I gave myself one final once-over in the mirror, Eugene's incessant car honking serving as a reminder that our departure was overdue.

Descended the staircase, clutching my keys and tucking them into my clutch before stepping out.

"How long have you been—" Eugene started, then paused, taking in my ensemble.

"Wow," he smirked.

Returning the smirk, I retorted, "Didn't need your help after all."

"Right," he conceded, slipping into the driver's seat as I took my place beside him.

As we navigated toward the venue, I noticed Eugene stealing glances at me.

"Quit it," I chided, checking my lip gloss in the mirror to ensure it wasn't too flashy.

"I can't help it. You look different. Why don't you wear such outfits to school?" he mused.

"Because school isn't a runway," I quipped.

"Right," he agreed.

I smiled to myself.

This felt right.

I was clad in a rose gold gown, with a daring side split and a plunging neckline, paired with matching heels and delicate gold earrings. My wavy hair cascaded down my shoulders, and I wore subtle makeup to complete the look.

Eugene wasn't too shabby himself, donning a crisp white shirt, sleek black formal pants, a watch adorning his left wrist, and a silver ring on his right finger.

Before I forgot, I quickly dialed Vivian.

"Hey, V," I greeted.

"What now?" she asked, sounding irritated.

"How's Matty?" I inquired.

"Just don't call me unless you've got juicy gossip," she replied, her annoyance palpable.

Struggling to lower my phone's volume, I was certain Eugene heard her comment as he glanced my way.

"And besides," Vivian continued, "Matty's fine. We're about to eat, and I'll put him to sleep with Rose."

"Got it. I'll update you later," I promised before ending the call.

"Who's Matty?" Eugene questioned.

"My little brother," I replied.

"I didn't know you had one," he remarked.

"Well, now you do," I muttered, sensing a conversation I didn't want to delve into.

"By V, did you mean Vivian?" he probed.

"Yeah, how'd you guess?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I think you were the only one to call her that in middle school. Surprised you two are still friends," he remarked.

"You knew me in middle school?" I questioned, a hint of surprise in my voice. "I always thought I was invisible to you."

"Oh, you were," he admitted with a playful grin. "It was Vivian who caught my attention back then. You, on the other hand—" he began with a smirk.

"Save it," I cut him off, not in the mood for his teasing.

As we pulled up to the party venue, I marveled at its grandeur.

"The Macabeths Ballroom Hall," I whispered in awe.

This hall was reserved for royalty or billionaires—Eugene fitting the latter category.

Stepping out of the car, I watched as Eugene handed the keys to the valet and joined me.

Hooking my arm through his, I accompanied him into the hall, mesmerized by the opulent surroundings—a stark contrast to my everyday life.

I soon grasped the reason behind Eugene's request for me to play the role of his fake girlfriend for the evening.

As the heir to his family's business empire, the pressure was on for him to secure a suitable partner. Refusing the arranged setups with daughters of his father's associates, he fabricated the tale of already having a girlfriend.

The insistence of billionaire parents on their children's romantic entanglements remained a mystery to me. Yet, I realized that my facade as Eugene's girlfriend would be short-lived—I only needed to ensure his mother's disapproval of me.

Easier said than done.

"Wait here," Eugene directed, striding over to converse with a couple of acquaintances.

I stood alone, absorbing the opulence of the surroundings while the band serenaded with "Lost Stars" by Adam Levine—a personal favorite of mine.

Sensing a gaze upon me, I glanced downward to meet the curious eyes of a young girl.

"You're so tall and pretty," she declared with unabashed admiration.

Crouching down to her level, I returned the compliment with a warm smile. "Well, you're even more beautiful."

Her grin was contagious.

"Jade," I heard Eugene's voice, drawing my attention.

With a final smile at the little girl, I straightened up and strode confidently toward Eugene, feeling his hand find its place around my waist.

"This is Jade," he introduced me to a middle-aged couple.

"Pleasure to meet you," I said, shaking hands with his mom and offering a gentle smile to his dad.

"We've heard so much about you. It's great to finally meet you," his mom said warmly.

Glancing at Eugene, I noticed his avoidance of my gaze, a subtle yet telling gesture.

"Oh, look, Karen!" his mother suddenly exclaimed, diverting her attention elsewhere.

"No, Mum, please don't," Eugene muttered under his breath, his discomfort palpable.

Despite his plea, Karen had already caught sight of us and began her regal approach.

Gliding as if on a red carpet, clad in attire that left little to the imagination and exuding an aura of artificial elegance, she epitomized superficial beauty.

"Eugene darling, how lovely to see you here," Karen greeted him with a saccharine smile, exchanging air kisses on the cheek.

"And who might this be?" she inquired, her gaze shifting towards me.

One of the perks of my height was the advantage it bestowed upon me—I towered over most, affording me a distinct presence in any crowd.

