Chapter 4
A few days later, Kohen personally came to get me and brought me to the Ford Manor.
It was Kohen's birthday, and his family was throwing a birthday party for him.
The only reason I got to be there wasn't because Kohen considered me a friend. It was all thanks to his mom, Layla Ford.
She'd heard that Kohen had broken up with Melanie because of me, and wanted to see for herself what kind of person I was.
Talking to Kohen, I found out that Layla absolutely hated Melanie. She'd stop at nothing to tear them apart.
The Ford Manor was huge and gorgeous, every corner dripping with old money vibes.
I might not have grown up in this world, but I sure knew how to fake it.
I walked in with such calm and poise that no one could find a single flaw in my act, not even Kohen, who looked at me with newfound respect.
Under everyone's gaze, I gracefully slipped my arm through Kohen's and strolled into the glittering world of the elite with him.
Just as Kohen was about to take me to meet his mom, a shrill voice cut through the crowd.
Melanie, surrounded by a bunch of rich girls, looked like she was about to explode.
She rushed over, holding up her dress, trying to act calm, but her shaky voice gave her away. "Kohen, what's the deal with bringing her here? Are you seriously trying to humiliate me like this?"
Kohen looked at Melanie, who was barely holding it together, and his heart went out to her. When I noticed he was about to pull away from me and put some distance between us, I gave his arm a firm squeeze.
On the way here, I'd already coached Kohen on what to do.
If he wanted Melanie to stop constantly making a scene and threatening to break up, the best move was to let her see he could live without her.
With my quiet reminder, Kohen stopped resisting. He put on a show of affection, pulling me close, then gave Melanie a confused look. "I'm just having my girlfriend here for my birthday. What's it got to do with you, Miss Quinn?"
With just one line, Kohen made it crystal clear they were done.
Melanie looked so hurt, like she might break down any second, and Kohen was clearly loving every second of it.
I leaned into Kohen's arms, smiling as I played the mediator. "Miss Quinn, don't take it personally. Kohen just won't hear a word against me."
With that one sentence, I drew a clear line. She was out, and it was just Kohen and me. Melanie glared at me, her eyes burning with fury. Honestly, the look sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.
Just as I was about to mess with her a little more, she grabbed a wine glass off the table and chucked it right at me.
"You bitch, nobody wants to hear from you here," she snapped.
At that moment, she'd totally dropped the rich girl act.
I wasn't about to get caught off guard again. The moment I saw her grab that glass, I ducked right behind Kohen.
Kohen moved quickly, blocking the glass, but the wine still splashed all over him. He glanced down at the mess and finally lost it. "Enough. Can you stop making a scene?"
That one line sealed Melanie's fate.
The crowd leaned in close, whispering behind their hands, eating up every bit of the drama.
Melanie couldn't take all the stares and gossip. She broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she refused to let herself look weak. "Kohen, you'll regret this."
With that, she ran out, face buried in her hands.
Kohen looked absolutely miserable. His crisp white suit was ruined by the red wine, and my heart went out to him as I carefully wiped the last drops from his hand.
Before the party officially kicked off, Kohen hurried upstairs to the changing room.