Chapter 2

My parents left first to get the car from the parking lot, and I followed behind them.

When I stepped out into the corridor outside the restaurant, someone grabbed my wrist from behind, squeezing so hard it felt like he was about to crush my bones.

I whipped around and saw Axel's handsome but annoyed face.

He was wearing a sharp black shirt today, with three buttons undone at the collar, showing his defined collarbone and a scorpion tattoo that screamed attitude. It was wild and defiant, like himself.

He looked down at me, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips, his voice laced with his usual sarcasm. "Charlotte, I haven't seen you in a while. You've become bold, and your temper's gotten sharper."

He stepped closer, his breath hot against my face. "Didn't you take a long leave to be a princess at home?

"Where did this boyfriend of yours crawl out from? How old is he? What does he do? Is he rich? Do I know him?"

His questions came at me like a drumbeat, hammering at my tense nerves.

It looked like concern, but it was really about control and interrogation. I knew that as long as I revealed the slightest bit of information, he'd tear me down with his merciless sarcasm and belittling.

He'd say that guy wasn't good enough for me, that he wasn't either, and that in his eyes, no guy in the world could be good enough.

I'd been through this trick more times than I could count.

My reflexes kicked in almost instantly. I wrenched my hand free with all my strength, my voice rising with anger and trembling a little. "It has nothing to do with you, Axel."

Axel stared at his hand that was thrown away, stunned, the mocking smirk on his face vanishing in an instant.

He frowned, his expression darkening like he was about to unleash his wrath.

Then Blake poked his head out from behind Axel, flashing his signature sweet smile and showing off those cute little fangs. "Come on. Why are you getting so worked up?"

He put on a cutesy voice, making himself sound lively and playful. People could be easily fooled by him.

However, the words that came out were like venom. "Charlotte, don't tell me you really went out and picked a random gigolo."

He acted surprised and covered his mouth, but his eyes stayed locked on me, his smile turning more mischievous as he enunciated every word. "So indecent."

Back then, Blake loved making jokes like this. He'd always say the three of them were my "gigolos," making me out to be a slut who only wanted to play, as if I had the supreme right to choose, with them fawning over me.

But in reality, in our strange little group of four, I was always the outsider, chasing after them, trying to please them, desperate to fit in.

I used to lie to myself that they only liked teasing me and that maybe that was how guys treat their friends. After all, when outsiders picked on me, they would stand up for me.

We grew up together, and I thought that had to count for something.

It wasn't until that incident that I finally woke up.

Turned out, I was nothing but a plaything in their dull lives, a puppet they could play with, watch, and toss aside whenever they felt like it.

I met Blake's malicious, probing gaze. He seemed to be waiting for me to break down, to lose my composure after his jab.

But I only stared back at him, expressionless, for a few seconds. Then, without saying a word, I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Blake let out a sharp "tsk" of dissatisfaction.

I hadn't taken a few steps when a third voice cut through the air, cold as ice. "When are you going back to college?" It was Julian.

I stopped in my tracks but didn't turn around. His question was pretty normal, so I eventually answered, "In a few days."

As soon as I finished, Blake's voice rang out, deliberately loud and full of provocation. "Looks like being your ex really gets one special treatment, huh?

"But it's been so long since you two broke up. Can't you still move on, Charlotte?"

How ridiculous. Out of everyone at the matchmaking farce, Julian's words were the sharpest; he was the most ruthless of all.

He said I was nothing but a dumb girl, that I would only tarnish the Foster family's name. But of all people, it was Julian I'd dated before.

And he was the one who confessed to me first.