CHAPTER TWO

Sabrina's Pov

Coral's sleek car drove its way through the iron gates, ushering us into a world I had only ever dreamt of. It was a stunning estate. A testament to wealth and privilege. The driveway alone had more grandeur than I had ever seen in my life, adorned with a breathtaking fountain filled with exotic, multi-colored fish.

As we were briefly stopped by the gate guards to confirm our entry, I gazed in wonder at the sprawling property, my mind wondering at the thought of who might own such an extravagant estate. A business mogul, maybe?

Coral's car rolled to a stop in the lavish parking lot, among a fleet of luxury vehicles and sleek limousines. Stepping out of the car, I was met with the sight of elegantly dressed guests strolling towards the grand estate, their evening gowns and designer suits shimmering in the fading light.

As they made their way towards the party, I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place. My borrowed dress, though stunning, couldn't mask the fact that I was an imposter in this world of wealth and sophistication.

Following Coral's lead into the party, I was even more awed at the luxury setting of the party. 

"So, what do you think?" she whispered to me as we stood by the entrance, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

"It's incredible," I breathed, my voice hushed in reverence. But my gaze was drawn to a sensation I couldn't shake off. It was the weight of a hundred eyes upon me. A hush fell over the crowd, and every head turned in my direction, their whispers rippled through the room.

I blinked, unsure whether it was me they were staring at or Coral or possibly someone else behind us. I glanced behind me, then to Coral's way, and back to the hundreds of eyes that were fixated on me, confirming that it was truly me whom they were staring at.

I blinked again, feeling my palms turn glassy. I clutched my dress by the sides, tightening my fists together, feeling nervous and awkward. Why were they staring at me this way?

Coral, seemingly oblivious to the whispers and stares that had engulfed us, smiled at me as she slid her arm over mine. 

"Come on," she said with a hint of lightness in her voice, "let's go mingle with some of the guests."

Coral led me along with her, greeting her acquaintances, smiling and waving at them as she navigated the party with ease. Meanwhile, I trailed behind her, feeling like a sheep being led to an unknown fate.

With every passing second, the stares were becoming more unsettling, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow out of place.  At the moment, I couldn't help but wish I had listened to my gut and declined Coral's invitation. What was it about me that had everyone's attention? Was there something on me that was causing this strange reaction?

Stopping in front of a table, Coral greeted the ladies who were already staring at us, their gaze focused intently on me. They wore expressions of confusion and curiosity, except for a single girl, whose gaze seemed to dance with amusement.

"Hey, Olivia. Quite late, aren't I?” Coral joked as she spoke to the girl who was staring at me with an amused look. But Olivia's attention remained fixed on me. Her eyes fixated on me or rather, on my dress. 

"Is that the latest Louis Vuitton? The one from the recent London fashion show?"

I was stunned and I blinked as Olivia's question came. Shifting my eyes to Coral, I shot her a pleading look, hoping she would bail me out since it was her dress. But she coolly took a sip of Olivia's drink, averting her gaze from mine, leaving me to fend for myself.

I swallowed hard and looked back to Olivia, mustering up whatever courage I could find. 

"Yes," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper, "It is."

"I see. You're quite the catch, aren't you?" Olivia mused, her voice hinting at disappointment. She summoned a waiter, sipping from the drink he offered before waving him away. "So, tell me, which family do you come from?"

The question hung heavy in the air, and I shifted uncomfortably, caught off guard by her inquiry. My gaze flitted between Olivia, her friends, and Coral, who seemed to be doing her best to ignore me, her finger idly tracing the rim of her wine glass.

“I...” I stammered, a feeling of dread rising in my stomach. Coral’s nonchalance gave off a weird vibe. Why was she ignoring me and leaving me alone to handle this situation myself when she had practically dragged me here against my will? What was her game?

I gathered my composure and turned back to Olivia.

"Both of my parents are late," I admitted. “I have no family.”

"Too bad," Olivia replied, the words dripping with indifference as she sipped her drink. "So, you must have a wealthy boyfriend or some rich sugar daddy funding your lifestyle, right? That dress didn't come cheap."

“I don’t.” My reply seemed to throw her off balance again and she peered at the dress with renewed suspicion, her gaze boring into me.

