Chapter 2
Just as I was about to explain, Olivia jumped in. "This emerald bracelet is a family heirloom from Alistair's mother. It's been passed down for generations, reserved for the future lady of the Montgomery family."
As she spoke, she glanced up at me, her eyes sparkling with a secret smugness.
Some of the sharper students immediately caught on.
I was once Alistair's girlfriend, and he'd given me that bracelet, too.
But when we broke up, I handed everything back to him.
Alistair looked a little uncomfortable. He quickly changed the subject to his business, and everyone started chiming in with flattery.
Olivia pouted, looking displeased, then deliberately picked up her bag and made a show of rummaging through it.
The girls' eyes widened in surprise.
"Olivia, is that the new limited edition bag? I heard just getting the allocation costs 60 grand," one of them exclaimed.
Olivia let out a soft laugh, sounding totally unbothered. "I think it's a limited edition, but I haven't really looked into it."
"Alistair buys all my bags. I just thought this one went well with my makeup today, so I brought it along," she added.
The girl looked at Olivia with envy. "Olivia, your husband treats you so well. You're really living the high life now. You look so different from before, so beautiful and classy."
Her words were sincere, with no hint of sarcasm, and Olivia's smile grew a bit more genuine.
Olivia spoke in a calm, unhurried tone, "If you like it, just swing by my place when you have time and pick one out. I'll get it for you."
The girl let out a delighted gasp and started fawning over Olivia even more.
"Guess everyone has their own way. Some people just aren't meant for the good life. Even when they land a great guy, he still ends up slipping away," one of the girls remarked.
"Ever heard that? Times change, and so do fortunes. Don't look down on someone just because they're struggling now," another chimed in.
"Some folks only care about immediate gains, desperate to cling to anyone with money, and end up missing the real gems right beside them," a third girl added.
"So what if she used to be the campus belle? She still ended up doing menial work, serving others for a living," someone else sneered.
"Don't you think so, Elena?" one of them asked, turning to me.
The mocking remarks weren't just from one person.
Even the classmates who'd been neutral before suddenly turned on me, all eager to join in after seeing Olivia offer up a designer bag.
I raised an eyebrow and replied casually, "Yes, don't look down on someone just because they're struggling, whether they're young, middle-aged, or old."
"Hope you and your boyfriend manage to get rich before you die," I added.
The girl jumped to her feet, so furious that she couldn't even get a word out.
I stood up as well, picked up my bag, and was clearly fed up. "Enjoy your meal. I'm out."
Before I even showed up, I knew this class reunion was just going to be a big show-off fest.
But the restaurant they picked was actually one Theodore Kingsley opened specifically to suit my preferences, so I figured I might as well drop by.
If I'd known it would be like this, I should've just skipped it.
Just as I was about to open the door, the girl I'd just made furious rushed over and locked it with a sharp click.
She crossed her arms and planted herself in front of me, her voice cutting through the air. "Elena, you can leave, but not before you apologize to Olivia.
"You owe her this apology. It's five years overdue. No more stalling."