Chapter 3My Casanova Girlfriend

I barely slept that night.

I spent hours in front of the mirror, practicing Serena's tone, her gestures, and her laughter.

Before leaving the apartment the next evening, I changed into a sleek, emerald slip dress—a style Serena favored but I would never normally wear.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I could barely recognize myself.

Serena helped me curl my hair, nodding in approval. "Honestly, you actually look like me now."

Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the restaurant Liam had chosen, a quiet, upscale sushi bar in the city center.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

The restaurant was relatively quiet, and I spotted him immediately.

He was slightly leaner than he had been in high school, wearing a thin black sweater with the sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms. His sharp jawline and clean profile were exactly as I remembered, yet there was a new, mature edge to him.

I paused at the entrance for a few seconds before forcing my feet to move. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.

As I approached the table, he looked up.

Our eyes met.

My mind went completely blank. Every single opening line Serena had prepared for me vanished into thin air.

Liam stood up and politely pulled out a chair for me. The gesture was simple and natural, a testament to his good manners, but it still sent a shiver through my veins.

During my high school years, I had dreamed of this moment countless times—sitting across from him, sharing a meal, talking like a normal couple. But it had always been a fantasy.

Now, it was real. But I was playing a part.

"Hi," Liam spoke first, his voice low and smooth. "I'm Liam."

"I'm Serena," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

He looked at me for three long seconds. Those seconds felt like an eternity.

Then, a faint, barely perceptible smile touched the corner of his lips.

When the waiter handed us the menus, I blurted out, "No wasabi for me, please."

The moment the words left my mouth, I froze in horror. Serena absolutely loved spicy food and wasabi. I had seen a bag of wasabi-flavored chips on her desk just before I left.

Hearing my request, Liam fell silent.