For years, I played the ultimate mean girl. I even took the innocent, poor girl’s cheap white sundress, ripped it to shreds, and threw a glamorous, oversized princess gown at her face. She cried, just as I expected. But right as I was about to mock her, she suddenly choked back her sobs and said: "Thank you. I’ve never worn anything this beautiful before." I froze, guiltily hiding the scissors I was holding up my sleeve. 01 The girl standing in front of me, Lily Thorne, was still sniffling. She had these big, doe-like eyes and a tiny face. When she cried, she looked incredibly fragile and pitiful. If she cried like this in front of Ashton Reed on a normal day, I would have sworn she was trying to seduce him and marched right over to humiliate her. But today, she was crying because of me. Suddenly, I felt entirely out of my depth. I shoved the scissors further up my sleeve. For some reason, I felt a twinge of guilt. I cleared my throat, put my hands on my hips, and barked fiercely, "Hmph. It’s just a dress. It costs less than my daily allowance. You country bumpkin, hurry up and change! Are you trying to make Ashton wait for you?" Lily paused as she wiped her tears. She looked at me, confused. "Why would he wait for me?" Because he’s definitely going to ask you to the gala tonight, obviously! I didn't say it out loud. I just grumbled it in my head. Even though I knew perfectly well that Ashton liked Lily, I refused to admit it, and I definitely wasn't going to say it to her face. "Don't worry," Lily said softly. "Even though I'm poor, I know how things work. I promise I won't get this dress dirty. And when I make money in the future, I'll definitely buy a beautiful dress for you, too." I blinked. Looking up, I realized Lily had already slipped into the princess gown I’d handed her. The dress was incredibly heavy, with a wide, plunging square neckline. Her frail, skinny frame absolutely could not fill it out. That was my little trick. Ashton loved how she looked in simple white dresses—pitiful, moving, like a pure little lily. So, I specifically forced her into a glamorous gown that completely washed her out. Sure enough, just as I predicted, Lily looked like a little kid playing dress-up in adult clothes. It looked ridiculously awkward. But looking into Lily’s teary, grateful eyes as she happily twirled in front of the mirror... I didn’t feel nearly as triumphant as I thought I would. 02 The gala started shortly after. I was about to walk away, but Lily trailed right behind me. Watching her frail silhouette, I sneered internally. I knew it. She’s up to no good. She was definitely planning to walk out with me so she could run to Ashton and tattle on me! I turned around and snapped, "Why are you following me?" The eager anticipation on Lily’s face instantly deflated. "I'm sorry. It's just... I've never been to an event like this before. I thought if I walked with you, I'd feel a little braver. But if it bothers you, I won't follow you." The anger bubbling in my chest instantly vanished. It was then I noticed that because the dress was entirely the wrong size, the waist was gaping. If she leaned forward even a little, she’d be completely exposed. I took a step forward, backing her into a corner. "I'm sorry, Serena. Hit me if you want, but please don't be mad," she whispered. She bowed her head, exposing her slender, porcelain neck. This is exactly how she must suck up to Ashton to make him happy! I thought bitterly. Annoyed, I reached up, pulled a diamond hair clip from my own hair, and pinned the excess fabric at her waist, cinching it tight. Her waist was absurdly tiny. Unlike me—if I ate even a little too much, Ashton would tease me and say I was turning into a pig. Thinking of Ashton made my mood sink. "Alright, just follow me," I muttered. "You country bumpkin. Don't say anything stupid out there." Lily nodded furiously, like an obedient little bunny. Her eyes were sparkling. "I knew you were the best and kindest, Serena." My lips twitched into an involuntary smile. I quickly forced it down. "Hmph. Kiss-up." 03 The moment Lily and I made our entrance, a swarm of wealthy socialites surrounded me, greeting me with fake warmth. They acted like Lily was completely invisible, subtly shouldering her out of our circle. I felt a surge of smugness. At school, Lily was vastly more popular than me. Wherever she went, people smiled and said hello. Even Ashton, from the moment he first met her, stubbornly forced her into our exclusive friend group. But here, as the heiress to Newport’s most elite family, I was the undisputed princess everyone revolved around. I crossed my arms, making small talk with the other heiresses while shooting sideways glances at Lily. But instead of looking crushed, she had already beelined for the dessert table, happily loading a plate with cake. The socialites followed my gaze and covered their mouths, giggling. "Is that the charity-case girl