Crystal''s hubby was the second son of the Sullivan family. Now, the Sullivans weren''t exactly what


    one would call old money, but they were loaded for sure. It was not every day someone got the


    nerve to jab ''em in the backbone, especially with something as humiliating as being cuckolded.


    His face darkened a tad, "You''re Crystal''s ssmate, right? If you''re here to genuinely celebrate


    with us, we''re all for it, but if you''re aiming to rain on our parade."


    Mid-sentence, he scoped out the garden entrance with the corner of his eye and then froze in his


    tracks.


    Heposed himself, couldn''t afford to waste more time yapping with Rosemary, and hustled over


    to the parked car, "Mr. Templeton."


    He''d been loitering outside, even as the engagement bash was kicking off, all because he was


    waiting for Maxwell.


    Maxwell stepped out of the car and caught sight of the groom waiting by his side, giving him a slight


    nod, "No need for formalities, Bernard."


    Bernard didn''t switch gears just because of his response, and gestured towards the hall''s entrance,


    "Please, after you."


    On a day like today, one would think the dude in the snazzy suit, the groom, would be the star of the


    show, but standing next to Maxwell, he looked more like a sidekick.


    Crystal caught Rosemary staring that way and let out a snort of disdain, "Get real, as if you could


    ever match up. That guy there is the one and only heir to the Templeton family, the big cheese of


    the Templeton Group. Just a heads-up, since we''re old schoolmates and all, don''t get your hopes


    up, Ah!"


    She pped her hand over her mouth, feigning surprise, "Oops, almost slipped my mind. You''ve


    been in Mr. Templeton''s bed, but even that steamy fling didn''t snag you a Mrs. Templeton title."


    Rosemary and Maxwell''s marriage was on the DL. Though they went public at Pearl''s birthday


    bash, the circle who knew was still small.


    "Crystal." Rosemary closed in, her rosy lips arched upwards, "I heard the Sullivan family''s second


    son is someone you put an effort to get.”


    Crystal eyed her raised hand and recoiled, "What do you want? This is Sullivan turf; youy a finger


    on me and."


    "What are you talking about? Who said anything about hitting you?" Rosemary''s handnded on


    her shoulder; she didn’t give it much juice, "The bride''s gotta look drop-dead gorgeous, not sport a


    p mark, right?"


    Crystal pressed her lips, trying to regain herposure and her body rxed, "Good, you know


    your ce."


    "I won''t smack you, but you owe me an apology for that little tirade of yours. How ''bout up there, on


    that stage, in front of everyone?"


    "In your dreams! I''m Mrs. Sullivan, for crying out loud. Who are you to demand an apology from


    me?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Back in school, Rosemary always had the upper hand, and now that Crystal finally had a leg up, an


    apology was out of the question!


    Rosemary shed her phone, "Then I guess the highlight reel with your exes will be the talk of the


    town. You don''t think I''d just show up to be your punching bag, do you?"


    She wasn''t keen oning, but Pearl rang her upst night, insisting she drop by for Wendy.


    Rosemary figured it was just a pretext; if it was that important, Pearl could''ve shown up herself. Still,


    she didn''t want to let her down.


    Crystal lunged to snatch the phone, "I dare you."


    Just then Bernard walked in on the scene, "Crystal, what''s going on?"


    Hearing his voice, Crystal dropped her hands in a fluster, turning back with a smile, "Oh, it''s nothing,


    just remembered some unpleasant stuff from before."


    "If you guys don''t get along, why not have security show her the door?"


    Crystal wasn''t about to let Rosemary slip away, especially with that video in her possession, so she


    clung to Bernard''s arm and chuckled, "You''ve got it all wrong. We''re tight, always horsing around


    like this. Speaking of which, Rosemary, why are you flying solo? Heard you tied the knot. Why didn''t


    you bring your hubby along? Did you split up?"


    She nced at Maxwell out of the corner of her eye. Who would''ve thought that the usually haughty


    and dignified Mr. Templeton would show interest in this kind of gossip, even sticking around to


    watch the drama unfold.


    "No, he," Rosemary''s response was coy and teasing, as she looked Crystal''s way, but really, she


    was eyeing Maxwell. Their gazes met, and she provocatively arched an eyebrow, "kicked the


    bucket."


    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, his voice ice-cold, "With such a grim reaper vibe, Ms. Chambers, you


    think you''re fit to attend someone else''s engagement party?"


    "Mr. Templeton, that''s a bit harsh. Isn''t it my poor, dearly departed husband who''s the unlucky one?


    Who knows how many sins he racked up to bite the dust so young."


    As the engagement partymenced, the butler arrived to usher guests in. Bernard, with Crystal in


    tow, whispered just loud enough for both to hear, "I don''t care what you had in mind inviting that Ms.


    Chambers."


    He wasn''t dumb; it was clear as day there was bad blood, "But mark my words, don''t you dare


    touch her."


    Crystal turned, startled, "Is Rosemary the one you''re smitten with?"


    Their engagement was nothing more than a mutually beneficial arrangement; she knew Bernard


    had someone he pined for.


    Bernard nced at her, probably thinking she was too daft to even waste the emotion of contempt


    on, "Something''s fishy between her and Mr. Templeton."


    Crystal looked back to see Rosemary and Maxwell parting ways, looking no more familiar than


    strangers. She refused to believe there was anything real between them. If there was, it had to be


    finished, or else Rosemary would''ve unted Maxwell''s support long ago.


    She inwardly seethed, determined to get that video back!


    After fulfilling Pearl''s request and visiting Wendy, Rosemary grabbed a few pastries and found a


    quiet corner to chill.


    The engagement party wasn''t exactly that grand, but Crystal was stuck to Bernard like glue, making


    the rounds and thanking everyone. But man, she felt prickly all over, like she was constantly being


    watched. And sure enough, every time she looked up, she locked eyes with Rosemary.


    It was a stare-down, and Rosemary gave her phone a little wave, her threat as clear as day.


    That freaking snake! While Bernard was busy ying host, Crystal sneaked in a few words to her


    BFF.


    Of course, Rosemary didn''t miss that exchange either.


    "Don’t have the ability and yet you''ve got some nerve, strutting around here like you own the ce,


    Rosemary. Should I call you a fool or just in gutsy? Bernard might not have the hots for your


    ssmate, but you stirring up trouble at his engagement bash? Do you really think he''s going to


    stand by and let you wreck his party?" The mocking voice came from behind her.


    Rosemary turned around to see Maxwell, who had been the center of attention until moments ago,


    standing right behind her, looking down at her with disdain in his eyes.


    Rosemary cracked a smile, her chin-up, devil-may-care attitude as cold and dismissive as ever,


    "What can I do? I don''t have Ms. Temple''s charm to make a lovesick puppy fight my battles. So, I


    guess I have to get my hands dirty."