CHAPTER ONE

People say love is beautiful, but it can also be terrifying. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff, feeling the wind whip around you, knowing you could soar or plunge into the depths below.

Love promises so much but it also carries the weight of fear. Every sweet word could be a lie, every gentle touch a deception. The thrill of being loved walks hand in hand with the risk of being shattered.

My hands trembled while holding my phone, Yue's fierce voice echoing through the speaker.

"I swear to God! If I see him at school, I'm going to punch his face and kick his ass!"

"Maybe I'm just not good enough, Yue." The words felt like glass in my throat. "Maybe he really deserved someone better." I never imagined words could taste this bitter. Just when I dared to trust someone with my heart, he chose to break it into pieces.

Yue's voice softened. "Listen to me, Aurora Miller. You are everything people aspire to be, so don't you dare think you're not enough."

"Really?" Even though I knew she was exaggerating, her words wrapped around me like a warm blanket.

"Really. So stop crying over some douchebag. He is not worth your tears."

A small smile tugged at my lips. There's something magical about having a friend who knows exactly what to say when life leaves you speechless. "Thanks, Yue."

"Let's go out tonight," she suggested, her voice brightening. "This week's been hell, and we need some fun."

I immediately agreed. I need to do something, anything, just to get out of this miserable state I'm in. I got up from my bed, took a quick shower and headed to Yue's place.

Yue greeted me with a big smile on her face when I finally arrived. I greeted Yue's mom before we headed to her room. Without wasting a second, she sat me down in front of her vanity mirror.

"First of all, we need to do something about those dark circles."

I sighed. It's all because of those sleepless nights. The endless cycle of overthinking, replaying every little detail of what went wrong. It felt like my mind had become a prison, and my eyes were the only reminder of how long I had trapped in it. 

Yue spent almost an hour helping me with my make up. She chose an outfit that's both elegant and fierce.

"You're stunning!" Yue beamed after our little makeover. I barely recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror. I looked confident, beautiful... enough.

I turned to Yue and pulled her into a hug. "I really appreciate you, you know that?"

She hugged me back just as fiercely. " I know! But don't make me cry. The last thing I want is to go out with smudged makeup."

I laughed, finally releasing her. I should have done this sooner instead of drowning in tears over someone who didn't deserve them.

When we arrived at the club, the loud music and flashing light immediately assaulted my senses. I could feel the wave of anxiety washing over me. The club was crowded, filled with people dancing and having a good time. This was so far from my comfort zone. I felt like an outsider.

Yue squeezed my hand and pulled me inside. "Relax, Auri. I got you."

I just nodded, swallowing hard as we walk through the crowd. The noise, the lights, the energy of the place- it's too overwhelming. Yue led me to the bar and called the bartender to order our drinks.

"It's not so bad, right? Just take a deep breath and enjoy the vibes!"

I followed Yue's advice and took a deep breath before sipping my drink. The drink burned slightly, but it gave me a small boost of confidence. "Thanks, Yue. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled, raising her glass. "You're Aurora Miller. You always know what to do, you just need a little pat on the back sometimes."

I clinked my glass against hers, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe tonight, I could finally embrace the fact that not everything goes as planned, and that even the relationship we thought would last forever may slip away from our grasp.

I started to loosen up a bit as the night progressed. The music and the energy of the crowd gradually pulling me out of my shell. Yue and I were laughing over our drinks when my eyes locked onto a familiar figure across the room. It's Steven, my ex. He's here and he's not alone. A stunning woman clung to his arm, her laughter piercing through the noise of the club. My heart sank, and a small amount of confidence I had mustered began to crumble.

"Yue," my voice started shaking. "He's here."

Yue followed my gaze. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted Steven. "That bastard. Don't let him ruin your night, Auri."

But it was too late. Steven had seen us. His eyes widened as he took in my appearance, then his lips curled into that infuriatingly smug smirk I used to find charming. He started making his way toward us, dragging his new woman along.

"Well, well, well," Steven's voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who decided to step out of her little perfect world. Surprised to see you here, Auri."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotion.

"Get lost, Steven. I'm enjoying my night."