who follows Ashton everywhere? You can totally tell she's from the trailer park. Zero class." "Seriously, she doesn't have a single thing on you, Serena. I don't know what Ashton sees in her." "Right? Look at the dress she’s wearing. The fit is terrible. Is it a cheap knockoff rental?" Even though they were taking my side, I felt a weird prickle of discomfort. I hated Lily, sure, but whenever we were together, she never said a bad word about anyone behind their backs. I opened my mouth to explain, but an icy voice cut through the chatter. "Serena. Do you really need to lead the charge in trashing Lily behind her back? She’s never done a single thing to you." It was Ashton. I barely heard his accusation. My eyes were glued to the star pendant resting around his neck. It was the Valentine's Day gift I had given him. He specifically wore it today... Does that mean the person he wants to invite to the dance is me? My mind was racing, my eyes fixed on the necklace. I completely missed how cold Ashton’s glare had become. "Serena, are you even listening to me? I know you don't like Lily, but you need to reel it in. Stop targeting her just because of your ridiculous jealousy." This time, I heard him. Loud and clear. The bustling ballroom suddenly fell dead silent because of Ashton's outburst. Everyone's eyes turned to me. Curiosity. Pity. Mockery. The stares drowned me like a tidal wave. Oddly enough, my first reaction wasn't heartbreak or sadness. It was pure confusion. "Why are you wearing the necklace I gave you for Valentine's Day?" I asked. "Oh, you mean this?" Ashton’s face was utterly devoid of emotion. He reached up, yanked the necklace off his neck, and threw it onto the marble floor. "I didn't even realize it was from you. I just grabbed it from a drawer. Don't tell me you’re targeting Lily because you mistakenly thought I liked you?" "Pfft." A girl I had always feuded with let out a loud snort of laughter. It felt like two hard slaps across my face. She waved her hand dismissively. "Sorry, I couldn't hold it in. Please, continue." I stared down at the star necklace on the floor, completely silent. My heart felt exactly like that necklace—tossed to the ground and shattered into a million pieces. I didn't even notice Lily walking up beside me. When Ashton saw her, his face instantly softened. "Lily, don't be scared. I've got your back. I'll take you out to the dance floor later. You don't have to put up with Serena's bullying." Smack— Before he could finish his sentence, Lily slapped him hard across the face. "Serena hasn't said a single bad word about me," Lily enunciated every word with cold fury. "You just made up your mind about her before you even got here. What gives you the right to trash her feelings like that?" My blurred vision slowly cleared. The chaotic whispers of the crowd faded away. Suddenly, a soft, warm hand reached out to me. I snapped my head up. Lily's tear-filled doe eyes curved into a sweet crescent shape. "Don't be sad, Serena. Let's go dance together." 04 Lily was a terrible dancer. I had to slow my steps to an absolute crawl, guiding her through every single motion. There were other girls dancing together on the floor, so we didn't stand out too much. Thinking about the slap she had just given Ashton, I felt like I was in a trance. Why did Lily do that? Didn't she like him? Just as the thought crossed my mind, my palm felt a faint tickle, like a feather brushing against it. I snapped out of it to see Lily blinking up at me. She leaned close to my ear, her breath hot against my skin. "He doesn't deserve you, Serena." My stomach dropped. What was this? A declaration of war from my romantic rival? I knew it, I thought. This little two-faced manipulator is up to something. 05 Riding in the back of my chauffeur-driven car on the way home, my mind was still spinning. My toes throbbed a little from where Lily had stepped on them. My hand still felt the lingering chill of her touch. Lily’s hands were always freezing. She definitely wasn't eating properly or taking care of herself. I should have the butler buy her some iron supplements, I thought absentmindedly. And those heels she was wearing... cheap, terrible quality, completely the wrong size. Realizing what I was thinking, I aggressively rubbed my cheeks. Wake up, Serena! Stop letting this girl manipulate you! Did you forget she basically declared war on you tonight? But... was she really a manipulator? The streetlights blurred into streaks outside the window. I thought about every time Ashton and I got into an argument. Lily was never even in the room. But because of her mere existence, Ashton constantly used her as a weapon to tear me down. "My dear princess, why do you constantly have this sour look on your face? Can't you learn a thing or two from Lily? She's sweet, she's quiet. Why are you always making a scene? No one can stand you but me." "You're impossibly spoiled, Serena. If