People always say I have it all.
A mansion with chandeliers taller than me. A wardrobe full of designer clothes I barely wear. A personal driver, chef, and even a personal assistant who keeps my calendar more than I do. But what they never understand is that even a golden cage is still a cage.
Today, like every other Sunday, my mother invited Nuel and his family over for brunch. "Invited" being the polite word—because they never really leave. Nuel always smells like expensive cologne and bad decisions. He's the kind of guy who thinks money is personality, and women are trophies. Unfortunately, my parents adore him.
"I don't know why you keep being so cold to him, Lucia," my mother sighed, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "He's every girl's dream."
"Then let one of them have him," I muttered, stabbing my fruit salad a little too aggressively.
My father cleared his throat, his warning glance shooting across the table. "Nuel is a responsible young man. You need someone who can match your class."
That's the problem. Everyone's obsessed with class. Nobody asks what I want.
When the brunch ended, Nuel pulled me aside near the pool.
"Let's go out tonight, Lucia. Just one dinner. No pressure."
I rolled my eyes. "You said that last week. And the week before. And the week before that."
"I'm not giving up on you," he smirked, stepping closer.
"Maybe you should," I replied, brushing past him.
But later that evening, after my mother's emotional blackmail and my father's stern lecture, I caved. One dinner. That's all.
If only I had known that one dinner would change everything.