Chapter 2

Seeing my silence, Giuliana's expression filled with guilt and unease.

She twisted the hem of her shirt with her fingers and spoke in a trembling voice:

"No, how can Claudia use this broken umbrella..."

"I'm sorry for causing you both trouble."

"Never mind, I'll just run home."

She made as if to leave, but Rafael grabbed her arm.

Rafael looked at me in silence, frowning, his thin lips pressed into a cold line.

But his inner voice rang out in my mind.

[Claudia's definitely going to throw a tantrum again. I'm so sick of it.]

[All her life, she's just relied on her family's power, thinking everyone should revolve around her.]

[But I really don't want to indulge her anymore. I like Giuliana—do I have to spell it out?]

[Giuliana can't possibly walk home in the rain...]

I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe, as if something in my chest was slowly shattering.

Before Rafael could speak, I voluntarily stepped back:

"You two go ahead."

Rafael let out a relieved breath and turned to the side, his voice gentle: "Giuliana, give me your backpack."

Giuliana glanced at me hesitantly.

Then she nodded obediently and ducked under Rafael's umbrella.

Before long, their silhouettes disappeared into the curtain of rain.

I looked down at the ground.

Then I tossed Giuliana's broken umbrella by the back door and walked into the rain.

At the school gate, Sargent's car sat with its lights on.

He froze for a moment, then quickly grabbed an umbrella and ran over:

"Miss Claudia, why are you alone? Where's Rafael?"

"Let's go home first."

I leaned back against the seat, my eyes stinging.

When I got home, my mother's face was full of worry.

She dried my hair while chattering:

"What were you thinking, child! Why are you soaked like this? Where's Rafael? Doesn't he walk you home every day?"

"Look at you—your lips are completely pale! Your father's still overseas on that business deal. If he finds out, he'll fly back overnight..."

"Mom." I interrupted her with downcast eyes, my voice hoarse. "I want to go back to my room and sleep."

Her gaze lingered on my face for a moment.

She didn't press further, instead turning toward the kitchen to tell the housekeeper to prepare dinner for me.

I changed my clothes and went upstairs.

Behind the closed door, all sounds were shut out.

But the scenes from earlier kept replaying uncontrollably in my mind.

I thought of the faint smile that curved Rafael's lips when he faced Giuliana.

Then I recalled the way he looked at me—full of perfunctory dismissal and impatience.

At this moment, I finally believed with certainty that those inner thoughts I'd heard weren't hallucinations.

So that's how it was. Beyond using me, Rafael felt nothing but disgust toward me.

We'd known each other for years. I'd thought he was naturally aloof, maintaining that cold demeanor with everyone.

Only today did I see through it all. He wasn't incapable of expressing emotion—he just despised me.

In the quiet room, my phone suddenly rang.

On the screen, the caller was Rafael.