Starting Over, Standing Tall - Chapter 9

My best friend held a bouquet of daisies, but her face wore a forced smile.

“Sarah, this is all I can do for you. Be happy.”

Noah was certain I wasn’t dead.

“Tell me, where is Sarah?” he demanded, grabbing her shoulder tightly, making her cry out in pain.

“Let go of me, you jerk. You killed Sarah. What else do you want from me?” she shouted.

Noah tightened his grip.

Scared that he’d ruin her career, she reluctantly revealed the truth.

That day, I had fainted after hitting my head against the wall.

I ran into my college senior, the one I had been texting. Initially, we agreed I would leave in a week, but then it became 2 days.

He sensed something was wrong and kept a secret watch over me.

That was why he saved me at the Hilton Hotel.

My senior took me away and arranged for a fake body to be created.

Mr. Zhao was aware of it but had been pressured by my senior who used his company as leverage to make him lie to Noah claiming I was dead.

Afterward, I went to Hong Kong with my senior.

He was an investor in a dance studio and he secured me a position there. At first, people looked down on me, assuming I had entered through the back door.

But once I showcased my dance skills on stage, they were all impressed.

For 2 years, I practiced diligently, aiming to win the Paris dance competition.

It was my mother’s dream.

She had gone with my father to Paris for the competition and they both died in a plane crash.

My senior supported my decision quietly, always helping me from behind the scenes.

A year later, I was invited for an interview at the award ceremony.

My senior walked toward me with a bouquet of Angel’s Kiss.

I knew what it meant.

Angel’s kiss symbolized hidden love.

When he pulled out a blue diamond hidden in the bouquet, I knew it was a unique item from an auction years ago.

A priceless piece.

We exchanged a smile, remembering how we met in a college club.

At the club’s banquet, I had performed a folk dance while my senior played the piano for me.

He had fallen in love with me at first sight.

Back then, my eyes were only on Noah, watching him in the audience.

On our wedding day, my senior had come to offer his congratulations.

Before leaving, he looked at me deeply and said, “Sarah, if this marriage doesn’t make you happy, don’t be afraid to turn back. I’ll always be your warm haven.”

For some reason, I saved his number.

Now, I think perhaps I subconsciously knew how things would turn out with Noah, and I left myself a way out.

Halfway through putting on my ring, someone knocked it off my finger.

“Sarah, you can’t marry him.” Noah’s voice was desperate, his eyes bloodshot. “Sarah, you’re my wife. How can you marry someone else?”

His words were filled with urgency.

I looked at him, my expression cold.

“Sir, you’ve got the wrong person. I don’t know you.”

Seeing my firm stance, Noah softened his voice.

“Sarah, I’m sorry.”