Chapter 6

Cynthia's heart felt heavy as she silently booked a flight to New York, scheduled for six days later. Returning to the Miller family home, she began packing her belongings in preparation for her departure. While she was at it, Gavin passed by her room and couldn't help but ask, "Cynthia, why are you packing?" Cynthia instinctively lowered her gaze. "Just sorting out some old things to throw away," she replied softly. Gavin nodded and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, as though something had crossed his mind. "By the way, the weather's been getting colder. Here's a card—buy whatever you need," he said, handing her a bank card. Cynthia accepted the card and couldn't help but remember that tomorrow was Jasper's birthday. As a young master from a prestigious family, his birthday celebration would likely be grand. She decided to go shopping for a gift for Jasper and also pick out a dress suitable for attending the party. At the Ginza Shopping Center, Cynthia purchased a gift and casually wandered into one of her favorite luxury boutiques. In the glass display window, a warm white velvet gown caught her eye. With satin embroidery and Bohemian-inspired tassels, the dress exuded elegance and charm. Cynthia knew instantly—it was the one. Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "What a gorgeous dress," the woman remarked. It was Luna. Her smile carried a hint of provocation. "I like this dress too." The sales associate approached them apologetically. "I'm sorry, Miss, but this is a limited-edition piece for the autumn-winter season, and we only have one. Ms. Cynthia reserved it first." Luna ignored the sales associate and turned to Cynthia with a feigned smile. "Cynthia, what a coincidence. We seem to have the same taste. I'd like to wear this dress for the filming of ‘Star of Tomorrow' the day after tomorrow. Could you let me have it?" Hearing her mention "Star of Tomorrow" only strengthened Cynthia's resolve. She took Gavin's card from her bag and handed it to the sales associate. "Wrap it up for me," she instructed firmly. Luna's face turned livid. "Cynthia, what gives you the right to compete with me? I'm a VIP here," she snapped, pulling out her own card. Cynthia froze for a moment, her eyes falling on the card in Luna's hand—a black diamond card under Gavin's name. In contrast, the card she held was merely a secondary card. Disappointment and bitterness swelled within her, extinguishing the last flicker of hope she had for Gavin. The sales associate hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry, Miss, but Ms. Cynthia is a VIC client at our store, which is a higher tier than VIP. And she selected the dress first." Luna stood there, stunned. She had never heard of VIC before. While VIP denoted "Very Important Person," VIC referred to "Very Important Customer," an even more exclusive designation. In the end, Cynthia got the dress. But holding it in her hands, she felt no joy. When she returned home that evening, Gavin was nowhere to be found. Taking advantage of his absence, she threw away everything he had ever given her, including their photos together. As she stared at the now-empty spaces in her room, a strange emptiness filled her chest as well. The next evening, Cynthia attended Jasper's birthday party at the most prestigious hotel in the city. The venue was resplendent, filled with clinking glasses and laughter. At eight o'clock, she arrived dressed for the occasion, only to be surprised to see Patrick there—with Luna by his side. Patrick was striking in a perfectly tailored black suit, his presence commanding attention. Luna, on the other hand, wore a custom pink gown that made her look sweet and delicate. Together, they seemed like the perfect couple. Patrick noticed Cynthia and immediately spoke, his tone reproachful. "Cynthia, you're being unreasonable. It's just a dress. Did you really have to fight with Luna over it?" Cynthia's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. Just a dress? If it was merely a dress, why couldn't Luna let her have it? Without backing down, she replied, "I saw it first." Patrick frowned, his displeasure evident in his eyes. "You've always had everything you've ever wanted since you were a child. Luna just wanted one dress—was that too much to ask?"