Chapter 2

When I walked back into the VIP room, everyone was crowding around Michelle, taking photos.

The pink diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, sparkling like a teardrop being cradled in someone’s palm.

Someone teased, "Brooks, you have crazy good luck. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were proposing to Michelle tonight."

Michelle’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Don’t say that. It’ll make Alice uncomfortable."

The moment she spoke, every eye in the room shifted to me.

Seeing me walk in, Brooks frowned slightly.

"Why are you standing by the door?"

"Anyone would think someone was bullying you."

I looked at him, suddenly finding it hilarious.

I was the one who got hurt, yet even my silence was treated as me throwing a tantrum.

So, I didn’t move.

Brooks' brow furrowed deeper.

Bryant stood up first and walked over to me.

He had gentle eyes and always seemed to look at people with a warm smile.

Before I turned eighteen, I always believed Bryant was the last person on earth who would ever embarrass me.

But now, he bent down, keeping his voice incredibly low.

"Alice, don’t make a scene and embarrass Brooks tonight."

I looked up at him. "Did I say anything?"

Bryant choked on his words.

Michelle clutched the necklace, her tears falling faster.

"Alice, let me give the necklace back to you. I shouldn’t have taken it anyway."

The moment her hand touched the clasp, Brooks spoke coldly. "Keep it on."

Then Brooks turned to me. "The game decided who got it. That's it."

I let out a soft chuckle. The room went dead silent.

Brooks’ gaze turned icy.

Bryant frowned. "Alice, it’s just a game. Do you have to make things so ugly?"

He stepped in front of Michelle, shielding her. His voice was still soft, but it felt like a cold blade pressed against my throat.

"Michelle has been insecure since she was a kid. She’s finally happy for once. Can’t you just let her have this?"

There it was again. That same old line.

I couldn’t help but look at Michelle.

She was hiding behind Brooks, tears still hanging on her lashes, but the look she shot me was filled with a smug, silent triumph.

A second later, Brooks stood up and walked over to me.

He smelled of cold cedarwood. I was the one who chose that cologne for him.

I told him it suited him—clean and sophisticated. But he used to complain it was too subtle.

Later, Michelle said she liked it. He had been wearing it for three years now.

He reached out, trying to ruffle my hair like he always did. I tilted my head and stepped back, dodging his hand.

Someone in the room gasped.

Brooks’ expression finally darkened completely.

"I’ll be there for your bridal fitting tomorrow."

I looked up into his eyes. "You actually remember?"

He stared back as if I had just said something ridiculous.

"When have I ever forgotten a promise I made to you?"

Just then, Michelle let out a soft cough.

Brooks turned around instantly. "What’s wrong?"

Michelle shook her head. "Nothing. My neck is just a little itchy. Maybe I'm not used to the necklace yet."

Brooks picked up his coat from the couch and draped it over her shoulders.

Bryant looked at my pale face and sighed.

"Alice, stop overthinking."

"Brooks is marrying you tomorrow. Michelle is just like a little sister to us."

I looked him dead in the eye. "Does a 'little sister' accept a pink diamond handpicked by the fiancé?"

The smile faded from Bryant’s face. "Do you have to be so bitter?"

Brooks looked back, his voice dropping to a warning whisper. "Alice, that’s enough."

Suddenly, I didn't want to say another word.

In this game of theirs, even after being humiliated, I was expected to smile and say, "Oh, I guess I'm just unlucky."

When the party ended, Brooks drove Michelle to the hospital.

Her neck had broken out in a small red rash.

Bryant stayed behind to take me home.

As we reached the exit, he took off his scarf and wrapped it around my neck.

"The wind is cold tonight. Don't catch a cold."

I stared down at the scarf.

He always did this. Just when I was about to give up on him completely, he would throw me a tiny crumb of warmth.

And in the next second, he would push me right back into the dark.

Sure enough, once the scarf was secured, he said, "Alice, don’t take tonight to heart."

"You know Brooks. He’s cold on the outside, but he cares about you."

"He’s going to your fitting tomorrow, and you guys are getting your marriage license the day after."

"You’ve already won. Stop fighting Michelle over these little things."

I looked at him. "What exactly did I win?"

Bryant froze.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Because even he couldn't answer that.