[IRAYA]

    How dare he twist the truth? He was the one whose family needed help. He was the one whose tuition I paid for, not the other way around. And now he was spinning some ridiculous story to paint himself as my savior?

    The nerve of this guy!

    "Well," Jason added, grabbing Kylie''s hand and announced dramatically, "when Iraya gets back, I''ll break up with her officially. Then I''ll court you properly, Kylie."

    The crowd giggled, their cheers rising in delight. Jason basked in their attention, smug and satisfied. He had always loved being the center of attention, hadn''t he? Feeding off the admiration of others, even if it meant trampling over me to get it.

    Something inside me snapped.

    I stepped forward, the door swinging open as I walked in without hesitation. The laughter died instantly, replaced by stunned silence. Every eye in the room turned toward me, wide with shock, as if they had seen a ghost.

    Jason''s hand, still entwined with Kylie''s, froze in midair. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off before he could utter a single word.

    "You don''t have to wait," I said, my voice cold and steady. "We can break up right now."

    The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, the tension felt meters away. For a brief, glorious second, no one knew how to respond.

    Jason''s face contorted—not with the smug amusement I had come to despise, but with something else entirely. Fear.

    "Iraya? What are you doing here? Shouldn''t you be back in your own country?" Jason stammered, his voice unsteady as he quickly let go of Kylie''s hand.

    Kylie, ever the white lotus, chimed in sweetly, "Iraya, it''s not what you think—"

    I raised a hand to cut her off. "Enough with the jokes and charades," I said coldly, my voice hardened. "Jason, if you want to break up, then let''s break up. I won''t stop you."

    Jason froze, his eyes widening like a deer caught in headlights. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. His usual smug composure faltered.

    "That girl''s so irritating."

    "But, man, she''s hot, isn''t she?"

    "Hey, Jason, if you''re really done with her, you wouldn''t mind if I took a shot, right?"

    "George, you''ve got no class. I wouldn''t touch her with a ten-foot pole."

    "Who said I''d be serious? She''d make a nice little plaything, that''s all."

    Their vile laughter faded as I walked away, my steps steady, my resolve unshaken. I wouldn''t stoop to their level, but I wasn''t leaving things unfinished either. If Jason and Kylie thought they could humiliate me without consequence, they were sorely mistaken.

    I spotted a waiter heading toward their room, a tray of drinks balanced expertly in his hands. I intercepted him with a quick step to the side.

    "Excuse me," I said, my voice firm.

    He blinked, confused. "Yes, ma''am? Can I help you?"

    A sly smile tugged at my lips as I reached into my bag and pulled out a stack of crisp bills. "How would you like to make twenty thousand dollars tonight?"

    His eyes widened, the faintest glint of greed sparking in them. It was the holiday season, and everyone was looking to earn extra cash for gifts or celebrations.

    He hesitated, glancing toward the room. "What do you want me to do?"

    I leaned in, lowering my voice to a whisper. "Just a few specific tasks. Nothing complicated. All you need to do is follow my instructions."

    The waiter looked at the cash again, his resolve crumbling. "Alright," he said cautiously. "I''m listening."

    I smiled, a sharp, calculating grin. This was just the beginning. Jason and Kylie''s downfall wouldn''t be loud or dramatic—it would be subtle, slow, and utterly satisfying.

    Let them enjoy their party now. By the time the night was over, their masks would shatter, and their perfect little world would start to crumble.