Chapter: 30
Again, I felt completely overwhelmed by the announcement.
But then again… they're rich. If his parents want to celebrate his birthday like this, what can I even say? Meeting them is just going to be a new challenge, no big deal right?
Still… I wish I had known beforehand.
Right now, I just feel completely out of place.
Standing at the entrance of the reception hall, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Luxury cars lined up endlessly outside.
Inside, people looked like they had just stepped out of a movie.
Wait… that is an actor.
And… a famous musician?
A politician too?
And then, I spotted Kyle. Looking somewhat nice.
Of course, he's here.
There was even a separate room dedicated just to Jack's birthday gifts.
I instinctively tightened my grip on my bag, where I had carefully packed my cookies.
It wasn't just that they seemed small compared to everything else…
It was that, in this place, they felt completely worthless.
Soft music filled the room. People laughed, drank champagne and red wine, and moved gracefully under the warm lights. A beautiful stage stood at the center, waiting.
I glanced down at myself.
A simple white dress, May had insisted and pushed to buy for me.
The staff had touched up my hair and makeup, but still… You could tell.
I didn't belong here.
Where was Lily?
I spotted her across the room, completely in her element, filming, taking pictures, probably sending everything to her dad. I will tell you everything that happened between her and you know who.
But when she heard about the party earlier, she had been thrilled.
"Don't ever break up with him," she had said.
"I dream of places like this. Lea, you're my only hope to make it in this world."
I had laughed back then.
Now… I just felt small.
May had already gone ahead to meet her parents and Jack.
And me?
I was just… standing there.
Lost and nervous.
"Feeling out of place?"
I turned.
Kyle stood beside me, casually sipping his drink, looking perfectly at ease.
"I don't know what you mean," I replied, my voice tighter than I wanted.
"You will," he said calmly. "The Walton family is on a different level. I don't understand what Jack is doing with you."
Something in me snapped.
"I don't think that's any of your concern."
For the first time, I pushed back.
But before anything else could be said—
The music stopped.
The room fell silent.
Someone stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.
"Thank you all for coming, dear guests. Please welcome our pride and joy—Jack Walton… and his fiancée, Faye Vanders."
Kyle leaned slightly toward me, his voice low.
"Look closely, Lea. You're not fit for this world."
And then—
Applause filled the room.
I looked up.
Jack appeared at the top of the stairs.
Perfect.
Like he belonged to this world.
Navy blue suit. Hair slicked back. Calm, confident.
And beside him—
Faye.
A long red dress flows behind her. Her hair was elegantly styled, revealing a shimmering diamond necklace. She smiled effortlessly, waving to the crowd as she had always been part of this life.
Like she had always been… his.
The clapping sounded distant.
Like it wasn't meant for me.
My ears rang.
Fiancé.
I looked at him again.
Same face. Same eyes.
The same person who held me the other night. My hand was shaking.
Fiancée.
The word echoed in my head.
Over and over.
Fiancée.
So this is their story.
Then…
What am I?
Why am I here?
Why does my chest hurt like this?
It felt like something inside me was breaking—slowly, painfully.
And for the first time…
I couldn't understand my own life anymore.