The Way She Sparkled

I closed the door without turning to look at Chuck.

I went back to my best friend, Nancy Silva's house. She was momentarily stunned when she saw me and asked, "Did he really sign it?"

"Yes," I answered, nodding calmly.

"I can't believe he's just letting you go."

I barked out a self-deprecating laugh. "Why wouldn't he? He's expecting me to crawl back to him and grovel at his feet in three months."

I moved in with Nancy for the next three months. The days were peaceful. Chuck didn't contact me, treating me as if I had never existed in his life.

One day, Nancy dragged me to a business cocktail party with her.

"You have to go," she said, her tone making it clear that there was no room for discussion. "You need to show those people that Julia York can live a fulfilling life even without Chuck."

I was convinced by her in the end. I picked out a simple black dress and tied my hair into a bun. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and I couldn't help but feel a little unfamiliar and distant from the woman staring back at me.

The guests clinked glasses with each other during the party. I balanced a champagne glass between my fingers as I exchanged pleasantries with some old friends. It was obvious that they had heard about what happened to Starlight Group, with the way their eyes shone with pity when they looked at me.

I smiled as I answered their questions directly, treating the acquisition as nothing but a trivial matter.

A few moments later, I saw them—Chuck dressed in a black suit with an arm around Rebecca, who was dressed to the nines. She was clad in an eye-catching red dress. Her makeup was exquisite, and she was smiling brightly.

Chuck leaned down to whisper into her ear, showing off how intimate they were.

Nancy squeezed my hand and muttered, "Let's go."

I shook my head and stood my ground, watching calmly as they approached us.

Rebecca's smile widened when she spotted me. She didn't even bother to hide how smug she was.

"Julia? What a coincidence," she said sweetly as she pressed closer to Chuck. "I heard that you've been in low spirits lately, so I didn't expect to see you here."

A flurry of complicated emotions flickered through Chuck's eyes when he saw me. It was obvious that he was feeling uneasy.

Rebecca shook Chuck's arm lightly and asked coyly, "Chuck, don't you think Julia's dress looks a little plain? I remember that you told me you don't like the color black because it looks so gloomy."

I gently stopped Nancy from stepping forward to defend me. It couldn't be any more obvious that Rebecca was trying to provoke me. In the past, I might have risen to the bait, but now, I didn't want to waste my time on those who didn't deserve it.

A barely detectable hint of regret flickered in Chuck's eyes as he glanced at me. He was quiet for a moment before he said, "Watch your words, Becca."

I suddenly felt that this entire situation was incredibly ridiculous.

Chuck's delayed and useless defense of me was even more pointless than the hurt he had inflicted on me in the past.

"It's just a color. I like it," I replied while swirling the champagne in my glass, smiling brightly at them. "We'll get out of your hair now."

When I turned to leave, Chuck subconsciously took a step forward as if he wanted to stop me. However, Rebecca's reaction was faster, grabbing him and keeping him in place.

Unable to stop me from leaving, he asked, "You… How have you been?"