Chapter 3
1507 Words
Chapter 3
Raised in wealth and comfort as her family’s sole heiress, Serena Vale possessed beauty that could topple cities. Even with her notoriously volatile temper, she still attracted no shortage of admirers in the upper circle—
A pack of hopeless, face-obsessed fools.
Her sudden two-month disappearance sent the social scene into whispers. Had the Vale heiress been possessed? Wasn’t she the one who adored lively parties the most?
Now that she had returned, the crowd was eager to see her again.
The first event Serena brought Lily Rowan to was a small private gathering—barely a dozen attendees—yet every single one knew Serena and Ethan Reed were married.
Serena wore a soft pink blouse paired with a white pleated skirt. Long hair draped over her shoulders, her makeup fresh and understated. From a distance, she looked like a sweet-faced freshman.
Lily Rowan, by contrast, dressed more formally in a modest white cinched dress, matching long hair, and light makeup.
From afar, they resembled twin sisters.
But Lily was still an ordinary university student, unused to occasions like this. Surrounded by stylish, decadent rich youths, her confidence shrank. Her head lowered instinctively, her expression fragile and pitiful.
On any other day, such delicate behavior would stir protective instinct in men.
Unfortunately for her, Serena stood right beside her—dressed similarly, yet exuding effortless elegance. Her refined features and serene smile outshone everything.
Next to her, Lily looked like a timid little maid.
One man rubbed his nose and murmured,
“Say what you want, but Serena Vale’s face… I absolutely concede.”
“You wanna chase her?”
“Forget it. I’m not stupid enough to offend the Reed family.”
Serena had chosen her outfit deliberately—walking the same style as Lily, only to outshine her completely.
Hooking her arm through Lily’s, she introduced her brightly,
“This is Lily Rowan—she saved Ethan’s life. From now on, she’s my friend. No bullying her, understood?”
Everyone’s eyes subtly swept over Lily’s plain dress, shoes, and bag. Their assessment was immediate and unspoken.
“Nan Nan, you’ve been gone forever! I thought you abandoned me.”
A woman with a androgynous style rushed in and enveloped Serena in a big hug.
“How could I ever?” Serena hugged her back.
“Come, sit with us.”
The private buffet was intimate—nearly twenty people in scattered groups. Serena guided the timid Lily to a sofa, facing two men and one woman who looked their way.
Serena smiled and began introducing them.
The androgynous woman was Raven Taylor, Serena’s longtime best friend and a photography major.
Beside her sat her twin brother, Ryan Taylor, now an up-and-coming film director.
The last man was Raven’s boyfriend, Daniel Frost—gentle, mild-tempered, heir to a cosmetics empire.
The four had grown up together. Raven had once even tried setting Serena up with her brother; Ryan had shown mild interest—sadly, the original Serena had been too obsessed with Ethan Reed.
After catching up on recent events, Lily remained quiet, shrinking into the gilded surroundings.
Watching Serena laugh and speak with ease only deepened her sense of inferiority.
Miss Vale is stunning… and her family is extraordinary. No wonder Ethan married her.
Do I… really deserve him?
No—love shouldn’t be judged by the world. I love Ethan Reed. I must try.
When the conversation lulled, Serena took a leisurely sip of wine.
“Ryan, I heard you’re directing a new film?”
He nodded, asking if she had questions.
Serena tilted her head, drawing everyone’s attention subtly to Lily.
“Rou Rou is a student at Shangying Film Academy. She wants to become an actress like Ethan. Do you have any minor roles she could audition for?”
“Her?”
Skepticism glimmered in Ryan’s eyes.
Lily inhaled sharply. Facing this rare opportunity, she stiffened with nerves and excitement.
“Director Ryan… hello.”
The Taylor family owned a nationwide supermarket chain—wealthy enough to finance Ryan’s creative whims. Paired with the Vale family’s connections in entertainment, Ryan’s rise had been swift.
“She’s not signed to Vale Entertainment?” he asked.
“Not yet. I plan to sign her with an A-level contract once she gains some recognition—just to shut the board up.”
Ryan waved a hand. “Fine, given our—”
He didn’t finish.