"I find it hard to believe," Her words were coated with skepticism. "How could someone without connections and money manage to get their hands on such an expensive gown? Even I, the girlfriend of one of the richest men in the country, had difficulty getting it. Are you a secret millionaire or something?"

"That dress is, without a doubt, the real deal," Thankfully, Coral finally spoke up. Her eyes flickered to the dress on my body, her eyes glinting subtly in what looked like mischief.  Then, she looked back at Olivia again."And if you have any doubts, well, there's one sure way to find out."

At first, Olivia shot Coral an inquisitive look, and then, a second later, a ripple of realization spread across the group, as one of the girls clicked her fingers in understanding.

"Jeffrey!" the girl exclaimed and then started to search into the crowd with her eyes. She caught the sight of a middle-aged man amidst the crowd and waved him over as soon as their eyes met, her voice resounding across the room. "Jeff, over here!"

The man, Jeff, approached with a warm smile gracing his features. He exchanged a cordial kiss on the cheek with each of the women, Olivia included, before turning his attention to me. But then, his eyes widened with surprise and confusion, fixated on the shimmering dress that adorned my frame. He halted, his lips parting in stunned silence as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Wait a minute... is that our latest design?"

Olivia, eager to add fuel to the fire, introduced him with a sly grin. "Jeffery here works for Louis Vuitton as a designer, so he's quite the expert on spotting fakes."

Jeffrey's gaze on me was unblinking. "Where did you get this dress? Did you purchase it directly from Louis Vuitton?"

Glad for Coral's subtle nod of approval, I mustered a steady voice. 

"Yes," I responded. "I did."

Frustration welled up within me as Jeffery continued to scrutinize my dress. The whispers and stares only intensified my irritation, making me feel like a caged animal on display for the enjoyment of these rich, self-important aristocrats.  

"Look, I don't understand..." I began, but Jeffery's interruption silenced my words.

"I'll tell you what's going on," he said, his tone cool and measured. “The design is indeed ours. But something doesn't quite add up. "There are so many inconsistencies here. First, our customer list doesn't include your name, unless, of course, someone bought this for you. Second, the stitching on the dress is off, it's too thick."

Then, without warning, he grasped the fabric and turned it inside out, his eyes searching for something. A scoff escaped his lips as he located what he was looking for. A surge of indignation coursed through me as he did that and I knocked his hand away. 

Jeffery retreated, his expression morphing into one of disgust.

"And finally," he continued, "the label is supposed to be sewn into the arm of the dress, not the neck. You, madam, are wearing a knock-off."

My heart sank as his words reverberated through the hushed crowd and a ripple of gasps and laughs fluttered through the girls. Even Coral let a smile escape her lips. My head reeled with confusion as I turned to face her.

"Coral? Wh…what is going on here?" 

"I'm sorry, Rina," she said, her expression contorting into one of pity. "But if you couldn't afford the dress, you shouldn't have bought a fake. It's just not a good look to pretend you're one of us."

One of us? What the hell was going on here? Was this some sort of joke or what?

“But Coral, you…”

“I'm sorry, bestie.” Coral shook her head pitifully at me while an amused look played on her lips. “But I cannot save you this time.”

“Wh…wh…” I stuttered, my lips quivering as tears brimmed inside my eyes. Was this some sort of joke? What was she playing at? Was this…was this some sort of setup?

Around me, I heard the whispers of everyone and the small side laughs. 

"It's a fake. I knew it."

"She'd actually wear a fake dress to a party like this? Does she think we're stupid?"

"She's utterly shameless. I'm repulsed."

"She wants to be one of us so badly. What a pathetic little girl."

The room seemed to spin, their words piercing my soul, leaving me wounded and exposed.

My hands fumbled for the hem of the dress, longing to rip it off and free myself from the humiliation. The room spun, the laughter swirling around me ripping at my heart, cutting me to the core.

I couldn't take it anymore. I clutched at the dress, turning on my heel, and fled, escaping from the cruel laughter, of the venomous words. I ran, not knowing where I was going, only that I needed to be away, far away from this humiliation.  

And the betrayal of my own best friend.

>>>>