bChapter /bb92 /b

b“/bAmberi, /ithat was a close call. bWe /balmost wiped out just now, ire eximed

That bpin /bbthis /bon me, ire. bWasn’t /bit your shoe that got stuckb” /bAmber shot back.

ire said bwith /ba bgrin/bb. /b“My bad, OK? Amber. bI /bhave to head home nowb. /bDon’t forget to bring me bthat /bgift tomorrowb./b”

Amber gave her ba /byful shove. b“/bbGod/b, you’re so annoyingb. /bI said I’d bget /bit for byou/b, so I will. Now hurry up before byour /bdriver loses bpatience/b”

“bByr /bAnd don’t forget to say goodbye to Sienna for me,” bire /bcalled outb, /bbwaving /benthusiastically bas /bshe climbed into the bcar/b,

Amber watched ire’s bretreating /bbfigure/bb, /bbsurprised /bbto /bfeel a bpang /bbof /breluctanceb. /bShe shook her head, trying bto /bbanish those silly thoughts.

b“/bbIt’s /bnot like we won’t see each other bagain/b, Amber told herself. Why should I even bcare/b? Hmph, I still have to bring her ba /bbgift /btomorrow. What a bpain/b. ire really is such bia /i/bhigh–bmaintenance /bfriend.

Sienna appeared behind her and asked gently, “Amberb, /bdid byou /bbhave /bba /bgood timeb?/bb” /b

Amber looked up bat /bSienna, her eyes meeting her bright, smiling bgaze/bb. /b

She nodded vigorously. “So much fun.” She had bnever /bbeen this happy before.

Sienna had taken Amber to the amusement bpark/b, and she’d beven /bmade a new friend. bSure/bb, /bire bwas /bba /bbtotal /bchatterbox and way too handsy- honestly, kind of annoyingb, /bbut Amber had to admit, she bwasn’t /bso bad after ball/b.

Let’s go home then?b” /bSienna bsuggested /bgently.

“Okay,” Amber replied.

After getting in the car, Amber took a few sips bof water/b, her beyes /bfilled with confusion. Her bgaze /bwandered between the window and Sienna, clearly lost in thought.

Noticing bher /btroubled expression, Sienna asked gently, “Amberb, /bis there something on your mind you’d like to share?”

Amber fidgeted with her fingers, her head hanging blow/bb, /band even her little cowlick drooped weakly. “What makes ba /breal friend?” she asked softly.

Sienna exined patiently, “Everyone defines friendship differently. We’re all unique, with our own preferences, but what matters is that being together makes you happy.

“Maybe it’s someone you can share everything with, someone who’d go through fire for you, or someone you consider your closestpanion—”

As Sienna spoke, her mind drifted, her eyes flickering with loneliness.

Amber drifted into her thoughts. ‘Am I really happy?‘

She had to admit, she genuinely enjoyed being with ire, but it was different from hanging out with Mia.

ire was open and straightforward, never making her second–guess, while Mia always spoke in cryptic ways that Amber couldn’t understand.

‘Does that mean Mia and I aren’t breal /bfriends after allb?/bb‘ /bAmber wondered.

Sienna couldn’t help but think of Nora, the once radiant, vivacious young girl nowbeled a jealous, unreasonable madwoman.

‘It’s so ironic. It’s time bI /bwent to see her. Sienna wondered.

When Vivian returned from the restroom, a bouquet of broses /band a hotel key card were waiting on her workstation.

Who left these here?‘ she wondered.

As Vivian reached for the roses, Richard burst in, panic written all over his face. He rushed over, shouting, “No, don’t touch those. Vivian, they’re mine. Please, don’t.”

He quickly scooped up both the roses and the key card, hugging them to his chest with a nervous smile as he looked at Vivian.

Afraid she might misunderstand, Richard hurried to exin, “Don’t get the wrong idea, hey. These are from my wife. She had them delivered for our anniversary tonight. They must’ve been sent to you by mistake. I’ll take them right away.”

