Chapter 5
I sat on my
bedroom sofa, staring
at my mobile banking app.]
About tenes later, I
heard hurried footsteps in the hallway.
I looked up.[]
Archer walked in carrying a cake box, his face dark as a thundercloud.]
But that cake…
ake inside had been half–eaten, the remaining portion carved up with forks into a chaotic mess. Frosting and jam
The box was transparent,
were smeared together in an ugly, unappetizing blob.
Even in its destroyed state, there was still a crooked gold label stuck in the middle.[]
It clearly read: [Happy 18th Birthday, Celeste!]]]
Archer acted like he couldn’t see any of this. He brought that piece of trash over to me, his voice carrying a deliberately controlled exhaustion.[]
“Celeste heard you were upset and worried you wouldn’t have a good birthday, so she specially saved you half the cake.“||]
He set the cake on the coffee table and continued in that patronizing tone:[]
“Just drop the whole dress thing. Celeste will return it to you tomorrow.”
“She can wash it for you–it’s not that big a deal. Did you really need to blow up over this?”
“Come on, eat some cake first.
He reached out like he used to, trying to tug my ponytail with that “I can’t do anything with you” look of helpless indulgence.[]
I dodged away and stared at him like he was an idiot.
“Me? Eat this? What makes you think I’d want this garbage?”
“And why would I want clothes someone else has worn? What am I, a thrift store?”
“Skip the bullshit. Transfer the money.”]
Then I showed him the payment QR code on my phone screen.
Archer’s expression completely froze. That fake affection and indulgence shattered instantly.
“Daphne, you’re sure about this?“]
If you’re really going to be this petty, don’t expect me to carpool with you to school anymore!”
“Think carefully! If
Oh right, his “carpooling” meant my family’s driver giving him a ride to school every day. This had been going on for years.
Now suddenly this was a favor he was doing for me?]
I looked at him and felt like messing with him a little.
I immediately put on
expression of devastation, dramatically wiping away nonexistent tears.
C
o heartbrok
“I’m so scared! I’m so
Then I dropped the act and switched back to normal.]
“You’re insane. Pay up! If you don’t pay, I really am calling the cops!”
Stole Mer
day
I grabbed my phone and pretended to dial 911.
“Fine! Don’t come crying to me later!“]]
Archer’s face was livid as he ground his teeth, snatched the phone from my hands, and jabbed at the screen with violent taps.l
Ding!
A crisp notification sound–my phone received a bank transfer alert.]]
Seventy–two thousand dollars. Not a penny less.
After transferring the money, Archer couldn’t stand to stay any longer. He grabbed that half–box of cake garbage and headed for the door.
But when he reached the doorway, he deliberately slowed his pace, turning his back to me, seemingly waiting for something.]]
He probably thought I’d do what I’d done countless times before–call out to him when he was “angry” and give him a way to save face.
Too bad for him. He waited a full ten seconds, but behind him there was only dead silence.[]
Finally, he stormed out, slamming the door so hard the whole room shook.
I looked at the deposit notification on my phone, finally feeling a bit better.[
But just then, my screen lit up again.
A new message from Celeste.]
I opened it.[]
Another video.]]
And this time, the content made my barely–calmed fury shoot straight back up to the top of my head.[]
