The man’s warm palm seemed to have a magical quality; gradually, she relaxed and immersed herself in the dance.

This was the first time all evening Julian had seen Selina smile, and his face instantly darkened.

His eyes, visibly brimming with displeasure, would drift toward her from time to time, causing him to miss several beats.

Noticing his distraction, Nina glanced at him, her eyes flickering slightly.

After a transition in the music, everyone in the dance floor swapped partners.

Realizing the person holding her hand was now Julian, Selina froze for a moment before lowering her gaze.

They had barely completed one turn when disaster struck.

The crystal chandelier overhead loosened and came crashing down with a deafening thud.

Julian instinctively let go of her hand, lunging forward to shield Nina and pulling her away from the danger zone.

Left behind, Selina barely managed to steady herself. The light grazed her shoulder as it fell, leaving a long, jagged gash across her hand.

Blood gushed out, staining her white dress crimson.

The pain shot through her nerves, forcing a cry from her lips as her face turned paler than paper.

Just a few steps away, Julian was holding Nina, whispering tender comforts as he hurried her away.

From beginning to end, he never once looked back at Selina.

Chapter 8

Selina let out a sigh of relief after the doctor confirmed that no bones were broken and it was only a flesh wound.

After her wound was bandaged, she went home.

As the day of her departure drew near, the living room was filled with suitcases of all sizes.

She rested for two days and sent messages to a few close friends about her move abroad.

Her friends organized a gathering specifically to see her off.

The atmosphere at the table was somber; everyone was reluctant to say goodbye, urging her to keep in touch after she left.

It was nearly midnight before the party broke up.

After seeing everyone off, Selina paid the bill and went back to the private room to grab her bag.

On her way out, she passed the room next door and heard several familiar voices.

"Julian, how does it actually feel to have finally caught your 'White Moonlight'?"

The door was slightly ajar, and she could clearly hear Julian’s voice, thick with a smile.

"It feels like I could die right now and be perfectly content."

As he spoke, the room erupted in laughter, interspersed with a teasing remark.

"Then what about that little childhood friend of yours?"

After a silence of about ten seconds, Julian spoke again, his tone still casual.

"Her? She’s a good lay."

"To have a bedmate who comes and goes whenever you want without having to take any responsibility—Julian, you’re going to make us die of envy."

Amidst a burst of laughter, Julian arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

"But now that you’re engaged to Nina, what do you plan to do with the childhood friend?"

"A clean break. My heart only belongs to Nina. I don't want anyone but her."

He spoke with such certainty that everyone began praising him for his devotion.

Only Selina stood there, her fingernails digging so deep into her palms that her knuckles turned white.

She thought she was past the point of feeling pain, but hearing this with her own ears left her bleeding and broken once more.

So, all those twenty-odd years of friendship, the hours on the phone, the hand-holding, the kisses, the nights together...

It all boiled down to one sentence.

"A... good... lay!"

She bit her lip hard to suppress the surge of bitterness before turning away with heavy steps.

It was raining outside. As she stepped into the downpour, someone blocked her path.

Nina stood there with four or five other girls, staring at her unmovingly.

Selina said nothing and was about to hail a cab when Nina grabbed her.

"I felt something was off between you two before, and now I’ve finally confirmed it. How can you be so disgusting, throwing yourself at my boyfriend’s bed for so long?"

The tone was so poisonous that Selina’s face turned slightly pale.

She was about to explain, but Nina gave her no chance, looking at her with a face full of mockery.

"The past is the past, but now that Julian and I are engaged, you still come looking for him? Do you really enjoy being a pathetic mistress that much?"

Selina’s chest tightened. She took a deep breath. "I am not a mistress, and I didn't come here to find Julian today—"

Before she could finish, Nina signaled the people beside her.

"Drag her inside. And go find a few beggars."

The girls understood, immediately stepping forward to shove and push Selina back upstairs.

"What are you doing?"

Selina’s heart jolted. She struggled with all her might, but she was outnumbered and was eventually locked in the innermost private room.

Before long, one of the girls returned with a beggar.

Nina clapped her hands and stepped aside with a cold smirk.

"This woman is desperate. She’ll let you have her for free. Make sure you satisfy her."

As she spoke, she ordered the door to be locked.

In the cramped space, the beggar in his tattered clothes lunged forward with a glint in his eyes.

Selina raised her hands, scratching and fighting back desperately, but it was useless.

The man’s strength was far greater. Her dress was quickly torn open, exposing a large area of skin.

He hungrily began to bite at her, the nauseating stench of the sewers filling the air.

In a fit of grief and rage, Selina grabbed an ashtray and, without a second thought, slammed it against the beggar’s head.

With a thud, the man collapsed to the floor.

Having narrowly escaped, Selina grabbed her phone and ran outside, running into Nina near the stairwell.

Seeing her escape, Nina’s expression changed, and she quickly grabbed Selina’s hand.

"How did you get out!"

Just as she was about to drag her back, Nina caught sight of a figure around the corner. Her expression shifted instantly; she threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.

Julian, who had just stepped out, saw this scene. He ran over in horror and gathered the fallen Nina into his arms.

Seeing the bruises on her body, he looked up at Selina with uncontrollable rage.

"Selina Sterling! Why on earth would you push Nina!"

Chapter 9

Seeing Julian accuse her without even attempting to understand the truth, the grievance and pain in Selina’s heart reached its breaking point.

However, she fought to maintain her composure, desperate to explain what had truly happened.

"She was the one who hired someone to assault me! Falling down the stairs was an act she staged herself! If you don't believe me, go to the private room. That beggar is still—"

Hearing this, Nina panicked and began to cry, cutting her off with a frantic explanation.

"That’s not true! Julian, she was the one who called me a homewrecker first. She said I was interfering in your 'childhood sweetheart' relationship, and then she pushed me. I didn't do anything... why is she being so malicious and slandering me?"

Between the two of them, Julian chose to believe Nina without a second thought.

He pulled Nina into his arms, venting his entire fury on Selina. His voice was as cold as frost.

"How could Nina ever do something like that? You pushed her down the stairs in a fit of irrational rage, and now you have the nerve to play the victim? You’ve been obsessively clinging to me since we were kids. I only tolerated you for the sake of our families' friendship. Since you’re so delusional and ungrateful—get lost!"

With those few words, Selina’s heart went completely cold.

She stared at him, her voice steady and echoing with finality.

"Fine! I will do exactly as you wish. We are finished. For good."

Her uncompromising, indifferent tone only fanned the flames of Julian’s anger.

Watching her back as she stumbled down the stairs, he refused to back down and threw one last cruel remark after her.

"Don't let me ever see your face again!"

Selina knew that they truly wouldn't see each other ever again.

So she didn't stop for a single second.

She left without once looking back.

After a night of restless sleep, Selina woke up and tore the final page off the calendar.

She was heading to the garage with her suitcases when she heard Mr. and Mrs. Sterling call out to her.

"Selina, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne have invited our whole family over for one last lunch. Put your things away and come over quickly."

Although Selina was extremely reluctant, she knew that no matter how ugly things had gotten between her and Julian, it had nothing to do with their parents.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she agreed.

Fortunately, Julian was not at home for the gathering.