Chapter 9
The next day soon came. Leila sat on a chair in the hotel where her engagement party was going to be held. A makeup artist helped her with her makeup.
For some reason, she didn’t feel as excited as she’d imagined.
Marrying Connor was something she’d once dreamed of. In the past, he’d only ever thought of her as the older girl–next–door. However, that had changed when he’d come to her two years ago, his eyes red as he’d complained about someone bullying him.
The blood had rushed to her head, and she’d volunteered to help him get revenge. However, he’d said that he wanted the guy to experience what it was like to descend from heaven to hell.
Leila hadn’t understood that. Connor had given her a detailed breakdown of his fake salvation plan, and her first reaction had been to object.
He was the one she liked. How could she be someone else’s girlfriend?
Unfortunately, she’d caved when he’d pleaded with her and promised to get engaged to her once he was happy. She’d agreed to help.
She had always believed that her dream for the past two years was to hold out until Connor was satisfied enough to get engaged to her. Then, she would cruelly dump Ian and ruin the dreams he had.
Now, she was two hours away from the engagement party and having her dream come true. Yet, Ian was all she could think about.
Leila remembered them snuggling against each other on their tiny bed. She also remembered him sweating buckets while cooking for her in the sweltering weather. She remembered how bright his eyes were whenever she gave him anything and the heartache in his gaze when he saw that she’d injured herself.
Everything and anything that had to do with him surfaced in her mind.
The hand on the clock ticked with every passing second; the sound made Leila feel like she had a ticking time bomb in her heart.
It was at that moment that she found herself admitting she was scared. Terrified, even.
She was scared of Ian discovering she was the one getting engaged when he arrived at the hotel. She was terrified of him finding out she’d lied to him over the past two years.
Throughout their relationship, he’d given her his heart and all his love. He hadn’t hesitated to give her his life savings, and he hadn’t complained despite it all going to waste. Instead, he’d been relieved that she didn’t really have cancer.
Leila couldn’t imagine how much agony Ian would be in when he learned the truth. He would have a breakdown!
Her mind was in a mess. She didn’t know what to do. However, before she could puzzle things out, a group of her girlfriends barged into the room and congratulated her.
“Congratulations on finally getting out of hell, Lili! It truly was hard on you.
“Congratulations on kicking that pathetic guy to the curb and getting the man of your dreams!”
“The past two years haven’t been easy for you, Lili. You’re finally free now!”
Words like those had often reverberated in Leila’s ears over the past two years–the fact that she was pretending to be broke and dating Ian was always the main topic whenever she gathered with her friends.
Everyone would mock lan for being poor, and they would make fun of the cheap things he could afford. They also said he was only worthy of such things…
That day, however, the words seemed particularly harsh.
The people around Leila didn’t notice her dark expression. They became more excited as they chattered away.
“I bet that peasant’s going to be an emotional wreck after being dumped. Imagine me pretending to be broke and staying by his side…”
“Tired of the rich men around you, huh? Are you looking for a change in flavor? Is that why you want to try him out?”
“Setting everything else aside, the peasant’s looks and figure are top–notch. I wouldn’t mind pretending to be poor if I could just sleep with him for one night. As long as he-”
Leila abruptly kicked the woman who was the most excited, sending her falling to the floor. She clutched her chest as she coughed violently.
Leila’s expression was frosty, and she gave the woman a look so dark that it was menacing. “Who gave you guys the permission to fantasize about him?“