you were even half as understanding as Lily, I wouldn't have ditched you on New Year's Eve to go back to her hometown with her. You need to look in the mirror instead of causing trouble for Lily." "Do you really think our friends actually like you, Serena? They just tolerate you out of respect for me. Stop being so full of yourself. They've told me a million times—compared to a spoiled diva like you, someone like Lily is their actual dream girl." The truth was, Lily and I had never actually had a single real conflict. It was Ashton. He used her to put me down, over and over again, until my resentment for Lily grew. I hated how understanding she was. How fragile. How cute and kind. I was jealous that she effortlessly stole everyone's attention—including the boy I liked. Every time, I was painted as the evil, stupid villain. But... But I couldn't even bring myself to truly hate her. 06 The next day at school, the second I walked into the classroom, my classmates were huddled together, gossiping furiously. I assumed they were talking about the drama with Ashton, so I kept my face cold and walked straight to my desk. But then I saw Lily in the center of the crowd, and my heart skipped a beat. Pinned to her sleeve was a black mourning ribbon. My stomach plummeted. Did someone in her family die? When I had looked into her background before, I remembered she lived in a rundown neighborhood on the Southside. Her mom was gone, her dad was a violent alcoholic, and they barely scraped by. Aside from him, she had absolutely no family in the city. Did that mean she was an orphan now? I sat down, my fingers digging into my textbook. Hiding behind the propped-up book, I sneakily peeked at Lily. She wore a gentle smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, patiently answering the questions thrown at her. Snatches of her voice floated over to me. "Yeah... I don't think I can stay at this school anymore... I'm moving back to my rural hometown... the public school there waives tuition..." Lily was leaving? That meant Ashton could never compare us again! We could go back to being childhood sweethearts! I should have been thrilled. So why did I feel a lump in my throat and a heavy weight crushing my chest? 07 After morning classes, I packed my bag, instinctively getting ready to meet Ashton on the second floor like I always did. Then I remembered the nightmare at the gala. I stopped in my tracks and walked straight to the cafeteria instead. I wasn't someone without pride. Quite the opposite—I was incredibly arrogant. I almost never bowed my head or admitted I was wrong. But whatever dignity and pride I had was constantly ground into dust when it came to Ashton. I could never forget what he did for me when we were kids. My parents were always working, leaving me to cry alone in a massive, empty mansion. Ashton would climb the fence, sneak into my house, and do whatever it took to make me smile. A lot of people faded from my childhood memories, but the image of Ashton holding a stuffed bunny, promising me I would always be his only sister, was crystal clear. So even though I knew he had changed, letting go of him was excruciating. He was my one exception. I had just sat down with my lunch when Ashton walked into the cafeteria, with Lily right beside him. He was talking to her, but her expression was totally blank. He scanned the room, spotted me, and his eyes lit up. He marched over and knocked on my table. "Still throwing a tantrum over yesterday, Princess? I admit I was in the wrong. I shouldn't have yelled at you without getting the facts. Lily already chewed me out for it. Look, I even found the necklace you gave me. Can we drop it now?" Ashton had these striking, deeply set eyes. When he looked down at you, it always felt like he was staring into your soul. He pulled out the star pendant. He had meticulously wiped off all the dust; it looked brand new. "I looked for it for hours last night. I practically scrubbed the floor with my knees. Come on, you can't still be mad at me." His eyes looked slightly more sincere than usual. In the past, I would have melted instantly, giddy and overwhelmed. But today, I felt absolutely nothing. "Okay. I get it." Ashton was clearly thrown off by my reaction. