---- Chapter 2 The glittering chandeliers of the gala seemed to mock Aracely as she watched Gage and Cayden across the room. They weren't hiding it anymore. Gage' s arm was wrapped firmly around Cayden's waist, his fingers splayed possessively against the curve of her hip. Cayden, in turn, had her head tilted back, laughing at something he whispered in her ear, her hand resting on his arm. They looked effortless, natural. They looked like a couple. More than a couple. They looked like they belonged in this world of polished marble and hushed wealth in a way Aracely never would. The whispers started around her, quiet but sharp enough to cut. "| don't know why she stays with him." "Look at them. It's so obvious." "She must know. She' s just holding on for the money. Pathetic." Aracely felt her hands clench at her sides. She remembered the early days of their relationship, when she had confronted Gage about a flirty text message. She had yelled, cried, and made a scene. He had turned it all back on her, calling her hysterical and jealous, making her feel like the crazy one. He ' d enjoyed her tears. She learned then that her only defense ---- was a quiet, dignified silence. So she stood straight, lifted her chin, and pretended not to hear the whispers, pretended not to see the man she loved seducing her best friend in plain sight. Gage glanced over at her, a flicker of something-annoyance? satisfaction?-in his eyes. He seemed pleased that she wasn't causing a scene, that she was taking her humiliation quietly like she was supposed to. He started to walk toward her, a condescending smirk playing on his lips, ready to deliver another lecture on her behavior. Aracely didn't give him the chance. She turned on her heel and walked out of the ballroom, the heavy doors closing behind her with a soft, final thud. The cool night air was a relief against her hot skin. She called for a ride-share, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed. She just wanted to go back to the dorm, to the one place that was supposed to be her sanctuary. A sleek black car pulled up to the curb before her ride arrived. The tinted window slid down, revealing Gage behind the wheel, his expression impatient. "Get in," he commanded. It wasn't a request. Aracely' s first instinct was to refuse, to tell him to go to hell. But then she saw the passenger seat. Cayden was sitting there, a smug little smile on her face as she pretended to be absorbed in her phone. Gage followed Aracely's gaze and scowled. "Don't even think ---- about it. The front seat is Cayden's." As if on cue, Cayden looked up, her eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, Ara, I'm so sorry. | get terribly carsick in the back. Do you mind? | can get out if it's a problem." She made a slight motion as if to open the door, but her body remained perfectly still. It was a masterful performance. Gage' s scowl deepened as he turned back to Aracely. "Don't make this difficult. Just get in the back before you cause another scene." The unspoken threat hung in the air: Or you can walk home. Aracely said nothing. She walked around the car and opened the back door, sliding onto the cold leather seat. The car smelled of Gage' s cologne and Cayden' s cloyingly sweet perfume. They were a suffocating combination. As Gage pulled away from the curb, Cayden reached over and ran her fingers along his jawline. "Is that a new aftershave? | love it," she murmured, her voice husky. Her long, delicate fingers traced the sharp line of his chin, and Aracely could hear the soft rasp of his five-o'clock shadow against her skin. His breathing hitched. Their eyes locked in the rearview mirror for a moment, a silent, charged conversation passing between them. Aracely felt a wave of nausea. She looked out the window, focusing on the blur of streetlights, trying to pretend she was anywhere else. ---- Just as their faces were leaning closer, a loud thud echoed through the car. Gage looked into the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed in irritation. The back seat was empty. It took him a second to realize the sound had been Aracely slamming the car door shut. He slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching. "What the hell?" He threw the car in park and jumped out, storming over to where Aracely stood on the sidewalk. "Where do you think you're going?" Aracely pointed to the modest sedan that had just pulled up behind them. "My ride is here. | don't need yours." Gage stared at her. For the first time, he seemed to see that her silence tonight wasn't submission. It was something else, something he didn't recognize. But his arrogance quickly reasserted itself. This was just another one of her games, a new way to get his attention. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He shoved it into her hand. "Stop with the drama. Put this on. You're my girlfriend. You're embarrassing me." It was a bracelet, a thin silver chain with a single, tiny diamond chip. It was the kind of generic, thoughtless gift one buys out of obligation. ---- Aracely looked from the cheap bracelet to his face. "Who is your girlfriend, Gage? Is it me? Or is it her?" His expression flickered between annoyance and a strange sort of pride that she'd figured it out. He let out a short, humorless laugh. "Don't flatter yourself by comparing you to her," he said, his voice dropping to a low, cruel whisper. "Cayden is kind and sweet. She knows her place. You should learn from her." He leaned in closer. "Now, if you ever mention this to my parents or try to hurt her, | will make sure you not only lose your scholarship, but that you never work in this city again. Understand?" Aracely almost laughed. He wanted it both ways. He wanted to keep his perfect, doting girlfriend and his brilliant, scholarship-student accessory. He wanted to be the hero of his own story without having to be a good man. She said nothing. She simply turned, got into her ride-share, and left him standing on the curb. On the way back to the dorm, she opened her phone. Cayden had just posted a new photo. It was a close-up of her wrist, adorned with a stunning, intricate diamond tennis bracelet. It glittered under the soft light, a constellation of tiny, perfect stars. The caption was simple: "Some nights are just magical." Aracely recognized it instantly. It was from a boutique jewelry store they had passed last week. Gage had complained about ---- the price, but Cayden had stared at it with undisguised longing. The anonymous buyer was no longer a mystery. Aracely looked down at the cheap little trinket still clutched in her hand. It wasn't just a gift; it was an insult. It was a measure of her worth in his eyes. Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Cayden. "The one who isn't loved is the third wheel. You've had your turn playing the part of Gage's girlfriend for years. It's my turn now." 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