Chapter 3
Kadence's smile stiffened for a moment, then she put on a smug, victorious smile and purposely raised her voice.
"Thanks, everyone. Jason and I wouldn't be here today without so many people helping us out. Especially my sister, Barbara. If it weren't for her... we wouldn't be this happy," Kadence said.
She kept her words intentionally vague, making everyone wonder what she really meant.
Everyone followed her gaze, and their eyes landed right on me.
I stood up, keeping my composure as I looked at them.
Jason saw me too, and he sobered up instantly.
The color vanished from his face—his eyes filled with shock, panic, and a touch of irritation at having his moment ruined.
He shoved everyone aside, marched straight over, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me into a secluded corner.
His grip was so strong that it made my wrist ache.
Jason snapped, "Barbara, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to come?"
Jason lowered his voice, but the anger was obvious.
I looked up at Jason, whom I had adored for ten years.
That face used to be the center of my universe.
Now, just looking at him made me sick to my stomach.
"I just came to congratulate you. Wishing you a happy marriage," I said.
I slipped my hand out of his grasp, my tone utterly calm, not a hint of emotion.
Jason was stunned, clearly not expecting me to react this way.
In his mind, I should've been crying, throwing a fit, begging him not to leave me.
He pulled a bank card from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.
"Barbara, I know you've suffered these past seven years," Jason said.
His tone grew gentle, but there was a hint of patronizing kindness in it.
"There's 150 thousand dollars on this card. Keep it. If you ever need anything, just let me know. But don't show up in front of Kadence again. She... she's not in good health and can't take any emotional shock," Jason said.
150 thousand dollars.
So that was the price for seven years of my youth and all my foolish love.
How generous.
I glanced at the card and gave a bitter laugh.
I didn't take the card. Instead, I raised my hand and pointed at the star-shaped cufflinks on Jason's sleeve.
"Jason, didn't you once say the person who gave you those was your eternal starlight?" I asked. "So tell me, Jason, does your starlight only cost 150 thousand dollars now?"
Jason's expression soured instantly.
"Barbara, stop making a scene!" Jason snapped.
"Who do you think I'm doing all this for? If it weren't for our future, would I have to go through this? Kadence is the Sweeney family's heiress. Marrying her is the only way my career can really take off! Once I've made it, I..." Jason said.
"And then what?" I cut him off. "You'll bring me back with fanfare, thank my sister for being your 'temporary stand-in,' and then kick her to the curb? Who do you think you're kidding?"
Jason's lies were exposed without mercy, and his face went from pale to furious red, unable to hide his shame and anger. "You..."
"Jason, who are you talking to?" Kadence called out.
Kadence's voice rang out, sweet and flirtatious.
She walked over, hooked her arm around Jason's, and gave me a defiant look.
"Oh wow, Barbara, it's really you. Fresh out of prison, and you didn't even bother to let us know? And seriously, what are you wearing? You look like you just crawled out of a dumpster," Kadence said.
She looked me up and down, not even bothering to hide how much she despised me.
"So, Barbara, how much did Jason pay you off with? 150 thousand dollars? Or did he go big and give you 300 thousand?" Kadence sneered.
She giggled behind her hand. "Don't act like you're too good for it. With your criminal record, that's about as much as you're ever gonna be worth.
"Jason's just trying to help you out. Take the cash, go settle down somewhere nobody cares, and stop reaching for things that were never yours."
I looked at Kadence and couldn't help but find it ridiculous.
She really thought she had won.
She still believed I was the same Barbara from the orphanage, always stepping aside for her.
I didn't bother with Kadence, just stared straight at Jason.
I said, "Mr. Sweeney, prison food for seven years—honestly, not as bad as you'd think. Who knows, maybe you'd like it even more if you ever got to try it yourself."
Jason's eyes widened suddenly.
His grip on my arm tightened without him even realizing it.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
I smiled, making sure to speak each word slowly and clearly.
"Nothing special. Just reminding you—what happened back then? Only you, me, and the universe know the truth. Oh, and by the way, there's still surveillance footage."
With that, I jerked my arm out of his grasp and strode away without looking back.
Jason, the real game was only beginning.
I was moving so fast, not even watching where I was going. I spun around and ran straight into someone.