Chapter 2

Lucas's mother Isabella and I were in the living room when I said, "The wedding is next month."

A man's voice jumped in, "Mom, how could you arrange my marriage with Charlotte without asking me? Emily is my real girlfriend."

Lucas hurried over, holding Emily's hand. "Mom, I know we used to play house when we were kids, and you always joked about Charlotte marrying into our family, but that was when we were little and didn't know any better.

"Now that we're grown up, you should respect my choices."

Isabella looked stunned. "No, Lucas."

Lucas, who was never known for his patience, glared at me. "Charlotte, can you stop bothering us? Do you think because our parents are pushing us, any of us would want to be with you?

"Can't you see how much we all dislike you now? We're all trying to avoid you like the plague."

"Lucas." Isabella cut him off angrily, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Lucas kept his face stony, completely ignoring anything Isabella or I said.

He declared, "Look, I'm into Emily, not Charlotte. There's no way I'm marrying her, so wait for the wedding to blow up in your faces."

With that, he took Emily's hand and stormed out.

Isabella sighed. "You don't like him. Where does he get the idea you'd ever want to marry him?"

I shrugged with a smile. "He probably hates me so much now that he doesn't bother to hear me out anymore. Anyway, they'll understand when the time comes."

When I stepped out of the Grant family villa, Alex, Will, Lucas, and Emily were all outside. What a surprise.

Since they all said they hated me, I acted like I didn't see them and walked right past.

"Charlotte," Emily called out. "Don't get the wrong idea, okay? Lucas had me pretend to be his girlfriend. That's all."

"Emily, why are you talking to her? I'm only doing this to get her off my back," Lucas said impatiently.

"Come on, Lucas, we're all friends here. I wouldn't know you guys if it weren't for Charlotte. I miss when the five of us used to hang out together," Emily said.

"Charlotte, don't stay mad at us, okay? I wish you'd come hang out with us again," she added.

As Emily spoke, her nails suddenly dug painfully into my skin.

I let out a sharp hiss and jerked my arm away.

"Ah." Emily staggered backward, putting on a show as if I'd actually thrown her off.

"Emily." The three of them hurried over, fussing as they helped her up.

"Charlotte. Emily's been nothing but nice to you, and you not only ignore her kindness, but you actually push her? Have you got no conscience at all?" Lucas snapped, his face red with anger.

Will's face turned cold. "Emily's always wanted you back with us, but honestly, you don't belong here anymore."

"Charlotte, apologize to Emily. Right now," Alex said, his voice low and commanding.

Emily snuggled up to Alex, looking all weak and pitiful, but when she glanced at me, I caught that same old smug look in her eyes.

I brushed off my arm and gave them a cold stare. "I'm such a terrible person, so why should I apologize to her?

"Keep her away from me, and she won't get hurt, simple as that."

With that, I turned and walked away without looking back.

"Charlotte, if you can't treat Emily with a little kindness, then we're through," Alex's voice was icy as he called after me.

I couldn't help a mocking smile and kept walking, without a second glance.

After Emily came into the picture, was there ever any real friendship left between us?