Chapter 5

Savannah stumbled back to her room and collapsed onto the bed, burying her face deep into the covers. She thought she had run out of tears, but they still came, soaking silently into the pillow. Curled up like a sleepy kitten, she found even breathing hurt. She lay there in a daze for the entire day, stationary. It wasn't until the next day that she finally managed to get up and forced herself to eat a little and drink some water, moving like a machine. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a text notification from her university group chat. "Alumni gathering, 7:00 pm at Regalia Hotel tonight. Drop by if you can!" Savannah stared at her phone screen, dazed. Perhaps she should see her university friends for one last time, considering she would be leaving soon. It would be a farewell. The lights of Regalia Hotel were dazzling. Savannah put on some light makeup to cover up her puffy eyes and attended the gathering in a simple white dress. "Savannah!" Her ex-roommate, Renee Langston, called out. "Over here!" A few more of her former classmates sat around the table, all talking at once and asking how she had been. Renee leaned in with a teasing grin. "Back then, you were so obsessed with winning over Hendrick, our campus heartthrob. So? Did you end up dating him?" A few others turned to her with curious eyes, and Savannah's fingers paused slightly. Back in university, her pursuit of Hendrick had been so loud and dramatic that everyone knew about it. However, he hadn't said yes to her until after graduation, so hardly anyone knew they had ended up together. Not to mention, he had thought a wedding was too much of a hassle, so there had never been a proper ceremony. "I didn't," Savannah replied softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. If she could go back in time, she wished she had never met Hendrick. "Seriously? Not even a cute girl like you could win his heart?" one exclaimed, adding, "He's so picky!" "It's okay. I know a few great men I can introduce you to." Renne pulled out her phone. "Here! Let me show them to you!" "Show what?" A low and cold voice sounded behind them. Savannah's whole body trembled, and she turned her head, only to see… him. Hendrick stood not far away with Chantelle by his side. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, the diamond pin on his tie catching the light and sparkling brilliantly. "H-Hendrick?" Everyone was shocked, gasping. Meanwhile, Chantelle clung to his arm, radiant in a striking red dress. The moment they appeared, they stole the spotlight with ease. "Is she… your girlfriend?" someone asked tentatively. Chantelle lowered her head shyly, and Hendrick didn't deny it. The room was instantly filled with teasing and excited chatter. "Of course, the campus heartthrob is dating a stunning woman! What a perfect match!" Savannah looked down and drank her water, pretending she hadn't heard a thing. However, Hendrick's gaze stayed fixed on her, sharp as a knife. The mood in the private room picked up again, with classmates breaking off into groups to catch up. Someone suggested playing Truth or Dare. The bottle spun a few rounds and then came to a perfect stop, pointing directly at Chantelle. "I pick Dare!" she said sweetly, eyes darting toward Hendrick. "You must smooch with a guy in this room for ten seconds!" As soon as the dare was announced, the room erupted with cheers and teasing. Chantelle blushed, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress. Without the slightest hesitation, she walked straight toward Hendrick, who was lounging lazily on the couch. His gaze, however, drifted past the crowd and eventually landed on Savannah in the corner. She was looking down at her phone, completely unbothered by the scene unfolding before her. Immediately, his expression hardened. Chantelle stood before Hendrick, shyly biting her lip. "Ricky…" Under everyone's gaze, he reached out, cupped the back of her head, and passionately kissed her. The shrieks and whistles nearly blew the roof off. The kiss lasted far longer than the ten seconds the game called for. He even exaggerated it, making sure the sound of it was deliberately suggestive. Finally, Savannah looked up, but she only gave the scene a calm glance before returning to her phone. At that, Hendrick's expression darkened even more.