Sarah's POV
I ripped the dress off and threw it on the bed.
"No. Just no."
I stared at my reflection and felt my chest tighten. The mirror did not lie. The dress looked cheap. Too thin. Too plain. I looked like someone pretending to belong somewhere she did not.
I grabbed another one.
Five minutes later, it was on the floor too.
"That makes five," I muttered.
Five dresses. All cheap. All bought on sale. All screaming the same thing. You do not belong with people like Marcus and Victoria.
I sat on the edge of my bed and pressed my hands to my face. My heart beat fast. The office Christmas party was tonight. I could already see it in my mind. Victoria's smooth smile. Her perfect hair. Her shiny life. Marcus at her side, proud and calm, like he had never broken me.
I stood up again and faced the mirror.
"Get it together," I told myself. "You survived worse."
But my voice shook.
I picked up the last dress. The simplest one. Nothing special. Just clean and neat. I slipped it on and stared again.
It was fine.
That word hurt more than ugly.
A knock came at the door.
My heart jumped.
"He is early," I whispered.
I checked the time. Daniel was not supposed to arrive for another ten minutes. I panicked, smoothing the dress, brushing my hair with my fingers.
Another knock.
"I am coming," I called.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
Daniel stood there.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
He wore the thrift store suit we bought together. Nothing expensive. Nothing flashy. But the way he stood, straight and calm, made the suit look like it was made just for him.
He looked… different.
Not rich. Not poor. Just powerful.
His eyes softened when he saw me.
"Hi," I said, my voice small.
"Hi," he replied.
We stared at each other for a moment too long.
"You look," he began, then stopped. He took a breath. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
My heart skipped so hard it scared me.
I laughed weakly. "You are supposed to say that."
"I am supposed to tell the truth," he said.
My throat burned. I turned away quickly. "Come in."
He stepped inside. My tiny apartment felt even smaller with him there. I grabbed my coat to keep my hands busy.
"You ready?" he asked.
"No," I said honestly. "But I do not have a choice."
He nodded. "Then we face it together."
Together.
That word stayed with me as we walked down the stairs.
Outside, the night was cold. I wrapped my arms around myself.
"You are nervous," he said.
"Terrified," I admitted. "Marcus used to make me feel small. Victoria makes me feel invisible."
Daniel stopped walking. He turned to face me.
"Look at me," he said.
I did.
"You are not small," he said. "And you are not invisible."
His voice was steady. Certain.
I nodded, even though fear still twisted in my stomach.
We reached the car. As we drove, my thoughts raced. I imagined Marcus laughing. Victoria judging. People whispering.
"What if they see through us?" I asked.
"They will not," Daniel said. "We know our story."
"Our story," I repeated.
"Yes," he said. "We met. We cared. We chose each other."
I swallowed. "Do not make it sound real."
He glanced at me. "Why?"
"Because it is easier if it stays fake," I said.
He looked back at the road. "Sometimes pretending shows the truth."
The building came into view. Lights everywhere. Music drifting through the air.
My hands shook.
Daniel noticed. He reached over and held my hand.
The warmth of his skin sent a shock through me.
"You are not alone," he said.
I squeezed his hand back before I could stop myself.
We stepped out of the car.
At the door, I paused.
"This is where it gets hard," I said.
He leaned in close, his voice low. "Then lean on me."
We walked inside together.
The room buzzed with voices and laughter. I scanned the crowd and froze.
Marcus stood near the center. Victoria beside him, smiling like she owned the place.
My chest tightened.
Daniel's hand stayed firm in mine.
"Ready?" he asked.
"No," I whispered. "But let us go."
We moved forward.
People turned. Some smiled. Some stared. I felt eyes on me like weight.
Lily waved. "Sarah. You made it."
"And you brought him," she added, looking at Daniel.
"Yes," I said, forcing a smile. "This is Daniel."
Daniel nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you," Lily said.
"You too," he replied.
Then I felt it.
Marcus's gaze.
I looked up.
Our eyes met.
His smile faded. His eyes moved to Daniel. Then back to me.
Victoria leaned closer to him, whispering something.
My heart pounded.
Daniel's arm slipped around my waist.
The gesture was natural. Protective.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Good," Daniel murmured. "Let them see."
I leaned into him, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.
This was not part of the plan.
Or maybe it was.
Music played. Glasses clinked. Laughter rose.
But all I could feel was Daniel beside me. His steady presence. His calm strength.
My heart raced faster.
Too fast.
This was supposed to be fake.
But standing there, wrapped in his arm, facing the people who once broke me, it felt dangerously real.
And that terrified me more than facing Marcus ever could.