Lily suddenly straightened, clutching her purse with righteous indignation.
“Miss Vale, thank you for your kindness… but if signing with Vale Entertainment is the condition for getting a role, I must decline.”
Silence dropped like a stone.
Raven’s lips twitched—displeased.
Refusing was fine. But acting like she was being coerced? As if Vale Entertainment lacked talent and desperately needed her?
Lily, sensing the shift, felt even more wronged. She blamed Serena inwardly—Why speak for me without asking?
Just because she’s a heiress doesn’t mean everyone has to obey her.
“Then which company do you want to sign with?” Ryan asked flatly.
“I…” Lily blushed, eyes shining with yearning.
“Ethan—Mr. Reed—is my idol. I want to sign with Reed Entertainment.”
The table: “…”
Are our eyes malfunctioning?
Her obsession with Ethan and her blatant attempt to dig corners—so “pure,” so “innocent”…
Utter nonsense.
Raven, as the best friend, opened her mouth—
But Serena laughed, covering her lips with delicate fingers.
“Rou Rou, you’re adorable. Ethan and I are married; it makes no difference. Sign wherever you wish. You saved his life—I’ll make sure you have resources.”
At the word married, Lily stiffened, but still bowed her head.
A message buzzed on her phone—Ethan asking if she was free for dinner as thanks.
He had only suffered minor injuries and been discharged this morning.
With Serena right beside her, he invited her out.
A thrill of forbidden sweetness surged through Lily.
Her cheeks flushed.
No matter how beautiful or wealthy she is… Ethan doesn’t love her. I’m the one he chooses.
Minutes later, she fidgeted and murmured that she needed to leave due to “family matters.”
Serena’s expression darkened.
“What could be so urgent? You’re leaving halfway through a party? You may as well not have come.”
Lily’s eyes reddened instantly. She bit her lip, trembling like a bullied heroine.
“I—I’m sorry, Miss Vale. I know I’m poor and I’m grateful you brought me… but I really… really must go…”
Her soft sobbing drew everyone’s attention.
“What are you crying for? I just asked you to stay. Now you’re making it look like I bullied you.” Serena frowned, sweeping the room with irritated eyes.
“Fine. Leave if you want.”
Then, loud enough for all to hear, she muttered,
“Shouldn’t have brought her.”
After Lily fled, Raven stood and clasped Serena’s hand, explaining to the watching crowd,
“Lily wants to be an actress. Nan Nan brought her to introduce connections. You all saw what happened.”
Understanding rippled through the room.
Some who had sympathized with Lily now felt only annoyance—
To be personally brought by the Vale heiress into a circle full of major entertainment players, only to throw a melodramatic fit?
Ungrateful.
A few young heirs muttered,
“People say Miss Vale has a bad temper… Honestly? She was quite restrained.”
“Marriage probably mellowed her out.”
“If I’d known she was this approachable, I would’ve made a move.”
“Please. As if she’d look at you.”
…
Serena remained until the banquet ended.
The Taylor siblings kept hinting that Lily had ulterior motives toward Ethan.
Serena smiled serenely, pretending not to understand.
“Rou Rou is a good girl. She would never.”
She even dragged Ryan around the room to toast everyone, boldly declaring Lily as her best friend and asking the circle to “take care of her.”
She earned a collection of baffled stares.
In short—
Lily Rowan’s “best friend” status was now cemented across high society.
Under the starlit sky, Serena brushed back her long hair, her demure façade fading as her true siren charm flickered through her smile.
—The higher one climbs, the harder one falls.
Don’t disappoint me, Lily Rowan.
Refusing a ride home from Ryan, Serena found a clean bench in a nearby park, snapped a photo of her fair, delicate feet, and sent it to Adrian Reed.
{Little brother-in-law, your sister-in-law is lost. Come pick me up~~}
Adrian, buried in late-night work:
{…}
It seemed he had been glued to by a very persistent piece of candy.
Adrian Reed:
Being flirted with by a beautiful woman—what does it feel like?
I intended to kill her at first… but she clung to me until I married her instead.
- Writer
