Chapter 3
Scarlett continued, "Why do you keep making me confess to your fiancé?"
The crowd was in an uproar again.
"What? Lila and Kyler have an engagement?" someone blurted out.
"And she's still pushing Scarlett to confess?" another person gasped.
"That's too vicious!" someone else exclaimed.
Lila started to cry and said, "Scarlett, you are talking nonsense. I never did that!"
Kyler walked forward, shielding Lila behind him.
He snapped, "Scarlett, don't go too far."
Damien looked at Kyler coldly and said, "Kyler, is that any way to talk to your elders?"
Kyler lowered his head and muttered, "Sorry, Damien."
Damien wrapped his arm around Scarlett and said, "Whatever Scarlett wants, I will give it to her.
"Anyone who dares to bully her will have to answer to me."
Damien wrapped his arm around Scarlett and walked towards the VIP lounge.
They left behind a group of people, all stunned and speechless.
Lila crouched on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably.
Kyler yanked at his tie, frustration written all over his face.
In the VIP lounge, Scarlett sat on the couch.
She picked up her glass and took a sip.
Damien sat beside her and said, "Nice job back there."
Scarlett set her glass down and replied, "You cooperated with me well, Damien."
Damien leaned back against the couch and teased, "You used me. Aren't you afraid that I will be angry?"
Scarlett turned to look at him and asked, "Would you, Damien?"
Damien chuckled and replied, "Not at all."
Scarlett leaned in closer to Damien and asked, "Damien, you've done me such a huge favor. How can I ever thank you?"
Damien's gaze lingered on her lips as he asked, "How do you want to thank me?"
Scarlett stretched out her hand and adjusted Damien's tie.
She said, "I'll treat you to a midnight snack?"
Damien held her hand and said, "Alright."
The two of them walked out of the VIP lounge together.
The hall was nearly empty now. Most of the crowd had already dispersed.
Kyler and Lila were still standing by the bar.
When Kyler watched Scarlett and Damien come out, he walked over.
He asked, "Damien, are you going to leave?"
Damien nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'm taking Scarlett out for a midnight snack."
Kyler looked at Scarlett and asked, "Scarlett, what are you trying to do?"
Scarlett raised her eyebrows and retorted, "Kyler, shouldn't I be asking you that?
"Your fiancée schemed to embarrass me in front of everyone. Aren't you going to step in?"
Kyler clenched his jaw and shot back, "Lila is not that kind of person."
Scarlett just smirked and asked, "Really? How do you explain the posts on the forum?"
Kyler froze and asked, "What posts?"
Scarlett pulled out her phone, opened the forum, and handed it to Kyler.
There was a post Lila made using her alt account.
It read, "Scarlett is going to confess to Kyler at his birthday party tonight. Everyone, come and watch the jokes."
The poster's IP address was traced back to Lila's phone.
Kyler's face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes.
He turned to look at Lila and demanded, "Lila, did you post this?"
Lila walked over.
Seeing the screen, her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed.
She pleaded, "Kyler, please, you have to listen to me."
Kyler shook off Lila's hand and snapped, "I'm so disappointed in you."
He turned and walked out the door. Lila chased after him.
Scarlett put away her phone and turned to Damien.
She said, "Let's go, Damien."
Damien opened the car door. Scarlett got in.
The car drove into the night.
They ended up at a roadside food stall.
Scarlett ordered barbecue.
Damien, dressed in a designer suit, sat awkwardly on a plastic stool. He looked like he didn't belong there at all.
Scarlett handed him one and said, "Here, try it."
Damien took it from her and took a bite.
"Pretty good," Damien said.
Scarlett took a sip of beer and asked, "Damien, why did you help me?"
Damien looked at her and replied, "Because you're very interesting."
Scarlett laughed and teased, "Just interesting?"
Damien set down his food and said, "You are a smart person and know what you want."
Scarlett nodded and replied, "I want money, I want status, and I want to make sure everyone who ever stepped on me ends up under my heel."
Damien picked up his beer and said, "I can give all of that to you."
Scarlett clinked her glass against his and said, "Cheers to our partnership."
The next day, Scarlett returned to the dorm.
Lila was sitting on the edge of her bed, crying.
Seeing Scarlett walk in, Lila stood up.
"Scarlett, is this what you wanted?" Lila sobbed.
Scarlett threw her bag onto the desk and asked, "Wanted what, exactly?"
Lila pointed at Scarlett and yelled, "Kyler wants to call off our engagement. This is all your fault."
Scarlett sat down and said, "What does it have to do with me? You posted it yourself."
Lila charged at Scarlett and swung her hand up, aiming to slap Scarlett.
Scarlett snatched her wrist. Then, without hesitation, Scarlett slapped Lila right across the face.
Lila clutched her face and stared at Scarlett in disbelief.
"You dare slap me?" she shouted.
Scarlett flicked her hand and snapped, "So what if I slapped you? You really think I'm still the same Scarlett you could bully?"
Lila stumbled back a couple of steps and yelled, "I'm telling Kyler."