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Lily smoothly slid into the seat right next to me with her lunch tray. Every other seat around me was full. She sat on my right without even glancing to see where Ashton would sit. Without a word, she picked up the single piece of grilled shrimp from her plain salad and dropped it onto my plate. "Eat up, Serena." "Huh? Oh." Feeling awkward, I stabbed the shrimp and put it in my mouth, glancing at her sad, meatless lunch. I hesitated for a second before transferring the chicken drumstick from my plate to hers. Meeting her sparkling eyes, I lied through my teeth: "I'm on a diet. I don't eat fried food." Lily nodded obediently. "Thank you, Serena!" She looked exactly like a golden retriever puppy. The top of her head looked soft. I really wanted to pat it. I awkwardly shifted my gaze away. Ashton’s shocked voice broke the silence. "Wow, Lily wasn't kidding. You guys actually made up. Alright then, Serena, do me a favor and talk some sense into her. I want her to move into my house so I can take care of her as my little sister, but she absolutely refuses." Clatter— My fork dropped to the floor. I stared at him, stunned. "You want Lily to move into your house? Like, legally adopt her?" Ashton coughed awkwardly. "Well, not legally. She'd just live with us. It's not like my family can't afford another mouth to feed." A tidal wave of bitter jealousy hit me. I sneered coldly. "You don't want a little sister. You want a live-in girlfriend." Ashton’s ears turned bright red. His face hardened. "Serena, we are in the middle of the cafeteria! Why do you have to be so vile?" I was vile? Oh, so I struck a nerve! I let out a harsh laugh. I was about to fire back when Lily’s soft voice chimed in: "But I'd rather live at Serena's house. What should I do? Serena, will you take me in?" 08 I was completely dumbfounded. Since when were Lily and I that close? Why was she asking something like that so casually? I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Ashton frowned deeply. "Absolutely not. Serena has a horrible temper and a massive princess complex. If you move in with her, she’ll treat you like a maid." Even with the massive rose-colored glasses I used to wear for Ashton, his words made me laugh out of sheer disbelief. "Excuse me? A princess complex? Go ahead, Ashton, tell me exactly when I've ever treated you like a servant!" Ashton threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine, my bad. I spoke without considering your fragile feelings again. My fault. I shouldn't have called you a diva. But Lily hasn't done anything to you, so could you please just not ruin her life?" He was supposed to be apologizing, but every word felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Before I could fully process it, Lily suddenly hugged my arm. Goosebumps instantly erupted up my right side. I tried to pull away, but met her innocent puppy-dog eyes. She whispered: "Serena, Ashton is acting like a toxic gaslighter. He PUA's you constantly. I am absolutely not going to his house. Take me in, please? I'll do your laundry and cook for you and take perfect care of you, okay?" Who needs you to do laundry? It’s not like my house doesn't have maids... The rejection was right on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it. My chest felt tight, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite name. Maybe I was scared that if she went to Ashton's, they'd really end up together. Maybe I genuinely felt uneasy letting a girl her age live in a guy's house. Or maybe the thought of her moving back to her rural hometown left a strange, hollow feeling in my chest. I looked away, tilting my chin up arrogantly. "Fine. I'll allow you to stay with me." 09 It wasn't until I brought Lily home from school that reality hit me. What am I doing? I literally just brought this two-faced manipulator into my house! But the words had already left my mouth, and the word 'regret' did not exist in Serena Sterling's dictionary. I got out of the car and power-walked awkwardly toward the front door. After a few steps, I couldn't help but look back in worry. Lily was following right behind me. Meeting my gaze, it was like she had just been granted permission. She trotted up lightly, like a cat, and naturally linked her arm through mine. I tried to pull away. Lily whispered, "I've never been to a place this huge before. I'm so scared of getting lost and losing you, Serena." My body stiffened. I grumbled: "Country bumpkin." But I didn't pull my arm away. I let her hold onto me. My arm was practically numb as a plank of wood by the time our butler appeared. He looked at us in pleasant surprise. "Miss Sterling, you brought a friend home? Where will she be staying?" Friend? Who was friends with Lily?! Feeling horribly awkward, I opened my mouth to correct him, but Lily tugged my sleeve and said softly: "Serena, I'm scared of the dark at night. Can I stay somewhere close to you?" Her hands were so pale and delicate, and her voice was as soft as a purring kitten. Heat rushed to my face. I yanked my arm back violently. "Stay wherever you want. The house is huge, we have plenty of rooms." It wasn't until the butler led Lily away to pick a room that my brain caught up with me, and I was furious with myself. I was going to stick her in the guest room on the first floor, as far away from me as possible! Why the hell did I just agree to let her stay near me?! I gritted my teeth. Lily was a master manipulator. She played guys, and apparently, she played girls too.
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