Chapter 1
At our engagement party, Carlo Rivers' assistant accidentally stepped on my dress.
Carlo, usually so gentle and refined, suddenly erupted in anger.
I was about to intervene when I saw the on-screen comments pop up: [Ugh, the angst is starting. The male lead is so clueless, not even realizing he likes the female lead.]
[He thinks he loves the other girl, but it's really just habit.]
[Aylin Carter, the doomed first love, is about to exit the stage. Hope the main couple clears up their misunderstanding soon.]
My heart skipped a beat.
Aylin was my name.
Right now, Carlo, knowing full well the girl couldn't handle alcohol, was forcing her to choose between drinking and apologizing.
I gave a faint smile. "It's fine. I'll drink that glass for her."
So I'm the villain now? Over a man? Please. I simply decided he wasn't worth it anymore.
The liquor burned my throat, fire spreading in my stomach.
Excusing myself to the restroom, I pulled out my stomach meds in the hallway.
"Miss Carter," a voice said behind me. "You don't seem like a bad person."
I turned. The young assistant was standing there.
Clad in a pale pink dress and teetering on delicate heels, she looked like a delicate flower trembling in a breeze, so lovely it tugged at the heartstrings. "I want to thank you for taking that drink. So I'm telling you something."
She bit her lip, blunt. "Mr. Rivers stopped loving you a long time ago. Because... we have slept together.
"And in moments when he was utterly consumed by lust... he even said he wanted to marry me."
Even though I'd glimpsed the truth from the comments, facing such a direct "other woman" left me speechless.
I leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, exhaled heavily. "So?"
Her eyes were dewey. She unbuttoned the top of her blouse, revealing the smooth curve of her shoulder.
A clear bite mark. Countless red trails down to her collarbone. It stung.
She said, "Mr. Rivers has been on countless trips. Every time, with me. We saw the Northern Lights, went go-karting, to theme parks, he bought me candy apples. He said if he'd met me sooner, everything would be different.
"He said he doesn't like those polished, socialite types. That my innocence, my purity, is what's truly precious."
Just then, a door pushed open behind us. The girl suddenly grabbed my hand, her voice choked with pretend tears.
"Miss Carter, it's all my fault. I've taken three drinks. See? I've punished myself. Please forgive me. My family is poor, I can't lose this job!" she pleaded.
I saw it then, the obvious red wine stain on her collar. Pre-planned.
She swayed, started to fall. In the same instant. Carlo rushed over, caught her, his eyes blazing.
He snapped, "You're allergic. You know that. Why would you drink if someone told you to? Trying to kill yourself?!"
Carrying her away, his back to me, his voice was ice. "Aylin, I get you don't like her. But next time, no need for methods like this. I said I'd handle it."
"Aylin, I know you can't stand her, but you don't need to pull something like this again. I told you I'd handle it for you," he said.
He flew out the door with the girl in his arms. I just stood there and took another drag of my cigarette.
Carlo's assistant, fresh out of college, her eyes full of untainted naivety.
Just like I used to be.
In looks, in vibe.
Carlo's taste hadn't changed in all these years.
I pulled out my phone, scrolled through Carlo's Instagram.
Sure enough. She hadn't lied. The Northern Lights. Race track. Amusement park.
He, who never posted, had dozens of updates the past six months.
Captions clearly in a young girl's voice, with emojis.
Even his profile pic was now the Northern Lights.
It was laughable. From high school till now, something always came up. We'd never had a single trip, just us.
I forced myself back to the hall, took the mic. "Everyone, my apologies. I'm not feeling well. The engagement cannot proceed tonight. Thank you for understanding."
The room erupted in whispers. Guests speculated.
I looked up at the floating comments and gave a bitter laugh.
It was nothing. Just that I only had one month left.