Lottie shot Allison a withering re. "Detention? You really have the nerve to bring that up? I''ve been looking for a chance to pay you back, and here you are, just waltzing right into my trap."

    Watson''s eyes went cold as he stepped forward, his voice low and steady. "Ma''am, you''re an adult. You should know how to take responsibility for what you say. If you keep ndering and insulting my friend, I won''t hesitate to take legal action."

    Lottie rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Oh, I''m terrified. Go ahead, sue me. I''d love to see you try."

    She wasn''t this bold for no reason-half her friends were on this cruise tonight. They were all "Miss Joshuas" from the Spring Falls elite, girls who turned their noses up at anyone like Allison: broke, desperate for attention, always lugging around fake designer bags.

    And it wasn''t just that. Allison had pissed off Trayson, and everyone knew what that meant. The first thing Trayson said when he got out of holding was that he was going to ruin her. Lottie had already checked the tough friend Allison usually had by her side wasn''t here tonight. That gave her all the confidence she needed.

    A crowd had started to gather, their eyes hungry for drama.

    But Lottie wasn''t satisfied yet. She raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear. "Hey, everybody! Check this out! This broke, wannabe gold-digger actually had the guts to cross Trayson, and now she has the audacity to show up here. Is she looking to get herself killed or what?"

    Among the spectators were a bunch of Carolyn''s old ssmates, as well as some fellow "Miss Joshuas" she''d met while studying overseas-girls who all belonged to the same privileged circle.

    Carolyn''s mom was from Spring Falls, and Carolyn had spent plenty of time there growing up, so she had her own circle of friends on board. But as for Allison? She''d never even sniffed the Spring Falls high society scene.

    Trayson, on the other hand, was infamous in those circles-the ultimate spoiled rich kid, notorious for partying hard and stirring up trouble.

    Lottie had managed to worm her way into those upper ranks by hanging on Trayson''s arm, her surgically tweaked looks opening all the right doors. Ever since then, she acted like she was better than everyone else, especially girls like Allison.

    The crowd-mostly Spring Falls blue bloods—murmured amongst themselves as soon as Lottie dropped Trayson''s name. Their nces at Allison were filled with pity, but also a hint of fear.

    Whispers rippled through the group.

    "She''s gorgeous, but why''d she have to mess with Trayson? She''s finished now."

    "Everyone knows what happens when you cross him. Nobody walks away unscathed."

    "Remember that influencer? Trayson went after her, and when she turned him down, her nudes got leaked everywhere. I heard she ended up taking her own life. They med it on depression."

    “I heard

    family sout that too. The Webb

    family swept it all under the rug-said it was just work stress. Fan med herpany, but the real problem was Trayson

    "Seeing Lottie act like this, you know Trayson''s out for blood. He''s not going to let this go."

    "Poor thing. She''s such a beauty, but she''s doomed."

    ...

    Suddenly, Trayson made his entrance. He strolled over in a loud floral shirt and

    triangr sunsses, a morous woman hanging off each arm.

    Lottie''s expression soured the moment she saw him with other women.

    Trayson sauntered closer, but the

    l.ne

    instant he spotted Allison, his whole demeanor shifted. The cocky smirk vanished. He yanked off his sunsses, his eyes going cold and sharp, like a predator zeroing in on its prey. He red at Allison, jaw clenched, and spat out each word with venom.

    "You must really have a death wish."