Chapter 4I Returned To Marry Another Man

At our university, the elected Prom King and Queen got to share the first dance at the Freshman Ball.

Noah was, without a doubt, voted Prom King.

I, on the other hand, worked my ass off to become Prom Queen. I campaigned relentlessly, stayed up all night helping classmates with their group projects, and spent my entire monthly allowance buying them lunches and gifts.

But when the final vote came down to a tie between me and Lily, Noah cast the deciding vote. For her.

In that instant, my world went silent. The cheers, the whispers, the laughter around me all faded into a dull roar. All I could see was Noah on the stage and Lily in the crowd, sharing a triumphant smile.

A bitter, acidic feeling churned in my stomach.

For the first time, I wondered if Noah had ever liked me at all.

He tried to smooth things over afterward, a rare attempt at placating me. He explained that the Prom King and Queen got a paid gig to shoot promotional posters for the university. I didn't need the money, but Lily, with her difficult family situation, desperately did. He asked me not to fight her for it.

But that night, outside the pool hall, I overheard the real reason from him and his friends.

"Nice one, Noah. Getting Lily crowned was all your doing, wasn't it? Sacrificing your own girlfriend for the cause. Cold-blooded, man."

Noah just laughed, not denying it. "A Prom Queen should be… you know, the pure type. Sienna's not exactly the right fit."

"True," another one added. "If Sienna wore the gown, all the freshmen would probably get nosebleeds just looking at her."

The whole group erupted in laughter, Noah included.

The same boy who used to get into fights because someone made fun of me had become one of them, laughing right along.

"But isn't Sienna your girlfriend? We thought you were into her type."

Noah's demeanor shifted, as if they'd hit a nerve. "No way," he denied instantly. "If my parents hadn't pushed me to be nice to her, I wouldn't have given her a second look. A girl who's that clingy? It's such a turn-off."

The others glanced toward the entrance of the pool hall, their knowing smirks saying it all.

One of his friends did push back a little. "I don't know, I think Sienna's great. If I were voting, I'd pick her. She's a total bombshell. Hottest girl in school, built like a goddess."

The conversation grew cruder, and Noah's face finally hardened. "That's enough," he snapped, his eyes landing on Lily, who was sitting nearby, blushing furiously. "There's a lady present. Watch your mouths."