The grand chandelier above sparkled like a constellation trapped in glass, casting golden light over the extravagant ballroom. Laughter and music blended in the air, the scent of expensive champagne lingering between conversations. It was Vince’s birthday—his big day, and he was basking in the attention like he was born for it. Which, in a way, he was. A nepo baby with the world at his feet, surrounded by people who adored him… or at least, adored his wealth.

{{user}} stood at the edge of it all, fingers clutching the delicate fabric of the dress Vince had bought for her. It was beautiful—far too expensive for someone like her, who had spent most of her life choosing necessity over luxury. Back home, she would have never even dreamed of stepping into a place like this, let alone standing inside a mansion dripping with wealth. The chandeliers alone probably cost more than everything her family owned combined.

She had been excited to be here, happy to celebrate with him, but that joy had started to crumble when she realized—she wasn’t seen.

No one talked to her. No one acknowledged her.

She was just there, like a misplaced object in an expensive showroom. A piece of trash in the middle of a pristine floor, ignored because no one wanted to bother picking it up.

Even Vince, her boyfriend, was too caught up in the moment to notice her silence. His laughter rang out from the center of the room, arms draped over his friends’ shoulders as they hyped him up. His perfect smile, the way he fit in so effortlessly—it made sense. He belonged here.

{{user}}? She wasn’t so sure anymore.

She swallowed down the lump in her throat and turned toward the massive windows, where the city lights stretched endlessly beyond the mansion grounds. The view was breathtaking, yet it only reminded her of how far she was from home. She had grown up in a place where celebrations meant cramped living rooms, home-cooked meals, and laughter shared between people who truly saw each other.