Chapter 2
After Jason put the necklace on Bianca, he casually pulled out a lunchbox with sandwiches and pastries.
"Honey, eat your breakfast quickly. Don't starve yourself. You look so tired; I hate seeing you like this," Jason said.
Bianca took the sandwich and nibbled at it.
Jason smiled at her and reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
They acted like no one else was there.
I lowered my head and busied myself with organizing my makeup kit.
"Miss Clarke, would you like some? Jason bought plenty," Bianca suddenly asked.
I waved it off.
Honestly, I still hadn't had a bite to eat.
I'd woken up at three in the morning, checked my makeup kit thoroughly, and dragged it all the way here.
My stomach was growling, sure. But I'd lost my appetite.
Jason and Bianca cuddled for a while longer.
I kept working on Bianca's makeup, meticulously going through each step.
But only I knew how much strength it took to keep my hands from trembling.
Jason sat nearby. Whenever his gaze drifted to me, it stung like a small needle pricking my chest.
Wasn't it ridiculous? He was getting married, but I wasn't the bride.
Jason didn't stay long, just a quick visit.
Before he left, he leaned down and kissed Bianca's forehead, then turned to me. "Miss Clarke, please take good care of Bianca's makeup. I appreciate it."
Keeping it businesslike, I just said, "Okay."
After he left, the room fell silent again.
"Hey, have you met Jason before?" Bianca asked suddenly, startling me.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Bianca opened her eyes and looked at me through the mirror. "I noticed you were staring at him earlier. It looked like you already knew each other."
"No. This is my first time meeting Mr. Young."
Bianca just said, "Okay," and dropped it.
As I was wrapping up Bianca's bridal makeup, the bridesmaids started trickling in.
After finishing Bianca's makeup, I started working on theirs.
The three bridesmaids were all Bianca's best friends, and they huddled together, gossiping nonstop about Jason.
"You guys, Jason is so good to her. For Bianca's birthday, he got her that limited-edition bag she'd wanted for ages but couldn't afford. He just bought it for her."
"Yeah, he's always spoiling Bianca. Whatever she wants, he gets it for her."
"Honestly, what I love about him is that he really puts me first," Bianca said with a smile. "If I just mention something I want to eat, he'll remember and take me out for it a few days later."
"Yeah, we all see how good he is to you."
"Stop showing off. You're making us all jealous!" the bridesmaids groaned.
I stood beside Gigi, one of the bridesmaids, my makeup brush sweeping across her face as I listened to the girls chime in one after another, listing all the ways Jason spoiled Bianca.
Without realizing it, memories of the past started to surface.
When I first met Jason, he was just a sophomore in college.
We met at a wedding. He was a relative of the groom. After seeing me, he begged me until I added him on WhatsApp.
I was four years older than him and had already been working for years.
When I first started, my income was unstable. I was so broke I could barely pay rent.
I worked my way up from being a makeup assistant. After building my skills and connections, I finally left the company to start taking on freelance gigs.
My income finally started to pick up.
I wasn't interested in college boys at all.
But he was so persistent. He chased me for an entire year.
He did everything to win me over, and eventually, I fell for him.
When he was a junior in college, we became a couple.
As soon as he graduated, he moved in with me.
Back then, I really believed he was the one for me.
By the time I finished doing makeup for Bianca and all the bridesmaids, I'd been working nonstop for three hours. I didn't even have time for a sip of water.
When I finished, the girls crowded around the mirror, admiring themselves and praising my work nonstop.
"Miss Clarke, let's add each other on WhatsApp. I'm getting married at the end of the year, and I'd love for you to do my makeup," Gigi said.
"Sure, we can talk about it later," I replied.
As I spoke, I pulled out my phone from my bag, ready to add her contact.
The second the screen lit up, a message caught my eye.
It was from Jason.
[Why are you here? Don't say anything.]
I stared at the message for a couple of seconds and laughed without meaning to.
"Is everything okay?" Gigi asked, confused. When I didn't reply, she called again, "Miss Clarke?"
"Oh, sorry," I said, snapping back to reality.
I pulled up my WhatsApp QR code and handed her my phone.
After she added me, I set my phone face down on the table.
How shameless could he be? I was working my butt off, trying to make some extra cash so I could get him a nice birthday gift.
And what was he doing? Marrying someone else and telling me to keep quiet. Where did he get the nerve?