In the morning light, a crowd of students had already gathered under the dormitory building, the air filled with the noise and excitement of the new school year. The buzz of conversations ebbed and flowed, with everyone looking in the same direction. Curious, I tiptoed, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
Despite my efforts, I couldn't see anything. I turned to a student nearby and asked, "What is everyone looking at?"
The student, brimming with excitement, replied, "They're looking at the heir of the Winters family, a great beauty. Too bad she already has a boyfriend, who is said to be the heir of the Blackwood family!"
His words exploded in my ears like a bombshell. Not again, the Winters family heir and the Blackwood family heir? At this rate, I'll start to doubt if I'm the real heir.
Pushing through the dense crowd, I finally saw the so-called heir of the Winters family—it was Elara, standing side by side with Sebastian, their hands intertwined, looking every bit the perfect couple. Their presence not only captured the attention of the students but even the passing faculty members couldn't help but turn back for another look.
My ears were filled with the successive sighs of my schoolmates: "Such an enviable love."
It was odd. Elara clearly knew that Sebastian was not the heir of the Blackwood family. Why was she still with him? Could it be that she wasn't after vanity but truly loved Sebastian? Or perhaps, Sebastian had once again charmed her with his sweet nothings?
Spotting me, Elara called out enthusiastically, "Cassandra, long time no see!"
Long time no see? It's only been three days since we last met. And what's with her enthusiasm, as if she's been a good friend of mine for years?
Despite my confusion, I approached and said, "It's great to see you, Elara."
She affectionately pulled me closer and introduced me to the onlooking students: "Let me introduce everyone, this is my best friend Cassandra. We've grown up together since we were kids, and my bond with her is even deeper than the one I share with my boyfriend."
The students looked at me with envy, while my mind was flooded with endless questions.
What exactly was Elara trying to do?
I initially thought Elara was just putting on an act in front of our classmates. However, even after everyone had dispersed, she continued to be extremely friendly towards me, even offering to help me carry my luggage up the stairs, which I declined.
Her eyes welled up with tears: "Cassandra, are you still mad at me?"
Immediately, a student couldn't stand it any longer and scolded me: "How could you make Elara cry? And to think she considers you a friend!"
"Fine, fine." I handed the luggage over to Elara, "Since you want to help with the luggage, thank you then."
The enormous weight of the suitcase nearly sent her tumbling to the ground, but she clenched her teeth and managed to bring it to the doorstep of the dormitory.
By the time she was done, she was nearly exhausted, yet she managed a weak smile: "What a coincidence, we're in the same dorm room."
Was this really just a coincidence?
Upon entering the dorm, I immediately opened my suitcase and started organizing my belongings, placing them where they belonged. While I was busy unpacking, Elara left the dorm and returned after a while.
She approached me hesitantly: "Cassandra, Sebastian has invited you to meet him at the small grove behind the school library in the evening. I know this request is unreasonable, but could you, for my sake, agree to see him?"
I looked at her skeptically: "Do you think you have any leverage with me?"
Tears began to stream down her face again: "Cassandra, I'm sorry for stealing Sebastian from you, but I truly love him... Please, just see him this one time. It would allow you and him to have a clear conclusion, and there would no longer be any misunderstandings between him and me."
She made a valid point. Sebastian and I did need to have a clear conclusion, especially since he hadn't returned the expensive gifts I had given him.
Considering he wouldn't dare to do anything too outrageous at school, I nodded: "Alright, I'll go."
It turned out that Sebastian was indeed capable of audacious actions at school. As soon as I entered the grove, Sebastian rushed towards me, exclaiming, "Cassandra, you finally came. I've been waiting for you, agonizingly."
I quickly stepped aside, causing him to stumble into the void.
Frowning, I asked, "What did you call me here for?"
"Wasn't it you who asked to meet me?"
"When did I ever arrange to meet you?"
"Elara told me you were going crazy missing me and wanted to meet here to pour out your heart to me," he said, reaching to wrap his arm around my waist.
I hastily stepped back: "You believed that? I already have a boyfriend now, and he's your uncle!"
He sighed, "Cassandra, stop deceiving yourself. You're doing this because you're too in love with me. Seeing me fall for Elara, you feared losing me and deliberately seduced Uncle Dominic to grab my attention. I admit, your scheme worked. Even though Elara is the woman I've chosen as my wife, I'm willing to share some of the love I have for her with you, allowing you to be my hidden lover."
I was utterly speechless: "Are you delusional? Get treated if you're sick! Who would want to be your hidden lover?"
"Cassandra, stop being stubborn. You wore a beautiful dress and put on exquisite makeup today just to seduce me, right? I understand all of it. I know you'd prefer to be my wife rather than a hidden lover, but unfortunately, your background isn't noble enough. Offering to make you my hidden lover is already the biggest concession I can make."
Feeling it was impossible to have a rational conversation with him, I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, causing me to lose balance and fall into his arms.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tight in his embrace: "You wanted to throw yourself into my arms but also wanted to act aloof, so you pretended to leave, making me pull you back, and then took the chance to fall into my arms. All you women play the same little games, but I must admit, I like it when you play these games."
I struggled desperately in his arms: "Are you sick? Let go of me now!"
He held me even tighter: "Women always speak in contradictions when they're in front of the man they love. When you say 'let go of me,' you actually mean 'hold me tighter,' I get it." Saying this, he buried his face in my neck and took a deep sniff: "So fragrant, you even wore perfume to seduce me. I admit, I'm captivated by you..."