Chapter 5

He pressed a gentle kiss against my neck. Only then did I realize today was my birthday.

I remembered my birthday last year, when Julian had spent the whole day with me.

Back then, he looked into my eyes with clear, adoring warmth:

"I hope my Chloe can leave all her pain in the past and live happily forever."

Only a year had passed, and everything was a sickening lie.

He took my hand. "The party's about to start. Chloe, I invited a lot of people to celebrate with you."

I pressed my lips together, silent.

Ever since high school, I had hated crowds. I had no close friends left.

Every birthday before this had just been the two of us at home.

Why this year...? I glanced at Julian, but his face gave away nothing.

When we arrived at the hotel, Julian pushed open the grand doors to the private banquet hall.

A spotlight hit us, and I instinctively squinted.

When my eyes adjusted, I saw a room full of faces I hadn't seen in years.

There was Kaitlyn Drake, who used to stand guard outside the girls' bathroom while Tiffany beat me.

There was Trent Cooper, who dumped black ink over my head during class just to make Tiffany laugh.

Every single one of my tormentors was there!

I gripped Julian's arm in sheer panic.

"What... what is this?!"

I stared at the crowd in terror.

Julian patted my hand, offering me what he thought was a soothing smile.

The words that came out of his mouth chilled me to the bone.

"Chloe, your fixation is unhealthy, so I invited them to your party.

Tiffany wants to use this opportunity to formally apologize to you.

After tonight, we leave it all behind. Forget about the evidence and the past, okay?"

With that, Tiffany stepped forward, draped in a striking crimson cocktail dress.

She extended a manicured hand toward me, wearing that same predatory, dangerous grin from the high school bathroom.

"Sorry about back then, straight-A girl."

A flippant, five-word apology to erase two years of hell.

My vision flared red. I slapped her hand away with all my might.

"Drop the act, Tiffany! I will never forgive you. Never!"

Tiffany stumbled back slightly. The very next second, a hard backhand struck across my face, sending me crashing to the floor.

Trent pointed at me, sneering, "Tiffany lowering herself to apologize is giving you face! Don't be an ungrateful bitch!"

Beside her, Julian instantly pulled Tiffany into his arms.

He gently cradled her hand, pressing kisses to her knuckles without sparing a single glance at me on the floor.

"Does it hurt, Tiffany? I'm so sorry. I failed to protect you!"

Looking at the room full of people standing united against me, the last ember of warmth in my heart died.

After soothing Tiffany, Julian turned to me, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Chloe, apologize to Tiffany right now!

She swallowed her pride and apologized in front of everyone! What more do you want?!"

I stood up slowly. The blood in my veins felt like pure ice.

The burning sting on my cheek forced me back into reality.

I took a deep, steady breath and looked Julian dead in the eye.

"Julian Miller, you make me sicker than any of them."

Meeting his suddenly panicked gaze, I grabbed the collar of the dress he had dressed me in and ripped it straight down the middle.

I turned on my heel and walked out.

The moment I exited the hotel lobby, I broke into uncontrollable sobs.

When my mother died, the only thing that kept me alive was the burning need for justice.

Now that the evidence was destroyed, my only anchor had vanished.

"Chloe? What are you doing out here? What happened?"

I looked up. A man in a police uniform was looking down at me with genuine concern.

"Officer Stone?"

Officer Mark Stone was the only person who had truly tried to help me when I was bullied.

He had just joined the precinct back then, an idealistic rookie who tried to fight the system alongside me.

Seeing my state, he spoke gently.

"You know, back then I thought you were the bravest girl I'd ever met. Even after everything they did to you, you still stood up to protect yourself."

A sudden realization struck me like lightning.

Two years ago, after I compiled all that evidence, I had emailed a full digital copy to Officer Stone to ask if we could build a case!

I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding with hope. Just then, my phone rang.

It was Julian.