Chapter 1876 A Foreign Reality
"Cecilia, I made a mistake. Please, I''m begging you to help me."
Ste reached out, gripping Cecilia''s hand tightly, desperation shining in her eyes.
"I have no one else to turn to. After I was cklisted, the debt piled up. It''s so much I can''t possibly repay it."
Cecilia met her gaze, calm and unshaken. "And why would you think I''d pay it off for you?"
Ste was momentarily stunned.
Lately, she''d been haunted by dreams of the past-memories of when she and
Cecilia had once been close. Back then, Cecilia had been genuinely kind, shielding her from bullies, always offering a helping hand without expecting anything in return.
Cecilia''s father had treated her well too-not only funding her education, but also ensuring she could attend the same school as Cecilia.
Sometimes, when Ste woke from those dreams, the reality she faced feltpletely foreign. As if she had stumbled into someone else''s life-one where everything had gone terribly, irreversibly wrong.
"Ceci, I truly regret everything. I shouldn''t have hurt you." Ste''s voice trembled as tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
But Cecilia remained unmoved. Without a word, she gently pulled her hand out of Ste''s grasp. "Ste, you don''t need to put on this act."
Ste looked at her in shock.
Cecilia''s tone stayed even. "If your life hadn''t fallen apart, would you feel the same regret?"
Ste was silent.
Cecilia continued, "If you were still the shining star you once were, if Nathaniel and Zachary had never learned the truth and kept shielding you would you still be here? Would you regret? Would you even think of apologizing?"
She knew the answer. In that version of the world, Ste would have stepped over her without a second thought.
Ste was at a loss for words.
Cecilia''s gaze was cold, still, and unreadable-like a pond frozen over, void of any ripple or warmth.
"I once saw you as my best friend," she said quietly. "But clearly, I was wrong. I don''t expect anything from you anymore. You''re on your own now."
With that, she rose from her seat.
Desperation wed at Ste. She couldn''t bear the thought of returning to that dark, hopeless life Looking around at the other guests in the restaurant, she dropped to her knees before Cecilia. "Ceci, I''m begging you-please stop targeting me. Help me, just this once... Look at me. I can''t go on like this."
She broke downpletely, her sobs echoing through the restaurant as curious onlookers began to stare. But she no longer cared.
Someone in the crowd had taken out their phone, aiming it at Ste to snap photos and record videos.
Cecilia caught the movement. She shot the person a cold nce. "If footage from today leaks, don''t me me for filing awsuit.”
The person filming brushed off the threat until someone beside him whispered
urgently, "Are you crazy? That''s the new CEO of Jamieson Group!"
With that, the person lowered his phone and deleted the video.
Ste had noticed themotion too. At first, she''d hoped the crowd might pressure Cecilia, make her soften. But clearly, that tactic held no weight now. Cecilia was untouchable.
Ste''s face went ghostly pale.
Before leaving, Cecilia tossed out onest line, calm and final. "You''re on your own."
Ste couldn''t remember how she managed to leave the restaurant. At some point, she found herself
standing dazed in front of Royalon et
Club. Then, out of nowhere, one of her female colleagues shoved her from
behind.
Too weak to keep her bnce, Ste stumbled forward and copsed onto the ground, pain shooting through her limbs.
The woman behind her let out a cruelugh Well, well. Superstar Ms. Ross, back on the grind again? Weren''t you supposed to be some big-shot heiress? Guess you''reGust like the rest of us now. How many more years do you think you''ve got left, huh? Hahaha..."
The mocking voices gradually faded into the distance, leaving Ste sprawled on
the ground-seething with humiliation, yetpletely powerless.
"Why... Why is this happening..." she murmured again and again, her voice trembling with disbelief.