“Eliza, say something, won’t you? I know you don’t like me, but no matter what, Zayden is still your fiance. How can you let others humiliate him like this?” Naomi said, putting on her most pitiful face.

That look–Eliza had seen it countless times in her previous life. Naomi had always nestled into Zayden’s barms /bjust like this, feigning innocence.

She still remembered the day Naomi returned from overseas. Zayden had dropped everything to personally pick her up bat /bthe airport–leaving Eliza alone and humiliated.

At that moment, she had realized she was the joke.

Now, Eliza slowly looked up, her eyes pitch–ck and unreadable.

The intensity in her gaze made Naomi’s heart skip. She instinctively felt a chill–but outwardly kept herposure.

“So Zayden is my fiancé?” Eliza’s voice was calm, yet sharp. “With the way you two act, I thought you were already married.”

The words hit like a whip. Naomi froze.

She had clung to Zayden’s arm out of habit, bnot /beven realizing she was doing it in front of everyone.

And because Zayden didn’t find it strange, no one else had questioned it–until Eliza said it out loud.

Only now did people notice how intimate they had always been.

Zayden immediately pulled his arm free, startled into self–awareness.

But what did it matter?

Their closeness wasn’t idental. Zayden had never found anything wrong with it

Now his face flushed with difort. “Naomi and I grew up together. It’s just habit. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

Naomi followed up with a sugary smile, “That’s right, Eliza. We’ve known each other since we were kids. It’s no big deal. We’re still in high school–it’s just holding hands, nothing serious.”

Eliza almostughed.

Just high schoolers? Just holding hands?

Coming from Naomi, those words were always bso /babsurd.

bWhat/b–only once the two of them were in bed together would it count as “serious“?

“I was bjust /bmaking an offhandment. Don’t take it personally,” Eliza replied coolly. “ss is starting soon. If you don’t mindb, /bbcould /byou both leave? You’re interrupting our lesson.”

Her tone was polite–but also distant and cold.

bZayden’s /bheart twinged for a reason he bcouldn’t /bexin.

So Eliza could look at him like that now.

bSo /bcold. So dismissive.

He had balways /bassumed she woulde brunning /bback with one word from him. She used to.

But now?

How could someone change so much in just a couple months!

*Eliza… No matter what, Naomi bis /bbstill /byour sister. Maybe she made some mistakes, but you’re her big sister–you should be more understanding.”

+8 Pearls

Zayden’s words grated like sandpaper.

Everyone loved to remind her. Naomi is your sister.

As the elder, you should forgive her. Support her. Carry her burdens.

But back then, when Naomi stole her grades, her university eptance–then went abroad–did she ever thank Eliza?

Not once.

?: ? ? ????

And when Eliza was suffering in the Holt family, Naomi could’ve helped. All she had to do was try

But she didn’t.

She looked the bother /bbway/b. Like Eliza didn’t existb. /b

“I’ve already cut ties with the Rivers bfamily/b,” Eliza said icily. “Naomi is not my sister. And our engagement? Consider it void. I. Elizab. /bbhave /bnothing to do with byou /banymore, Zayden.”

She added, her tone firm and emotionless, “This is a school. It’s for studying. Not for your little soap operas. Don’t waste my btime /bwith this nonsense again.”

“Did byou /bhear bthat/b?” Henry snapped. “Eliza already told you–this is a ssroom. Take your drama somewhere else. Come back here again and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

He gave Zayden a bold thumbs–up, full of mockery. “Two–timing guys like you give all men a bad bname/bb.” /b

“Eliza–Zayden tried to bspeak /bbagain/b, but another voice cut through the air.

“You don’t understand humannguage?” Nn had arrived, stepping calmly into the room.

Zayden clenched his fists reflexively.

Naomi nced at Nn, then back at Eliza.

Rumor had it Nn came from a family with obscene wealth–and that he never showed interest in girls.

2 2 2 2 2

Yet in just a month, Eliza had somehow gotten through to him.

Naomi felt a tight squeeze of jealousy.

“Nn. Zayden was just speaking up for me,” she said bquickly/b. “We’ll go now. Don’t get the wrong idea–we weren’t trying to cause trouble.”

She then gently tugged Zayden by the arm like an obedient child.

She bhadn’t /bforgotten–Nn had been in juvenile detention for killing someone as a minor. He bwasn’t /bsomeone to mess with.

Better to bback /boff bnow /bthan ignite a fire.

Under Naomi’s coaxing, Zayden finally left.

But as he stepped out of ss Six, he couldn’t help turning around–gazing once more at the girl sitting calmly among her ssmates, as if he no longer mattered at all.

Send Gifts

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