Laird’s POV


    n managed to hold back her p. n’s hand gripped Kiara’s wrist until she felt pain.


    “Let go of me!” n then released his grip.


    “Don’t spoil this party with your beastly behavior.” n hissed back at her.


    Kiara groaned in annoyance as she held her reddened wrist. She then walked away, stomping her feet. I watched her quickly be swallowed by a crowd of people.


    “Isn’t she dreadful?” n asked me with a wry smile.


    “I don’t care about her,” I said.


    “But you care about Fene, right? Isn’t it too long to chat with an ex-boyfriend? Unless she really wants to mend things.” n said it to me again.


    I wondered. How could he keep poking at my feelings? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? Why did he keep reminding me that Fene had ignored me?


    The memory of prom night immediately disturbed me. I tried hard not to show my anxiety, but the crease in my forehead didn’t fade.


    “Ah, finally, there she is,” n said.


    I turned to n and realized that Fene had returned and was walking towards us. n suddenly moved first and took quick steps to reach Fene. They talked for a moment, and then n led Fene by cing his hand on her waist.


    That gesture clearly ignited a fire in my chest. n briefly turned to me with his characteristic smile. Eventually, I started to hate that smile.


    Couldn’t he keep his dirty hands to himself? Why did Fene allow n to touch her so easily?


    And now they’re walking away from us. They both entered deeper into the party area, which seemed to be simr to the VIP area. They immediately joined an elderly man in a morous golden suit. If I didn’t know any better, I would think Fene and the old man intentionally dressed as a couple.


    I turned and tapped Jessy’s shoulder, who had been giggling with n’s cousin all this time. Jessy finally looked back at me.


    “Who’s he?” I asked, nodding my chin towards the man surrounding me.


    “You don’t know who he is? You came to the party, but you don’t know? He’s Oscar de Ragetti.”


    “Sorry, I’m just a newbie,” I said with a lopsided smile and a shrug.


    Jessy rolled his eyes upward. He seemed reluctant to respond to my bluntness.


    “I told you, didn’t I? Fene will be fine. No need to worry,” Jessy said.


    “Did that guy mention sparkling gold as the dress code for this party?” I asked again.


    “Oh, no. That’s because Fene is wearing Oscar’s design. She’ll be performing in that gown,” Jessy said casually, taking a sip of his martini.


    “Performing?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    “Oh, damn it. My cursed mouth!” Jessy eximed, regretting the slip of the tongue that I had already heard.


    ***


    Fene’s POV


    I didn’t want to argue with Tom in front of everyone. That’s why I invited him to leave the club through the back door. Not at the front, where I knew there were many paparazzi.


    I opened the back door, which was actually designated for staff. I knew its location by heart, even in the darkness, after the rehearsal earlier this morning. The two of us walked out into the employee parking area, leaving the bustle inside the club.


    “What are you doing here? How did you get in?” I asked as soon as we were outside the club.


    “Like I said before, I was worried about you,” Tom said with a concerned expression on his face.


    “So, how did you get in?” I asked impatiently.


    “That’s not important. Your mental health is more important,” Tom said, still looking at me with worried eyes.


    “It is important. So that I know who orchestrated spreading those lies,” I asserted to Tom.


    “What do you mean?” Tom asked anxiously.


    “You haven’t answered my question, Tom. How did you manage to get into this exclusive guest invitation event?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.


    “I was invited by your friend, Kiara,” Tom replied.


    “You’re both in the same agency as Gene, right?” Tom confirmed this with me.


    “Oh, damn,” I muttered irritably.


    I took several deep breaths to calm myself. I wanted to be angry and scold Tom, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to. The way Tom worried about me was actually quite sweet. That’s what used to make me like him. He never hesitated to show his care for me, even being willing to pick me up and drop me off.


    But when I remembered how he cheated with his secretary, my heart froze again for him.


    “Listen, Tom. Kiara is no longer in the same office as me. She’s been fired for being disrespectful to me and my boss,” I exined softly so that Tom wouldn’t be too shocked.


    “I’m fine. My mental state is still as strong as steel. So, your concern about memitting suicide-that’s a huge misunderstanding.” I shook my head.


    “I have no intention ofmitting suicide at all. You know, I never even despaired when I was bullied relentlessly by my housemates back in high school. I chose to ignore the mistreatment I received and responded by focusing on my life priorities.”


    “But Kiara didn’t say that,” Tom tried to defend himself.


    “What did she tell you?” I pressed on.


    “She said you’ve started rejecting projects. She said you get scolded by your boss and are disliked by your model friends. She said you’ve turned into a recluse and a mess. You might seem fine, but you always confide in Kiara that you’re still hurt by what I did,” Tom exined quickly.


    “That’s all lies,” I stated firmly.


    “Actually, it’s the opposite. I’ve been promoted to the lead model position in my office. I was invited to this prestigious party as the main performer and model. I even have another maning to this party with me,” I said carefully to him.


    “So, you mean Kiara lied to me?” he asked.


    I nodded my head in response.


    “So, have you moved on from me? Have you found a new man?” Tom asked, still stuttering, unable to believe it.


    I nodded my head again.


    Tom, seeing my expression and gestures, blinked rapidly. His mouth gaped, and he seemed to struggle to breathe. Then he snorted and turned his face away angrily.


    “So, are you so cheap as to sell yourself like that?” Tom asked again with a resentful face.


    “Hey! Watch your filthy mouth! I’m not as low as you, fucking around. At least I got involved with another man after breaking up with you. That’s what matters,” I said angrily with a threatening hiss and emphasis on the word ‘after’.


    Tom shook his head. He swung his hand and turned his body around. Perhaps ashamed of being deceived by Kiara, he immediately walked away without saying goodbye to me at all.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “Tom,” I called out.


    He stopped walking and looked back at me.


    “Thank you for worrying about me. I appreciate it,” I said softly.


    “Take care,” he said shortly. Then he left me alone in that empty alley.