"Jade Jones," I responded, extending my hand to shake hers.

"Jones? You're their daughter?" she inquired, her tone laced with a hint of surprise.

"Indeed, I am," I affirmed with a courteous smile.

"You knew my parents," I remarked, maintaining a composed demeanor.

"All too well," she responded with an air of arrogance that grated on my nerves.

My smile faltered, replaced by a steely resolve.

"Well then, Karen, if you'll excuse us," Eugene interjected smoothly, attempting to bring the encounter to a close.

With a disdainful scoff, Karen turned on her heel and strode away, but my eyes trailed after her, ablaze with simmering anger.

"Let's grab a bite," I suggested, eager to escape the social niceties.

Eugene agreed, and we settled at a table, the aroma of the food tantalizing my senses.

While I savored the flavors, Eugene seemed preoccupied, lost in thought.

"I'll be right back," I informed him before excusing myself to freshen up.

As I finished up in the restroom, I touched up my lip gloss before making my way to the door. However, I found myself halted by Karen's imposing presence.

"Move," I commanded, shooting her a glare.

"You better brace yourself for the consequences if I don't get the money your deceased parents stole," she spat out venomously.

I was rendered speechless, a whirlwind of emotions raging inside me. I wanted to retort, to defend my parents' honor, but the words remained trapped in my throat.

With a forceful shove, Karen pushed past me and exited the restroom, leaving me standing there, shaken.

After taking a moment to regain my composure, I stepped out of the restroom and headed back to our table.

As I approached, I overheard snippets of conversation about me.

"So, Jones? Katie's daughter?" someone remarked, causing me to freeze in my tracks.

Glancing to my right, I spotted Karen among a group of acquaintances, her gaze fixed on me with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. Simultaneously, whispers of my name floated from the left, amplifying the feeling of being under scrutiny.

In that moment, it seemed as though all eyes were trained on me, and a single thought reverberated in my mind: Jones! It felt as though the name echoed around me, whether real or imagined, haunting my thoughts with uncertainty.

"Hey, let's go," Eugene urged, gently clasping my hand and guiding me toward the dance floor.

"I'm not really in the mood for dancing," I protested half-heartedly.

"Come on, it'll be fun. Plus, I could use a dance partner," he insisted, pulling me closer as we swayed to the slow rhythm of the music. His arm wrapped around my waist, and I rested my hand on his shoulder.

Feeling exposed and vulnerable, I clung to Eugene's hand as he led me onto the dance floor. Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself oddly content in his embrace, the music washing over us like a comforting wave.

"Don't let what anyone else thinks bother you, okay?" Eugene murmured softly into my ear.

A sense of reassurance washed over me, dispelling some of the doubts that had been nagging at me all night.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things weren't as complicated as they seemed.

With a forced smile, I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right."

As the evening wore on and the music faded into the background, we eventually made our way out of the party venue.

I couldn't be sure whether my efforts had managed to sour Eugene's parents' opinion of me, but one thing was for certain—it had been a night filled with more drama than I had bargained for.

As we strolled toward his parked car, I felt a sudden urge to deviate from our path.

"What's going on?" Eugene inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"I'll get a cab. I need to swing by Vivian's place to pick up Matty. You can head off," I asserted, determined to handle the errand solo.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Eugene insisted, "Just sit."

Before I could voice further protest, he swiftly cut me off with a firm command.

With a hint of reluctance, I complied and settled into the passenger seat as Eugene took the wheel, guiding us toward Vivian's lavish mansion.

Though not in the same league as Eugene's family's wealth, Vivian's family was certainly affluent enough to afford such opulence.

I dialed Vivian's number, and she emerged from her grand residence, cradling Matty in her arms as he dozed peacefully.

"I'm sorry, he wouldn't wake up," Vivian apologized, her tone tinged with concern.

"It's alright, I'll take him," Eugene offered, stepping forward to relieve Vivian of her burden.

But I intercepted his gesture. "It's okay, I can carry him."

Eugene persisted, "No, really, it's fine. You're in a dress. I'll put him in the back seat."

With a reluctant nod, I acquiesced, watching as Eugene proceeded toward the car with determined strides.

Feeling Vivian's smug grin burning into my back, I couldn't resist playfully scolding her. "Cut it out," I chided, swatting her arm in jest.

Her laughter bubbled forth, filling the air with its infectious sound—a trademark of hers that never failed to brighten any moment.

"Fill me in on everything tomorrow," she requested as her laughter tapered off.

"Deal," I agreed with a smile.

As we bid each other farewell, I settled back into the car, stealing a glance at my sleeping brother nestled in the back seat.

Upon arriving home, Eugene assisted me in tucking Matty into bed before bidding his own departure.

After changing into my cozy home attire, I collapsed onto my bed, succumbing to the embrace of exhaustion.