Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 28 -

As the months passed and exams came to an end, Elaine made a decision—one that had been forming in her mind for a while. Living in the villa had become unbearable. Olivia's constant taunts, her stepmother's disdainful glances, and Alex's occasional visits that left her emotions in turmoil—it was all too much.

She needed peace. And the only way to get that was to leave.

Shifting to the hostel seemed like the best option. It wasn't ideal, but at least it would free her from the suffocating toxicity of the house. There, she wouldn't have to hear Olivia's mocking remarks or endure her stepmother's cold stares. And most importantly, she wouldn't have to see Alex—wouldn't have to be reminded of things she was desperately trying to bury.

With her mind made up, Elaine started preparing for her move, knowing that this decision was her first step toward reclaiming her own life.

Elaine stepped towards her hostel room, exhaling as she reached the door. It had been three days since she moved in, and though the change was still settling in, she already felt lighter—free from the suffocating walls of the villa.

The process of shifting had been... eventful. Her father barely reacted, approving her request without hesitation, almost as if he had been waiting for an excuse to send her away. Olivia, on the other hand, had pouted in disappointment, as if realizing that her favorite pastime—mocking Elaine—had been snatched away.

And then there was Alex.

She could still remember the way he looked at her when she had announced her decision. His expression unreadable, but his eyes... they held something. Sadness? Regret? A silent plea? It was as if he had wanted to say something but stopped himself at the last moment.

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Not that it mattered now.

Elaine shook off the lingering thoughts and pushed open the door to her new reality—a space that was truly hers, away from all the things that had been slowly breaking her apart.

Elaine felt lighter, the air around her fresher, as if stepping away from the villa had removed a weight from her chest. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, her thoughts still lingered on Alex.

How could she forget her first love so easily? They say time heals all wounds, but in Elaine's case, time only seemed to trap her in the same moment, replaying it over and over.

Everywhere she went, people whispered about the upcoming engagement. It was the talk of the campus, the city, the social circles she could never fully escape.

Alex had finally decided.

The engagement was set.

Next week, he would officially belong to someone else.

And she... she would have to pretend it didn't shatter her all over again.

Mary, being the great friend she was, always made sure to keep Elaine busy—distracting her with plans, college work, and endless conversations to keep her from dwelling on Alex. And then there was Adrian. Steady, unwavering, always there.

One afternoon, the four of them—Elaine, Mary, Adrian, and Ryan—sat together in the cafeteria, laughing over trivial things.

Ryan suddenly leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "You know what? We should go to a bar tonight. Have some real fun. Elaine, you're an adult now—you can drink."

Elaine raised a brow. "Oh? And since when did you become my bad influence?"

Mary chuckled. "He's got a point. We could all use a break."

Before Elaine could protest, Adrian casually nodded. "If Elaine's going, then I'm in."

Ryan and Mary exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.

"Oh wow, that was fast," Mary teased. "Didn't even hesitate."

Ryan smirked. "Man, you're so obvious."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "It's not like that."

Elaine just smiled, shaking her head. She knew Mary and Ryan were messing with Adrian, but something about it felt oddly warm.

And for the first time in a long time, she was looking forward to something.