Vivian’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Oh, I see, Mr. Wood. Wishing you both happiness.”

Richard beamed an exaggerated smile as he carried a bouquet of roses into his office, wiping his dry brow in feigned relief. “That’s close. Vivian has

2:19 PM

almost seen bthe /bcard, he wonderedb. /b

Richard bquickly /bsnatched up the card from the bouquet of roses. In bold letters, it read: b[/bVivian, my bdear/bb, /bb8 /bp.m. tonight at the Chowmin Hotel. Don’t stand me up. Looking forward to our pleasant bcooperation/b.]

That damn sleazeball Peter just won’t quit, Richard wondered furiously. After I ignored himst time, he bkept /bsnooping around. Now he’s actively trying bto /bwork with us, specifically demanding that Vivian sign the contract.

So that’s how you want to y? Fine. Tonight, I’ll make sure he bgets /bba /btaste of his own medicine.

Richard ripped the card into tiny bpieces /band scattered them binto /bthe bair/b. He grabbed the broses /band hurled them into the btrash/b, then stomped on them until they were nothing but ba /bruined messb. /b

Still fuming, he clenched his fists, struggling bto /bcontain his banger/b.

Ever since Peter met Vivian, he couldn’t get her out of his head. He bswore /bthat he would make her his, no matter what.

‘Richard actually dares bto /bignore me? Who does he think he bis/bb? /bbIf /bbit /bbweren’t /bfor Vivian, would I bever /bstoop to work with their pathetic littlepany? They really bhave /bno idea where they stand,‘ bPeter /bwondered.

Chloe eyed Peterb, /bnoticing how he bwas /ball slicked up. She swayed her hips as she sidled up to him, purring, “bBabe/b, where are you headed?”

Peter shoved her away impatiently, his eyes shing with disdain and boredom. “Back off. I’m going bto /ban important dinner meeting. Just behave

yourself. Got it?b” /b

Chloe flipped her hair with a bright smile and asked sweetly, “Honey, what kind of dinner meeting bis /bbit/b? Why don’t you take me along? I’d love to bgo/b”

Peter stood up with a nk expression, straightening his tie. “Chloe, don’t meddle. Stay home, or you’ll regret it.”

Chloe plopped down grudgingly, fuming to herself. Jerk, like I’d ever believe he’s just going bto /bsome dinner. He’s definitely fallen for another woman again.

If it weren’t for his money, I wouldn’t even bother putting up with him. Who does he think he is, acting all high and mightyb?/b‘

Peter poured two sses of whiskey, rubbing his hands together in excitement as he paced back and forth. ‘Vivian, you’ll be mine in the end, he wondered.

Nora, dressed in a white dress, walked into the cemetery and stopped before an unnamed headstone. Whenever she had a moment, she woulde here to chat with her friend. Her best friend was gone.

After the ne crash. Sienna perished without a trace. All that was buried here was her bracelet.

The driver panted heavily as he helped her unload a lot of flowers from the car. After cing them in front of her, he nearly threw out his back.

‘Man, how much did all this cost, he wondered and gasped, “Mrs. Preston, would you like some assistance?”

Nora waved her hand dismissively. “No need. You may leaveb./b”

Nora ced the flowers for Enna. ‘Enna, how could you be so heartless, leaving me all alone,‘ she wondered.

Nora murmured at the graveside, “Enna, thank you for visiting me in my dreamst night. After all these years apart, I finally saw you again. bA /bdecade has passed.

“You’ve shed your youthful innocence, and you’re just as breathtaking as ever. Honestly, when I saw you, I thought you’de to take me with you.

“Who would’ve thought that when I opened my eyes this morning, I was still among the living?”

Nora sat with perfect poise in her elegant white dress. Her hair was neatly coiled at the nape of her neck, secured with a silver jeweled hairpin. Delicate emerald earrings entuated her wless skin.