Chapter 7
But I quickly realized something was wrong.
My pho
(Happy)
Started buzzing constantly with incoming messages–all from friends in my social circle.
[Whday,
Daphne!]
[Crystal
birthday girl? Why aren’t you here yet?]]]
B, Room 707–we’re all here waiting for you!]]]
I frowned.
I’d already told my core group of friends that I wasn’t feeling well tonight and we’d postpone the party until tomorrow.]
So what was this about?!
I clicked on one friend’s profile–Madison–and called her directly.]
“Hey! Birthday girl! Finally answering your phone! Where did you disappear to? Everyone’s waiting to get you drunk!”
Madison’s boisterous voice came through, with chaotic background noise and deafening music.[]
Looking at the familiar decor in her video background, I asked tentatively.
“You’re at Crystal Lounge right now?”
“Yeah!” Madison panned the camera around to show me the environment.[]
“Didn’t your Archer send out the notification? He said your birthday party was here tonight and told us all to come celebrate. Several of us are here already, and we brought gifts for you!“]
She suddenly pointed her phone camera at the center of the private room.]
In that instant, my blood pressure shot through the roof again!]
Celeste was sitting on the central sofa with a sweet smile, unwrapping an elegantly packaged gift box.
Around her were piles of gift boxes of various sizes, several already opened.]]
I recognized the gold–embossed brand logos on those boxes immediately–all typical of my friend group’s style.
There was no way Celeste’s scholarship student friends could afford those.
I wasn’t trying to be snobby, but I’d seen Celeste’s crowd at school–they dressed simply and lived frugally.
How could they possibly afford gifts worth tens of thousands each?
My voice turned cold.[]
“Madison, those gifts that girl is opening… they are the ones you guys got for me, right?“[]
Madison looked confused for a moment, then nodded matter–of–factly.]
“Yeah. Your Archer said she’s your best friend, you have the same birthday, so you specifically authorized her to receive and open gifts on your behalf.“[]
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“By the way, Daphne, when did you make such a ‘good friend‘? How come none of us knew about her? That’s not very nice of you! People who don’t
Stole My Gown? Stole My Night? Now Swellow This I Cheatersh
46.2%
know might think it’s her birthday today!“]]
I was so angry my whole body went cold, my fingers turning white from clenching them.]
What a perfect “receiving and opening on my behalf“![]
Archer!
He actually fucking dared![]
.“[
“Wait for me there.”
I squeezed these words through gritted teeth, then hung up abruptly.
Then I immediately called Archer.
The phone rang
“What is it?”
મૈં
long time before being answered.[]
His tone was cold and distant, like he was deliberately giving me the cold shoulder, still angry about having to pay for the dress.
I couldn’t care less what he was mad about and launched straight into it.[]
“Archer! What the hell is wrong with you! What gives you the right to call my friends over to boost Celeste’s party? Are they your friends? What right do you have to invite them?“]]
“And what gives you the right to let Celeste open the birthday gifts my friends brought for me?!“]
Archer was getting defensive and angry at my accusations.]]
“Why are you being so nasty? What do you mean ‘boost her party‘?“]
“I’ll bring your friends‘ gifts back to you later! Celeste was just helping you open them–it’s not like she’s actually keeping them! Do you think everyone’s as money–obsessed as you are?“[]
Clearly, he was still holding a grudge about me making him pay for the dress
Before I could respond, he hung up.]
I tried calling back, but couldn’t get through.]
Then I received a text message, from Archer.
[You need to do some serious self–reflection.]
[Let’s give each other some space to cool down.]]]
[You’re being completely unreasonable right now. Don’t bother calling–I won’t answer.]
Staring at my phone screen, I was so furious I nearly crushed it.[]
By now, what was there left to understand?
Celeste thought her friends weren’t impressive enough, so that idiot Archer called all my friends over to serve as her backdrop and boost her image!||
And my friends, trusting the relationship between Archer and me that had lasted over a decade, never suspected a thing![]
Disgusting!
Absolutely disgusting!]]
“Winston! Crystal Lounge! Step on it!” I called the driver.
The real show was just about to begin.[]
