just eaten up with jealousy and want to tear her down."

He snapped, "Don't think I don't know you. You're a petty person!"

He didn't even bother to look at me while he was talking.

Every single cell in his body was screaming how much he couldn't stand me.

In the original story, his words would have left me drowning in shame, desperate for his forgiveness. I'd have gone around telling everyone Jude was my closest friend, putting her and Brian on a pedestal, and giving them everything I had.

But now, I just looked at him calmly.

That face that once made me lose my mind didn't make me feel a thing.

But Brian totally got the wrong idea, thinking I was still crushing on him.

"Emilia, I know you're absolutely obsessed with me, but could you at least get a grip in front of all these people?" he said.

His brows were drawn together in pure annoyance, and he snapped at me like he was giving orders.

"This is all your fault. Just apologize to Jude, and I'll make it up to you by giving you a birthday present," Brian said.

He added, "Haven't you always wanted me to give you a gift? Well, now's your chance."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What are you yelling about?"

I shot back, "You're just a bastard son from a mistress, and you think you can order me around?"

I spat out the word "bastard," making sure he heard every syllable.

Brian's mom took over the Anderson family before the original wife was even cold in the grave. She moved in, pregnant, and the eldest son was so furious that he left the country.

Everyone in our circle knew the truth.

Calling him a bastard in front of all these people was basically slapping him in the face.

Brian's face turned livid with rage.

I ignored him completely and turned to give my command.

"Get me the scissors. I want that dress on Jude destroyed. Cut it to pieces," I said, my voice cold and commanding.

Jude shrank behind Brian, gripping his shirt tightly, shaking with fear.

Brian's heart just about melted seeing her like that.

He turned to me, acting like he was the boss.

"Keep this up, and we're breaking off the engagement!" Brian announced.

I let out a cold laugh. "I don't care. You're an illegitimate child. Do you think you're good enough for me?"

Brian froze, staring at me like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

I shoved him aside impatiently. "Move. I couldn't care less about you."

Jude turned her head away, her eyes defiant. "If humiliating me is what gets you off, then be my guest, Emilia."

"Shut up!" I said coldly.

I brandished the scissors at her, threatening, "I'm a bit clumsy with scissors. If I lose focus for even a second, I might just mess up that delicate little face of yours."

Just as I was about to go for it, someone suddenly burst out and slammed right into me.

I didn't see it coming at all. The impact sent me flying, smashing straight into the champagne tower.

Broken glass ripped through my dress, cutting into my skin. Blood started pouring out.

Champagne was everywhere, soaking me from head to toe. I was sticky, and it was a complete disaster.

The butler rushed over to help me up, and in no time, a crowd had gathered around me.

With the whole place in chaos, not a single person noticed Jude sneakily snatch up the scissors I'd dropped and plunge them straight into the hem of her dress.

Gritting my teeth through the pain, I looked up at the culprit.

It was my own brother, Arthur Waller, the second male lead in the original story. He was always stuck in the friend zone.

He'd just caused all this mess, but was standing there acting all righteous, like he hadn't done anything wrong.

He put on this self-righteous front, calling out, "What are you staring at? Serves you right for hurting Jude! You're stingy! You won't even spare her a dress!"

It was the same old story in the last timeline.

Whenever Jude looked at something, Arthur would give her anything that was mine.

If I even showed the slightest reluctance, he'd start preaching at me like he was sitting on some moral throne.

Arthur once said, "Nobody gets to pick their family. You've already got more than enough. Why not just give some away? You can't even do such a small favor? Do you even have a conscience?"