Chapter 2

A sudden roar of screams from the crowd pulled me back to the present.

It was Leo, bending slightly, carefully using a rose to hook the edge of the satin, like a groom revealing his bride.

“Harper, aren’t you supposed to be up there soon!”

Chloe was even more excited than I was, even rummaging through her makeup bag to ask if I needed a touch-up.

“The leading lady needs a grand entrance!”

But I remained silent, a giant hand gripping my heart, dragging it down.

Yet, in the very next second, Leo, under the gaze of thousands, pulled back the satin.

Revealing the entire, beautiful wedding dress.

And beneath it, a radiant beauty, eyes glistening with tears, face flushed with emotion, wearing bridal makeup.

It was Leo’s first love, the “Serena, my girl” he used to constantly talk about around me – Serena.

Leo bent into a bow.

“A new song, for all the lovers in the world.”

Amidst the romantic prelude, the lipstick in Chloe’s hand clattered to the floor.

Her searching gaze instinctively fell on me first, then on the woman dancing gracefully with Leo on stage.

After a few long seconds, I took a deep breath, picked up the lipstick, and handed it back to her.

“The stage design is quite unique. The leading lady was already up there, clearly.”

I pressed down on the suffocating pain in my chest, explaining gently.

“Right, right, right! That’s just Leo, always pulling out all the stops.”

Amidst Chloe’s stammering, hurried agreement, a grim-faced Skylar practically dragged me back to the hotel.

On the way, many staff members noticed me.

Under their scrutinizing, curious, and even pitying gazes, I struggled to maintain my composure, smiling and looking directly back at them.

But my steps quickened involuntarily, fleeing like a coward.

My carefully chosen, sparkling gown looked like a cheap imitation compared to that wedding dress.

I clenched my fists, self-deprecating thoughts uncontrollably swirling in my mind.

In Leo’s heart, wasn’t I always just a cheap imitation?