Chaptr 18
1/1
As I was lowing the coffee shop, Julian called out, “Serena, walt op!”
1 kept walking, but he quickly caught up and grabbed my anm. “Explain youself”
Iscotted “Explain what? i don’t love me, you love Elena, hope you two have a long happy lite together. You guys are the perfect match–a bitch and an asshole.”
I was too exhausted to argue, so 1 past turned and walked away. I could still bear his yelling from behind, “Who are you calling an asshole? No, who are you calling a bitch?”
After venting my anger at both him and the third party, felt much better when i got back to the dar
After today, Julian would probably never show his face again. Finally, I’d have some peace and quiet.
I was looking forward to not being bothered.
Π
When I walked into the cocter shop the next day, I saw someone else other than Julian who I didn’t want to see.
It was ena! And she was alone.
Unlike the innocent, pretentious act she put on yesterday, Elena’s eyes scanned me with und spuised disdain the moment she walked in. “Let’s talk,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
| didn’t want to engage, but the cunning look in her eyes gave me an idea. “Why don’t you sit at that table in the corner? I’ll be right over.”
Elena glanced at the spot I pointed to. It was tucked away in a shadowy comer, private enough for whatever she had in mind. A sly smalle tuged at her lips as she nodded and made ber way over
After Enishing my orders, I made my way own and sat across from her
Then took a sip of her coffee, slowly set the cop down, and wiped her mouth with an almost graceful touch, “I’ve done some digging. The Hastings family doesn’t have a daughter. You’re an imposter
I nodded. “I never claimed to be from the Hastings family”
Her eyes darkened with disgust as she processed my admission. “So, you’re just a poor student?
“Yes,“replied
Her gaze hardened. “Do you know about the Blake family Her tone dripped with disdain. “The Blakes would never accept someone with no background.”
Iscoffed. “So what? I’m not marrying Julian. Whether the Blakes like me or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that they like you
Hearing my words, a glimmer of triumph flashed in Elena’s eyes. Then, as it a thought had crossed her mind, she looked at me. “But Julian still has feelings for you.”
A month ago, if someone had said that, I would have been overjoyed. But now, it only made me feel disgusted–especially coming from Elena with that tone.
“You’ve been with Julian for so long, and you still can’t replace me? I raised an eyebrow. “He’s been thinking about you for years. How is it that you’re still so incompetent?” Taccused fur bluntly, focusing on draining her energy instead of my own.
“You” Elena stood up, her face flushing with anger, But then something seemed to click in ber mind, and she sat back into her seat, “You still love Julian, don’t you? You’re just angry because Julian deceived you, but deep down, you still care about him, don’t you?”
