Under the dim yellow streetlights, he grabbed my hand tightly, his voice filled with frustration.

"Willow, what is wrong with you today?"

"Nothing. I've just had enough."

I calmly pried his fingers off my hand and kept walking. Behind me, I could hear our classmates murmuring.

"What's going on? Is Willow jealous?"

"Probably. I think I saw her eyes were red earlier."

Hearing this, the guys who had been surrounding Flora immediately jumped to her defense.

"Jealous? What does she have to be jealous of? She's a princess who has everything. Why would she be jealous of a scholarship student?"

"Exactly. Besides, Julian didn't even do anything, just gave away some of her old stuff. I think she just wants to be the center of attention and is trying to ruin the mood on purpose."

I walked away, my steps heavy, the streetlights stretching my shadow longer and longer behind me.

No matter how much I wanted to hold on, it seemed Julian and I were destined to part.

Every other time I'd been angry, Julian would have rushed over and held me tight. He never let me walk alone at night.

But this time, he just stood there.

The sound of high heels clicked closer. Flora ran up to me, holding a piece of cake.

"Willow, the first piece of cake is for you."

She looked shocked to see the tears on my face, but I could see the poorly hidden triumph in her eyes.

I walked past her without a word, muttering a single word: "Get lost."

But before my dress could even brush against hers, she crumpled to the ground as if she were made of glass.

"Flora!"

Julian rushed over and helped her up.

Noticing her dress had slipped, he didn't hesitate to take off his own jacket and wrap it around her.

"Willow, what is your problem? It's just a few things that you can get in a heartbeat..."

He was scolding me as he looked up, but when his eyes met my cold, empty gaze, he flinched.

The Willow who had clung to him for eighteen years... something was missing from her eyes.

It was as if he was no different to her now than any other classmate.

"You're right. It's just things I can get in a heartbeat."

After saying that in a cold voice, I got into the Maybach that had just pulled up and sped away.

...

"My darling granddaughter, isn't today your graduation party? How come you're back so early? Isn't Julian with you?"

When I got home, my grandfather was looking around at the door, surprised not to see Julian.

I linked my arm through his and walked inside silently. He immediately knew something was wrong.

"Did you fight with Julian?"

I looked down, thinking for a long time before forcing a smile. "Grandpa, I don't want to be with Julian anymore. And I don't want to go to Georgetown."

Grandpa froze. His old, wrinkled hands gently stroked my arm. In the end, he didn't ask any questions.

"Alright. Whatever you want to do, Grandpa will back you up."

My eyes welled up with tears. I buried my face in his embrace and cried for a long time. When I got back to my room and was about to fall asleep, a text came from Julian.

"Don't forget to submit your college choice. The Georgetown we've been dreaming of."

"Go to sleep. I'll come see you first thing in the morning."

The Georgetown we've been dreaming of.

I smiled, a pale, lifeless smile, as a tear slid from the corner of my eye.

Julian, Georgetown was always your dream.