Eleanor returned to Manchester at midnight. She called Ethan and learned that Freya had already fallen asleep, so she decided not to disturb her. Instead, she went to her villa and planned to pick her up the next day after school.
Early the next morning, Teresa was waiting outside to take her to the property managent office. Now that all the surrounding villas had been purchased, they needed to choose a new design for the boundary walls to ensure consistency throughout the estate.
The office was only a ten-minute walk from her villa, so they decided to stroll there together. The air was crisp, and the trees lining the path swayed gently in the morning breeze. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional birdcall or passing cyclist.
When they arrived, the office had just opened. Not all of the staff had reported for duty yet, and the front lobby was empty.
Noticing new custors entering the premises, a sales assistant nad Chloe Wilkinson quickly got up from her desk, her eyes lighting up with hope. She rushed to open the glass door with a warm, rehearsed smile.
"Welco to Liberty Properties," she greeted cheerfully.
But her smile faltered slightly when she saw there was no car parked out front. Still, observing their clothes... stylish, well-fitted, and clearly expensive than hers, she assud they might at least be interested in purchasing a small apartnt. And since she was the only sales assistant present at the mont, any sale would earn her the commission.
With that in mind, she gestured politely to the sofa. "Esteed guests, please have a seat."
Eleanor and Teresa sat down gracefully. Both won were strikingly beautiful, the kind who turn surrounding heads towards them effortlessly. Chloe handed them each a glossy brochure and asked with a custor-friendly smile, "We offer everything from studio apartnts to luxury villas. Since you both look quite young, may I ask... would you prefer a studio or perhaps a family apartnt?"
As she spoke, she glanced at Eleanor and did a double take. Sothing about her looked familiar.
Before she could dwell on it further, Teresa, who had been typing a quick ssage to the property manager, looked up and said calmly, "We’re not here to buy a house."
"Not buying?" Chloe mumbled, disappointed. The light in her eyes dulled.
Then it hit her... why the girl had looked familiar.
She was Eleanor Whitmore, Chloe’s forr high school classmate. But the transformation in Eleanor’s appearance over the years had been so dramatic that Chloe hadn’t recognized her at first.
Now, realization donned her, followed swiftly by jealousy and hatred.
Eleanor looked even more beautiful than she had in school. There was a poised elegance and quiet confidence about her that Chloe found infuriating. That effortless charm made Chloe feel instantly inferior, just as it had years ago.
A surge of bitterness twisted in her chest.
Back in high school, Eleanor had been the shining star... wealthy, elegant, and always surrounded by friends. As the second young miss of the prestigious Whitmore family, she never lacked attention or money. Classmates gravitated toward her, and her presence could command a room.
Chloe had longed to be the center of attention, too. She had worked hard to beco the class captain, hoping leadership would earn her admiration. But her efforts had been overshadowed by Eleanor’s effortless popularity.
The final blow to Chloe’s fragile pride ca when she found out that Jas Clifford, the boy she had secretly loved, was dating Eleanor. She had spent years yearning for him, trying to gain his attention, but Jas had barely spared her a glance.
Even after he graduated, Jas would co back just to see Eleanor.
Chloe had watched from a distance, quietly noting how disappointed Jas always seed when talking to Eleanor. One day, after witnessing the two argue outside school, she saw Eleanor storm off in anger.
Sensing an opportunity, Chloe approached Jas. To her surprise, he actually spoke to her that day. They walked down the street together, shared snacks, and for the first ti, Chloe felt a glimr of hope. He was kind, even more charming than she thought.
Later that night, Jas invited her to a hotel.
She hadn’t hesitated.
Inside the room, when Jas kissed her for the first ti, Chloe felt like she was flying in the sky. They talked, ordered room service, and eventually, things turned intimate. In her naïve excitent, she had pinned him to the bed, acting out every romantic fantasy she’d ever imagined.
It was a night of passion she thought would change her life.
But the next morning, when she shyly asked if they could be together, if he would finally choose her over Eleanor... Jas’s face turned cold.
"Are you worthy?" he said with disgust.
He picked up his wallet and threw a stack of bills, a re thousand pounds, on the table before walking out of the room without looking back.
She had been nothing more than a disposable fling.
Chloe had cried for hours in that hotel room. She had lost her virginity, her pride, and her illusions for just a thousand pounds.
And still, she had lost to Eleanor.
That incident was near the end of their school days. After that, Chloe had planned to publicly humiliate Eleanor at the class farewell party, but Eleanor hadn’t shown up. After that, they had never crossed paths... until today.
Now, face to face with the woman she had hated for so long, Chloe seethed inwardly. She had convinced herself later that Jas had drugged her that night, that it hadn’t been her fault. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have acted like that on her first ti.
Seeing Eleanor now... more graceful and composed than ever... rekindled every ounce of rage and insecurity Chloe had buried over the years.
She debated whether to lash out, but reminded herself that this was still her workplace. Yet her pent-up frustration needed an outlet.
With a falsely sweet smile, she tilted her head and said, "Oh my! Isn’t this the second young miss of the Whitmore family? I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you earlier. I heard Jennifer kicked you out of the family. My condolences."
Her voice was soft, almost sympathetic... but it accurately hit the sore points of Eleanor’s life.
This was Chloe’s gift... she could slice soone open using nothing but a polite tone and well-placed words.
She continued, "What a vicious sister you have? Stole your boyfriend and still made him her fiancé. I actually attended their engagent party. I didn’t see you there, though. It was such a grand event. All the top-tier elites were there. There were cars I’ve never even seen online... pure luxury. Sothing people like us can only dream of. I heard they’re getting married next month."
She paused for effect, then added, "By the way, how are you doing these days? It’s been a few years since you were kicked out, hasn’t it? At least you got your degree from a prestigious university. You had money back then. Unlike , I had to start working early because of my family’s financial issues. Life’s so unfair for us poor folks, isn’t it?"
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