Chapter 2 Who Is Lily Cole

Elena woke up in her familiar room, her head slightly throbbing. After last night's drinks, Lily had kindly brought her home. Rubbing her eyes, she felt the heaviness on her eyelids, a reminder of how much she'd cried. She swung her legs out of bed, slowly making her way to the bathroom.

Turning on the faucet, Elena bent down and splashed cold water on her face. The chill sharpened her senses, washing away some of the lingering heartache from the terrible night before.

In the quiet solitude of that moment, a bitter truth settled in: she'd never truly loved Liam. She had simply convinced herself that this was her first love, a beautiful romance like in the novels she adored. But in reality, he was nothing more than a liar, and she had been blind to it.

"I was such a fool," she muttered to herself, a pang of regret hitting her.

She looked up at her reflection in the mirror before heading back to her room. Her eyes landed on a framed photo on the desk-a picture of her and Liam, both smiling brightly, as if mocking her now.

Without hesitation, she picked it up and threw it straight into the trash. She took a deep breath, feeling a small weight lift now that she no longer had to look at his face.

Afterward, she picked up her phone, determined to erase anything that reminded her of Liam. But the moment the screen lit up, a new message from him popped up. Her shameless ex-boyfriend had texted her, feigning remorse and saying he wanted to see her tonight. Elena read the message, her lips curling into a scornful smile.

"Idiot," She mumbled, disgust rising within her. Without a second thought, she blocked him on all social media accounts, leaving him no chance to contact her again.

Just as Elena set her phone down, the doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. Surprised, she walked over to open the door and found a delivery man standing there with a large package in his hands.

"Are you Elena Hart? I've got a package for you," he said with a friendly smile, handing her a carefully wrapped box.

Elena took it, puzzled, curiosity sparking as she wondered who would send her a gift. She closed the door, peeling back the wrapping with a hint of excitement. Inside was a pastel pink dress, soft and elegant, so beautiful that it left her momentarily speechless. Her eyes lit up as she held the dress, feeling the silky fabric and admiring every delicate stitch. Attached to it was a small card, with neat, graceful handwriting across the paper.

"I hope you'll wear this gorgeous dress to my birthday party!" – Lily Cole

Elena smiled, her heart warmed by the thoughtful gesture. She held the dress up again, feeling as if she were holding a treasure.

"I don't need a boyfriend to feel like a princess," she thought to herself, a bright smile spreading across her face.

Feeling moved by Lily's kindness, Elena picked up her phone and quickly dialed her friend's number. Lily answered on the first ring, her cheerful voice sounding through the phone.

"Happy early birthday, my girl! I got your gift, and it's absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much!" Elena said.

"I'm so glad you love it! Get ready for tonight, we're going to have an amazing time!" Lily replied, her voice full of joy that made Elena feel as though all her worries had melted away.

After they hung up, Elena lay back on her bed, gently resting her hand on the dress. The warmth of friendship soothed the pain of her recent heartbreak, leaving a soft smile on her face as she closed her eyes, thinking of tomorrow and all the good things that lay ahead.

The evening had finally arrived. Elena sat before the mirror, carefully applying her makeup. A soft blush dusted her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled like those of a gentle doe-sweet yet undeniably alluring. She slipped into the beautiful pastel pink dress that Lily had gifted her, its delicate fabric hugging her slender figure perfectly.

Her eyes were still a bit puffy from the long night of crying, but somehow, that gave her a delicate, dewy look that only added to her charm.

Elena looked at herself in the mirror, smiling softly.

"Not bad," she murmured.

Tonight, she was determined to look her best, not just for Lily's birthday but also as a reminder to herself that life held plenty of good things beyond heartbreak. She picked up her purse, stepped out of her room, and made her way downstairs. Right on cue, Lily's private driver was waiting at the door, ready to take her to the party.

In the car, Elena took a deep breath, trying to calm her excitement. A mix of nerves and anticipation bubbled within her, and she kept glancing at her reflection in her phone screen, adjusting her hair and double-checking her makeup. She could hardly believe this was her-confident and radiant, after the heartache of the day before.

With a smile, she sent Lily a quick text, "I'm on my way!"

As the car rolled forward, Elena's curiosity grew. She'd been friends with Lily for almost a month now, yet she still didn't know much about her friend's background. Lily was always so unassuming, never one to brag, but there was something in her poise, a quiet confidence, that hinted at a unique story.

Elena couldn't help but wonder: Who exactly is Lily?

The car quickly pulled up in front of a grand entrance, surrounded by towering trees, lush and green, giving the entire place an aura of elegance and mystery.

The driver stepped out and opened the door for Elena, who climbed out and gave him a polite nod. Her heart pounded as she clutched the invitation card tightly, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Walking up to the gate, she handed her invitation to the doorman in his immaculate uniform. As she waited, she overheard voices from behind. Two young women, dressed in exquisite designer clothing, looked at her with cool indifference, their wealth evident in every detail of their attire.

"I can't believe Lily's hanging out with someone like this" one of them muttered, her voice dripping with disdain but loud enough for Elena to catch every word.

The other girl chuckled, nodding in agreement.

A pang of self-consciousness washed over Elena, but she steadied herself, took a deep breath, and continued on silently. She reminded herself that she was here for Lily, for the kindness and genuine friendship Lily had shown her, not to be affected by the cruel words of strangers.

Stepping inside, she was immediately overwhelmed by the breathtaking sight before her. The estate was nothing short of a palace-a grand castle from a fairy tale. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, portraits adorned the walls, and polished marble floors gleamed under the lavish lights, making it impossible for her to look away.

Elena could hardly believe that this was Lily's home, belonging to the same gentle, unassuming friend she'd come to know.

The entire setting felt like another world to Elena, who was used to a life of simplicity and modesty. She closed her eyes briefly, centering herself as she walked slowly forward, reminding herself that tonight was about celebrating Lily. No matter how foreign this world felt, she was determined not to let herself feel out of place.