Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Silas, Caleb, and I had been a trio for seven years.

We met during the summer I ran away from my father and moved in with my Aunt Sarah in Los Angeles. They lived right next door.

Back then, Caleb wasn't the powerful CEO he was now. He was just a lonely, brooding boy.

Silas wasn't the charming, famous actor either. He was a rebellious kid who got into fights every other day.

My grandfather always told me to be kind to my neighbors. So, I tried my best to reach out to Caleb.

I helped Silas clean his wounds after his brawls and stood up to the bullies who bothered him.

They were both drawn to me like moths to a flame. They treated me like I was their whole world.

When I decided to enter the entertainment industry, they were right there by my side.

Caleb inherited his family's agency and signed me as his top talent. Silas fought his way up to become the youngest A-list star in the country.

They even bought apartments right next to mine so we could always be together.

"We'll always protect you, Elara," they used to say. "We're never going to let anything come between us."

I believed them. Because of those promises, I fought my father's demands for an arranged marriage for years.

My father was furious and threatened to disown me, but I didn't care.

I thought that little apartment complex was my true home.

Everything changed when Caleb's agency signed a new girl named Delilah.

She was the opposite of me―soft, fragile, and seemingly innocent. The first time she met me, she grabbed my hand and told me she was my biggest fan.

I couldn't say no to someone who seemed so sweet.

When I heard her family was struggling, I felt even more sorry for her.

I introduced her to directors and investors. I even drank for her at parties when she said she couldn't handle the liquor.

She shyly asked to meet Caleb and Silas, and I didn't think twice about introducing them.

She captured their hearts just as easily as she had fooled mine.

Within months, their priority shifted entirely to her.

Caleb, who was usually strictly professional, started breaking rules to get her into big movies.

Silas, who took his craft seriously, started defending her even when she acted like a diva on set.

The media started comparing us, asking who they thought had a brighter future.

They both chose Delilah without hesitation. I was suddenly the one being mocked online.

It was happening again tonight. It was clearly Delilah's fault, but they blamed me without even asking for my side.

They used to be so biased in my favor. They used to say we were family.

I looked at the judgment in Silas's eyes and felt a wave of exhaustion.

Aunt Sarah once suggested I pick one of them to marry to get my father off my back. For a moment, I actually considered it.

Now I realize that going back to New York for the arranged marriage is the only way out.

"Fine," I said, my voice sounding hollow. "It's all my fault. Go be with her."

I turned around and walked to my assigned seat.

I pulled out my phone and set an alarm for ten days from now.

Soon, I wouldn't have to see any of them ever again.