Chapter 3

Out of the blue, a wine glass slipped from someone's hand and crashed to the floor, shattering with a sharp, ringing sound that jolted everyone present.

It was common knowledge among our circle that I and Ethan were like two warring factions, constantly at odds.

There was a time when our feud reached its peak, and I'd made it crystal clear that I'd never share the same space as him.

In our tight-knit social group, where encounters were inevitable, it was quite a rarity for two people to have such a toxic relationship, especially given the extensive business cooperation between our families.

So, our mutual friends always went the extra mile to avoid any potential run-ins that could turn into a full-blown disaster.

But nobody saw this coming—today, we actually bumped into each other, and instead of getting into a fight, we ended up kissing right in front of everyone.

Well, to be exact, I was the one who just grabbed Ethan and planted a kiss on him before he could even react.

He was so stunned, he dropped the melon he'd just bitten into.

Charles stormed over, looking furious.

"Rae, you've gone way too far! I'm your boyfriend, and you just kissed another guy right in front of me!" he shouted, his voice shaking with anger.

Lily swept over, latching onto his arm and glaring at me, quick to chime in with her own accusation.

"Seriously, Rae, you're way too wild. This isn't abroad. Maybe you can act however you want over there, but here? You're just embarrassing Charlie in front of everyone," she said, her tone full of judgment.

Charles' friends jumped in right away.

"Who knows what she's been up to overseas?"

"That so-called scholarship money? Maybe she earned it the easy way, between the sheets."

Another added, "Just look at her. She doesn't have that good-girl look."

They were just flapping their mouths, spreading nasty gossip about me like it was nothing, right in front of my face.

Their voices echoed through the whole bar, making sure everyone caught every word.

My friends at the next table were about to step in and set the record straight when a voice, cool and laced with a hint of boredom, cut through the noise.

Ethan drawled, "Phew, what a stench! Did you guys just roll out of a dung heap?

"Hanging around with the lowlifes and thinking you're somebody just because you're dressed up?"

People always joked that if Ethan was mute, life would be so much easier for everyone.

It was a wonder how he could come up with such biting remarks so effortlessly.

Barry just totally lost it. "Hey! Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" he snapped, his face flushing with anger.

I crossed my arms and nodded my chin toward them.

"He's talking to you numbskulls. Can't you tell? Did your mom forget to pack a brain when she popped you out? Or did you eat so much crap that your brains got mushed up?"

Lily turned on her fake innocent act, her words sweet but full of thorns.

"Rae, do you have to be so vulgar? We're all Charlie's childhood friends. How's he supposed to hold his head up after this?"

Charles snapped at me, telling me to apologize.

Meanwhile, Ethan piped up with his usual snark, "Wow, look at this little sweetheart who's so 'thoughtful'. What a two-faced slut!"

I barely held back a laugh. No matter how harsh my words were, their actions were far more repulsive. It was clear they'd invited me here with bad intentions.

Right from the start, they'd tried to put me in my place. Then they'd openly tried to push Charles and Lily together, showing their contempt for me without a shred of subtlety.

If I really were some clueless lovesick girl, today would've been straight-up emotional hell.

Getting trashed by my boyfriend's friends, then watching him flirt with his childhood sweetheart right in front of me? Honestly, not flipping the table was a miracle of self-restraint.

"Seriously, I've seen shameless before, but this is next level—a whole convention of it!

"What's next, you guys handing out medals for the Shameless Olympics?" I said, rolling my eyes.

I turned to Lily. "Your schemes are as obvious as day. If you like Charlie, just tell him! Stop hiding behind the 'childhood friends' excuse and doing all those flirty things.

Why aren't you two an item? Is it because he's not into you? Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked me out!"

As for Charles, the guy who'd asked me out yesterday and I'd agreed to date? The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I felt.

I shot at Charles, my voice full of mockery. "Are you even human?

"Seriously, you still haven't figured out she's into you?

"Drop the whole 'we're just like siblings' routine. You want it both ways, huh? Classic double-dipping!

"Congrats, you just got dumped. Exactly 24 hours—record time."

Ethan jumped in, all snark.

"I'll throw in a lock for free—hope you two stay chained together forever, so you don't get out and mess up the rest of us.

"You two are the perfect combo—the ultimate duo of fake and shameless."

After that, we exchanged a look and burst out laughing. Memories from our childhood came flooding back, hitting me like a wave.

Back then, we used to team up and roast people together all the time.