Chapter 2

I gazed longingly into his deep eyes. "Xavier, there's no need to apologize. I told you, with me, you can always just be yourself."

Xavier looked stunned for a moment.

His mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out.

Serena's voice piped up at just the right time.

"Oh, Xavier, I'm starving. What kind of groom are you? Don't you have any hospitality?"

His friends immediately chimed in. "Yeah, seriously, our stomachs are growling too..."

Xavier pulled his gaze away from me.

When he looked at Serena, his eyes were filled with nothing but adoration.

He called the hotel manager and told him to prepare the VVIP suite on the top floor. He wanted to throw a welcome party for his little princess.

The elevator went straight to the ninetieth floor.

I had already changed out of my wedding dress. I tucked my arm into Xavier's and leaned my head near his heart, smiling peacefully.

I acted as if his absence at the wedding hadn't happened at all.

His friends continued to look at me with disgust. Even Xavier's gaze toward me was full of hidden meaning.

During dinner, he leaned toward my ear and whispered, "Do you really love me that much? You want to marry me so badly that you can just ignore me skipping the ceremony?"

I blinked and gave him a sweet smile. "Yes. My biggest wish in life is to be your wife."

The corners of his mouth curled into a smirk.

I couldn't tell if he was happy or just mocking me. He said, "They're right about you. You really are… quite pathetic."

My hand holding the fork paused for a split second.

I pretended I didn't hear him and placed a succulent shrimp into his bowl with a grin.

My heart ached slightly.

No matter how much he looked like him, he wasn't him.

But the man who truly loved me was already dead.

As the drinks started flowing, the atmosphere got rowdy.

A handsome guy with ash-gray hair and a stud in his ear was the first to speak up.

"Have you guys ever seen a real-life simp? I have. A female one, too. It's been a real eye-opener."

I knew this kid. His name was Asher Reed.

He was the youngest son of the Reed Corporation. He was a college student and a total rebel who reportedly spent six figures in a single night at the club.

Among this group, he was the one who hated me the most.

Serena covered her mouth and giggled, glancing pointedly at me.

"I've seen one too..."

"Isn't she right in front of us?"

The room erupted into disgusting, mocking laughter from the men.

"Being a doormat to this extent is actually nauseating. It makes me want to gag."

"She walks around with that fawning face every day, terrified of being dumped. Hahaha..."

They went back and forth, never saying my name but keeping their eyes locked on me.

At that moment, I really hoped Xavier would say something to stop them. Just one word.

But he didn't.

He slowly peeled a shrimp, dipped it in sauce, and placed it in Serena's bowl.

Then, he picked up a napkin and meticulously wiped his long fingers. His expression was full of cruel amusement.

"Actually, being stalked by a simp like this is pretty annoying. Luckily, this dog is quite obedient. She comes when called and leaves when told."

The suite fell into a dead silence.

A second later, everyone burst into howling laughter.

Serena laughed until tears came to her eyes, and the others were doubled over.

I laughed too, even though my nails were digging deep into my palms. Even though my entire body was shaking.

The only person who wasn't laughing was Asher.

He pressed his lips together, his eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn't understand.

But he was the one who started the topic.

It was true.

In everyone's eyes, I was just a lowly beggar for love.

I was practically kneeling at Xavier's feet, constantly trying to please him.

But I didn't care.

I had only taken this position as Serena's replacement. I knew Xavier didn't love me. Sometimes, I was actually grateful to Serena. If she hadn't left, I never would have had the chance to get close to Xavier.

And the fact that Xavier didn't love me meant I felt less guilty.

We were both just using each other. So, no one had the right to call anyone else pathetic.

To outsiders, it looked like I loved Xavier.

But he was just a stand-in for the man I truly loved.

The only difference was that his Serena was still alive.

My Lucas was dead.

I met Xavier through the man I once loved, Lucas Blackwood.

Xavier was his cousin.

They looked about eighty percent alike.

Back then, I accompanied Lucas to the hospital to visit Xavier, who was hospitalized for a heart condition.

I didn't go inside. I only saw him from a distance through the window.

I felt sorry for his illness.