The day had finally arrived, but Annalise was still contemplating on what to do.
There was no way she could miss this party; she had already told her friends she would be there, and her boyfriend was counting on her. She couldn't afford to fail and face the embarrassment that would inevitably follow.
But the reality was daunting—this wasn't just any gathering; it was packed with incredibly wealthy kids, and she needed to look the part. On top of that, she had promised Liam a gift.
She bit her lip, pacing the room left and right. Her cash reserves were completely drained, leaving her purse empty. Selling anything she owned wouldn't generate the money she needed, so she focused hard, strategizing her next move.
"Think, Annalise, think," she urged herself, pacing with purpose until one clear idea emerged—an opportunity for fast cash.
Annalise strode out of her room and into the parlor. Keira was napping, and it was clear her father was outside. She decided then that she would borrow Keira's card to buy the things she needed.
She had once overheard them discussing their account balance; it was more than enough for what she intended to do.
She approached her mother cautiously, waving her hand in front of her face to check for any signs of wakefulness. When there was none, Annalise felt a surge of relief. Her mother's purse was nestled beneath her pillow, and with careful precision, Annalise lifted her mother's head slightly, swiped the purse, and returned her head to the pillow as if nothing had happened.
The woman didn't stirr and Annalise breathed in relief.
As she silently opened the purse, the card gleamed in her green eyes.
Her eyes flickered toward Keira, and a pang of guilt struck her hard. What she was doing felt wrong—Keira had always treated her well, and this didn't feel right. But then she thought of the expectations awaiting her that night.
Annalise's mind raced; her mother had done so much for her. Yet, she pushed those feelings aside, there was nothing stopping her from going to this party. She took the card, closed the purse, and returned it to its rightful place.
Leaning down, she placed a soft kiss on her mother's forehead. "Thank you, Mom. I love you," she whispered before making her exit to prepare for the night ahead.
Once outside, Annalise headed straight for the shopping center. As she entered the boutique, her gaze was drawn to the dresses elegantly displayed. A stunning emerald green mini dress caught her eye; it sparkled, featuring long sleeves and a low neckline. She knew it was the dress she wanted, regardless of the cost. Next, she picked out chic shoes and a stylish bag before making her way to the gift section for Liam's present.
When she reached the counter to pay, the cashier asked for her PIN.
Annalise felt a rush of shock—she hadn't anticipated that. She bit her lip, sizing up the cashier's expectant expression.
"03507" she said, and the cashier inputted the number. A moment later, the register whirred, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Her birthday date had worked; the guilt only deepened at the thought of it, but there was no turning back now.
With her items securely in hand and the receipt tucked away, Annalise stepped out of the shopping mall. She chose not to return home; she couldn't face her parents after spending their money without asking. She knew there would be consequences, but she'd deal with that later.
All she needed to do was cry and storm off to her room, heh, it didn't seem like a big deal to her.
Eventually, night fell, and Annalise found herself outside the venue for Liam's birthday. Music blasted, and colorful lights illuminated the space as guests flowed in and out, drinks in hand and laughter filling the air.
She took a deep breath, ready to embrace the night. This was going to be the best night ever—she intended to have as much fun as possible, before she returned to that hellhole of a house.
She switched off her phone, resolute about not receiving calls from her parents tonight. Her heart raced at the thought of what awaited her at home, but she focused on the party ahead.
As she took a step forward, a Bugatti sped up in front of her and screeched to a halt. "What the hell!" Annalise exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a crushed leg by stepping back.
She watched as the passenger door swung open, and her best friend, Astrid, jumped out. Without hesitation, Astrid rushed over to her.
"Are you okay?" Astrid asked, her blue eyes searching Annalise for any sign of injury.
Annalise sighed inwardly; she wasn't in the mood for drama. Tonight was about having fun before returning to that chaotic home life. Instead of snapping, she flashed a bright smile. "I'm fine," she said, then added with a firm tone, "but tell your driver to be more careful next time."
"It's not my driver," Astrid replied, brushing off Annalise's concern in her eagerness to continue to the party. "That's my brother Alexander. Say hi!"
Annalise's gaze drifted slowly toward the figure stepping out of the car. She took in his sharp jawline and striking features, and took a breath, completely caught off guard. He closed the car door with an air of arrogance and grace, his blue eyes landing on her for a brief moment. She felt her heart momentarily skip a beat but maintained her composure.
She raised a hand to wave, a simple gesture of courtesy because of her friend.
Without sparing her another glance, he shifted his gaze away and walked off.
A chill swept over her. Never had she felt so low, and humiliated in her entire life. She could only swallow up the embarrassment.
"He can be cold sometimes. He didn't even want to come, he was forced... I doubt he's going to enjoy himself tonight," Astrid noted, observing Annalise's reaction.
Regaining her composure, Annalise responded, "Let's go have fun." Together, they headed toward the entrance of the party.
As they entered, the birthday boy spotted Annalise, and a smile spread across his face. "Hi, girlfriend!" he exclaimed, closing the distance and kissing her cheek, wrapping his arms around her. Annalise laughed, her head spinning—a familiar comfort in the chaos of her life.
"You could've at least greeted me," Astrid said, and Liam turned to face her with a playful grin.
"My bad," he offered lightly before Annalise pulled out his gift, and watched as he eagerly unwrapped it. "You never fail to surprise me, Ann. Thank you!" He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, lost in the moment while Astrid excused herself.
Annalise had given him the gaming set he'd always wanted and he was pleased, but remained blissfully unaware of the source of that money.
"Come on, let's enjoy the night," he said, taking her hand as they made their way through the crowd.
•
•
•
Annalise was truly enjoying herself, dancing as if it had been ages since she'd last let loose, indulging in a variety of cocktails. She knew that if she didn't savor this moment now, she'd be back at home facing nothing but a dull plate of rice and stew in that crumbling house. The thought alone sent shivers down her spine.
Surrounded by her friends—Astrid, Remi, Portia, 'The Royals' as they called themselves—Annalise felt a surge of gratitude for being able to have this experience again. In that moment, she concluded inwardly that she'd do whatever it took to not let them find out about her recent lifestyle so that she could remain part of this group.
"You sure have an appetite tonight," Astrid teased.
With her mouth full of food, Annalise only smiled, swaying to the music. "I'm trying to eat enough to bounce back from that sickness I had," she replied.
It was a lie; she hadn't been sick at all—she simply wanted to enjoy every bite of the food she hadn't had in ages.
Astrid chuckled before her expression shifted to concern. "What is it?"
"I need to use the bathroom," Annalise stated all of a sudden.
"Sure, I'll wait here," Astrid replied.
"Thanks, babe," Annalise said, giving her a brief hug before excusing herself and striding toward the restroom. Once inside, she swiftly occupied a stall, but soon realized she wasn't just there for a simple visit; the feast she had just enjoyed had made her body quite clear about what needed to happen next.
After a while, she finished up and made sure she was presentable before stepping out of the bathroom. Just then, two girls walked by, laughing, and as Annalise tried to pass them, one of them suddenly tapped her on the shoulder.
Annalise turned to face them. "Aren't you Annalise Grey from school?" one girl asked, a smirk on her face.
"Yes, I am. What's it to you?" Annalise replied, a little bit confused about why they were asking that question, yet she kept her head high.
The girl burst into laughter, and her friend joined in, leaving Annalise puzzled. "Everyone is talking about your family's bankruptcy. Is that true?" she asked, the amusement evident in her tone.
Instantly, Annalise's demeanor shifted, every color draining from her face.