"Enjoying your night?" He laughed derisively. "You? In a place like this? Don't make me laugh. A nerd like you doesn't belong here."

Yue stepped forward before I could even respond. "Back off, cheater! She's here to have fun, and your ugly face is ruining our night."

"Oh, look who it is! The little guard dog." Steven's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you mind your own business?"

The woman at Steven's side giggled, clearly enjoying the drama.

Yue's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not the one who has a small weenie but still managed to cheat, then showed up here parading a new fling."

It happened fast. Steven raised his hand toward Yue, and something in me snapped. I caught his wrist mid-swing and slapped him hard across the face.

The crack echoed through our little bubble of space. His eyes went wide with shock, then dark with rage. "You little bitch!"

My hand stung, but I stood my ground. "Don't you ever try to hurt my friend again."

The crowd around us buzzed with shocked whispers. Steven wasn't finished though. His face twisted with malice as he sneered at me, making sure everyone could hear. "Trying to act all tough, huh? You're just a little virgin, playing dress-up in a world you don't belong to, Miller!"

His words hit like a slap, shame and anger mixing into a volatile cocktail in my chest. But I refused to let him humiliate me like this. My eyes scanned the room and landed on a man by the bar - tall, with dark hair and mesmerizing blue eyes that seemed to hold countless secrets. Something about his quiet confidence drew me in, like a lighthouse in this storm of emotions. There was something magnetic about him, something that made me feel like I could escape this nightmare if I could just get closer.

I turned back to Steven, drawing strength from a well of confidence I didn't know I possessed. "Virgin?" I scoffed, injecting as much disdain into my voice as possible. "You think I would ever give myself to someone as repulsive as you?"

I stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on, letting him see that I wouldn't back down this time. "I would rather sleep with a complete stranger than let your filthy hands ever touch me."

Pushing aside the knot of anxiety in my chest, I walked toward the mysterious man, deliberately bumping Steven's shoulder as I passed. I refused to let him have any more power over me.

"Hey," the words slipping from my lips with calmness. "Would you like to sleep with me?"

It was the most reckless thing I'd ever done, and I couldn't believe I said it without hesitation. I didn't even know where this sudden confidence came from. Is this the effect of the cocktail, or am I just that desperate for revenge?

The time seemed to stop. The music, the chatter, everything faded as his eyes locked onto mine. I held my breath, terrified he might laugh or reject me.

He raised an eyebrow while a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Well, that's quite the bold invitation. How could I possibly refuse?"

I blinked, hardly believing what I'd just heard. He's actually agreeing? A wave of relief swept over me when he took my hand and we headed toward the exit. I could feel every pair of eyes in the club following us. Yue's shocked face, Steven's gaping mouth, everyone was left dumfounded.

The faint music from the club pulsed softly in the background. I could feel my heart racing, a flutter of nerves swirling in my stomach.

"That was quite a show," the mysterious man remarked with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Yeah, well..." I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "Sometimes you just need to do something crazy."

No, I should have just walked away after slapping my ex. Why had I let myself get dragged into his drama? This wasn't like me at all. What had possessed me to waste even a moment more on someone so unworthy?

Still, I couldn't deny the strange, liberating feeling that came with standing up for myself.

He nodded his head as if he understood completely. "Sometimes, you have to break free from who people think you are." The moonlight caught his features, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.

"Thanks for playing along. You were like my knight in shining armor back there."

He chuckled. "And you're quite the fearless damsel."

"Aurora Miller," I offered my hand, introducing myself properly.

He gave an exaggerated bow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "A pleasure to meet you, Aurora. You can call me Mr. Knight-in-Shining-Armor."

I expected a handshake, but he gently took my hand instead and pressed a light kiss to the back of it. The gesture caught me off guard, sending a small shiver down my spine.

I cleared my throat. "Well, Sir Knight, where's your white horse?"

"No horse," he grinned. "But I do have an Audi parked around the corner."

"Not bad. Definitely an upgrade from a horse."

"Just wait until you see the interior. It's basically a royal carriage on wheels."

We both laughed. He seemed like a nice guy. A stranger, yes, but there was something about him that made me feel surprisingly at ease. Maybe this night wasn't such a disaster after all.