I Refused To Be His Second Best Chapter 02

I Refused To Be His Second Best Chapter 02

After dinner, we passed by a Hermès boutique.

Stellan’s mom was inside, trying on a bag.

Stellan had been by my side.

The second he saw her, he moved away.

He went to stand next to Faye.

His mom caught their reflection in the mirror and turned around with a smile.

“Another date, you two? Looks like I’ll be attending my son’s wedding soon.”

Neither of them denied it.

I’d seen this before.

The first time I went to his house, his mom had grabbed Faye’s hand with the same familiarity.

“Faye! I was worried he’d bring back some girl from the west.”

“But you and Stellan grew up together—I’d approve of you two in a heartbeat.”

Faye started to say something, but Stellan stopped her with a look.

His family was wealthy—

his father a well-known entrepreneur, his uncle the dean of our college.

I was just an ordinary girl from New Mexico.

Of course she preferred Faye—familiar, presentable, from the right background.

I clutched the brooch.

It had cost me half a month’s living allowance.

I stood there in their mansion, feeling out of place.

They were laughing about childhood memories—

memories I wasn’t part of.

That day, Stellan only introduced me as a friend.

His mom took the brooch I offered and casually handed it to the housekeeper.

“This suits you better—you can keep it.”

Then she put on the Chanel brooch Faye had given her and smiled.

“Faye always has such good taste. This is beautiful.”

After we dropped Faye off and got back to our apartment, Stellan wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“You’ve been quiet all the way back. Mad?”

“Come on, you know it’s just a show for my mom.”

“If I don’t play along, she’ll set me up with some other girl.”

I stood still in the entryway. “Stellan. How long am I supposed to wait?”

“Until you actually marry Faye?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know there’s nothing between us.”

He turned my face toward him and gently wiped my tears.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

“You wouldn’t want me to end up at one of those speed dating events, would you?”

I never did. I’d been patient.

And I’d kept waiting.

But I was still the outsider standing on the sidelines.