Chapter 3

During the latter half of the party, I followed Michael around and got to know quite a few people.

I wasn't like before, always instinctively trailing behind Lucas, blending into the background. This time, I chatted confidently with everyone, talking about design, art, and the major I'd put on hold for five years.

Many were surprised by how talkative and knowledgeable I was. After all, in their eyes, I was just Michael's quiet little sister.

I even saw Lucas.

He was standing on the terrace not far away with a cigarette between his fingers, the glowing tip flickering in the night. His eyes cut through the crowd and locked onto me.

I didn't shy away. Instead, I lifted my champagne glass in his direction and finished it in one go.

Even from across the room, I could almost see the hand holding his cigarette pause for a moment.

That night, I had the sweetest, most peaceful sleep I'd had in years.

Early the next morning, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing.

I picked it up and saw dozens of messages from Lucas, along with more than ten missed calls.

The messages started off with him grilling me, then turned into bossy orders, and finally, he was practically begging.

[Claire, are you done throwing a tantrum?]

[You've got thirty minutes. Come to my place.]

[Alright, I was wrong. Can you please stop being mad at me?]

[Pick up the phone.]

I looked at his messages with a blank expression, and then I blocked him.

Everything became peaceful again.

I stretched lazily and pulled open the curtains.

Winter sunlight streamed in, cozy and soothing.

A new day, a new life.

*****

Life after the breakup was way calmer and more fulfilling than I'd imagined.

I got back into jewelry design, my old major.

Back in college, I was the standout student in my department, winning award after award.

But for Lucas, I gave up the chance to study abroad after graduation and settled for an easy job at a relaxed company, just so I could spend more time with him.

Now, I quit that job, threw all my savings into my career, and with Michael's support at his company, started my own little design studio.

Michael kept calling me crazy, but behind the scenes, he took care of all the paperwork and even scored me a prime spot downtown for next to nothing.

"If you lose money, that's on me. If you make a profit, it's all yours," he said, slapping the keys into my hand with that classic "I'm a doting big brother" look.

A warm feeling bubbled up inside me.

In my previous life, I broke my family's hearts for a man who never loved me. This time, I wasn't about to make the same mistake.

The day my studio opened, I kept it low-key and had only invited a few friends.

Lucas didn't show up.

Michael told me Lucas had been a total mess lately. The Bennett family wanted to have a marriage alliance with the Pierce family, one of the prestigious families in Belika, and Lucas's mom was pushing him to go on blind dates.

He'd always used me as his excuse, saying he already had a girlfriend.

But now that I, his "cover" girlfriend, had stepped out of the picture, he couldn't dodge it anymore.

I was working on a design sketch when I heard the news.

My pen moved smoothly over the paper, drawing complex, elegant lines.

I didn't even bother to look up.

Lucas's problems and marriage had nothing to do with me anymore.

That afternoon, the door to my studio swung open, and the wind chime rang out with a crisp sound.

I thought it was a customer, so I looked up, smiling. "Welcome—"

But I froze mid-sentence when I saw who it was.

It was Edith.

She was dressed in a white Chanel tweed suit, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, her makeup flawless, and her smile gentle and charming.

As soon as she walked in, her eyes swept over my small, slightly cluttered studio, and there was a subtle hint of contempt in her eyes.

"Claire, it's been a while," she said, with the vibe of someone greeting an old friend after years apart.

I set down my pen and stood up, keeping my expression neutral. "Ms. Carter, is there something you need?"

We were never friends, not even close.

She was my so-called senior in college, and the one Lucas had a crush on all through his youth.

In my previous life, after she returned, she never missed a chance to mess with me, both in the open and behind the scenes.

She'd "accidentally" spill red wine all over the birthday gift I'd spent ages preparing for Lucas, and then with that innocent look that could fool anyone, she'd say, "Oops, sorry."

She'd "casually" mention the food Lucas hated most, which happened to be the dish I'd worked so hard to master for him.

And in front of Lucas, she'd use the sweetest, softest voice to say the most devastating things. "Lucas, don't blame Claire. She didn't mean it. She just loves you too much."

And Lucas always believed her.

"I heard you opened a studio, so I thought I'd drop by," Edith said, pulling a velvet box from her bag and sliding it over to me. "A little gift for you. Hope you'll like it."

I didn't take it. "No merit, no reward."

Edith's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered. She opened the box herself, revealing a diamond necklace that looked insanely expensive.

"Lucas gave this to me a few days ago. He said it's a limited edition from a famous designer. Honestly, it's way too flashy for me, but since you're into design, I thought you might like it," she said.

Her words sounded casual, but each one was like a venom-tipped needle.

She was showing off blatantly. Showing off how much Lucas spoiled her, and flaunting her sense of superiority in front of me.

If this happened in my previous life, I'd probably be pale and on the verge of collapsing right now.

But now, honestly, I just thought it was ridiculous.