Lost Me Forever

She took out her phone, tapped it a few times and shoved a screenshot in front of everyone. "You tell me—did I wrongly accuse her? See for yourselves."

The screenshot displayed someone with my profile picture and name, brazenly provoking and insulting Jennie.

This impersonator even said that Julian was mine and told Jennie to beware.

But I knew I hadn't sent any of those messages—I wasn't even friends with Jennie on social media.

Everyone gave me this weird look; even Daniel and the guys looked suspiciously at me.

I pulled out my phone to prove myself, but Jennie slapped it to the ground.

"You blocked me after sending those messages because I said I’d tell Julian. That’s why we’re not friends anymore."

"That’s not true.”

I stared at Jennie, unable to understand why she was framing me.

It was our first time meeting, yet everything felt meticulously premeditated.

And what about that location pin?

The thought made me turn to Julian.

That’s when I realized he’d been watching me all along, his eyes darting around.

Did he believe I'd sent those messages?

The irony made me want to laugh.

I had been by his side for 14 years. We had been in love for eight. Didn’t he know me well enough to see through this?

I inhaled sharply, fighting back tears in this crowded room.

For the last time, I calmly looked into his eyes. "Julian, I want you to tell everyone—have I been pestering you?"

Julian pursed his lips and frowned, his eyes darting around.

Jennie glanced at him and suddenly splashed the wine in her hand onto my face.

"Wanda, I was willing to leave you some dignity, but since you dared to flirt with Julian right in front of me, don't blame me for losing my temper."

Before anyone could blink, she grabbed my hair and smeared her fingers across my face in a frenzy.

"Everyone says we're twins, but I've seen your pictures. You're nothing like me. You just pile on the makeup and pretend to be me to impress Julian."

"Your intentions are obvious to everyone, Wanda. How shameless!"

I gritted my teeth through the throbbing pain in my head as I grabbed her wrist and shoved her back.

Her friends saw this and charged at me, pinning me down.

"You filthy homewrecker! How dare you fight back?"

"You bitch, are all the men in the world dead? Why do you only snatch someone else’s boyfriend?"

"Do you love being a mistress so much? They’re about to get married and you’re still clinging on. Are you some kind of leech?"

Their insults flew as they tore at my clothes, clawing and hitting me.

I clenched my teeth so hard, unwilling to be insulted like this and slammed into the person before me with all my might.

Jennie cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

Her friends panicked and rushed to help her, but I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head into the ground.

Since I couldn't have the dignity I wanted, I would destroy it myself.

After punching three people in a row, my hand was about to strike Jennie when Julian grabbed it.

My eyes reddened as I turned to look at him.

He'd done nothing as I was being beaten and neither had anyone else. Now that I was finally fighting back, he had to step in.

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to speak. After a long pause, he said in a rough voice, "Stop it, Wanda. You shouldn't have come."

A tear escaped my eye.

I laughed, then pulled my hand back.

Picking up the mobile phone beside me, I looked into his eyes and said word by word, "Julian, we're even now!"

Fourteen years of protecting you, eight years of being your stand-in and today's humiliation – we're even now.

Julian instantly panicked and he subconsciously wanted to pull me, but I took two steps back to avoid him.

I turned and walked towards the door. As I passed the champagne tower, I glanced back at Jennie.

Julian helped her up and she leaned into his arms, her eyes meeting mine with a triumphant glint.

I smiled a little. After downing a glass of champagne in one go, I reached out and knocked over the champagne tower.

The shattering glass was crisp and pleasing, mingling with the women's high-pitched shrieks to form a strange and eerie melody.

Goodbye, Julian.

Goodbye, the boy who once stood before me to shield me.