Chapter 1
At the party, right when I was about to go public with Ryan Hudson, a barrage of comments popped up in my head.
One commented: [Don't! Ryan's already with Yara. He's just waiting for you to make it official so he can humiliate you in front of everyone.]
Another commented: [You'll be the joke of the whole city's social scene, and your family will ditch you for Yara.]
Across the champagne haze, Ryan met Yara Sherman's gaze; my skin iced over.
At the same time, I felt an intense stare from the crowd.
It was my sworn rival, Ethan Young, the golden boy of the city's elite.
The comments popped up again.
One read: [Pick Ethan. He may have a sharp tongue, but he truly cares about you.]
Another commented: [He'll die saving you next spring.]
*****
As I came down the stairs in my evening gown, every eye in the golden hall turned to me.
Someone whispered, "No wonder she's Sherman's own daughter. Her looks, aura, and all those talents really set her apart."
Another chimed in, "See, I told you before, Yara never looked like Mrs. Sherman's child. She always seemed so ordinary."
One said, "Ms. Fiona Sherman is absolutely crushing the competition tonight. Her future suitors will be lining up at her door to ask for her hand in marriage.
Yara was right beside me, her nails nearly digging into my arm with barely hidden spite.
She forced herself to sound sweet, but there was venom laced in her words as she said, "Fiona, don't forget you're supposed to announce your relationship with Ryan later. He's been waiting for this day forever.
"Sure, his family's not loaded, but you two grew up together. Now that you've made it big, you can't just forget your roots."
I glanced over at Ryan, who looked bored and annoyed. About a month ago, he suddenly started giving me the cold shoulder for reasons I still didn't get.
I tried everything to win him back. He accepted every gift I sent, but kept ghosting me and never replied to my messages.
I tried dropping by his place a few times, but it turned out he hadn't been home for several nights in a row.
"Yara, Ryan hasn't talked to me in ages. Honestly, I think it's pretty much over between us," I said.
Yara practically shrieked, "What? How could that be?
"Ryan feels like you've just been ignoring him since you came back home. He's upset. If you just reassure him, he'll stop acting this way.
"Just trust me. Go confess to Ryan in front of everyone tonight, cut ties with every other guy, and let everyone know he's the only one you'll ever marry. Ryan will be touched, and he'll definitely take you back."
I frowned.
Just then, my parents waved at me with big smiles, wanting to introduce me to some rich young heirs from our circle.
Suddenly, Yara grabbed my arm.
She shouted, "Fiona, didn't you have something to tell the family? This is your moment. Just say it.
"Ryan, come over here! Fiona has something to say to you!"
Before I could react, she shoved me forward, and the crowd instantly went quiet.
My mom froze for a moment, then smiled and asked, "Fiona, do you have something you want to share with everyone?"
Yara jumped in right away. She said, "Mom, Fiona's about to announce her big decision about her future. I think we should all show our support and give her our blessings. Ryan, hurry up and get over here."
Ryan scoffed, making a show of aloofness in front of everyone.
He sneered, "Am I supposed to just go running the minute Fiona snaps her fingers? Who does she think she is?
"So what if she's got a bit of money? Even if she begged me, I wouldn't give her the time of day. Quit with the princess act."
Just as I opened my mouth to try to defend myself, a barrage of comments popped up in my head.
One comment read: [Don't! Ryan's already with Yara. He's just waiting for you to make it official so he can humiliate you in front of everyone.]
Another commented: [You'll be the joke of the whole city's social scene, and your family will ditch you for Yara.]
Stunned, I looked at Ryan. He was staring at Yara, his eyes practically soft with affection for her.
After being with him for so long, I knew exactly what that look meant. That was how he looked at someone he was in love with.
At the same time, I could feel someone's burning gaze on me from the crowd.
It was my sworn rival, Ethan Young, the golden boy of the city's elite.
He was right in the middle of a crowd of trust fund heirs, lounging with a drink like he owned the place, everyone hanging on his every word.
But his gaze stayed locked on me: intense, shadowed, impossible to read.
The comments popped up again.
One read: [Pick Ethan. He may have a sharp tongue, but he truly cares about you.]
Another commented: [He'll die saving you next spring.]
Gossip started buzzing all around, and my parents' faces went white.
My mom hesitated. She asked, "Fiona, are you saying you want to confess your feelings to Ryan?"
I replied, "No, Mom."
I straightened up and walked right toward Ethan, the guy I'd always tried to avoid.
"He's the one I want to confess to," I said, my voice steady.