Chapter 6

Alice

“Hey—why do you look like the entire world just collapsed on you?” I nearly jumped out of my skin when Shirley suddenly appeared beside me, punctuating her entrance with a loud slap on my arm. My soul practically snapped back into my body.

She sat across from me and placed her tray on the table.

I blinked when I saw what was on it.

An apple.

A bottle of water.

That’s it.

“That’s all you’re eating?” I asked, frowning as I pointed at her so-called meal.

“I’m on a diet.”

I froze.

Diet… her?

Really?

“Are you kidding me?” My eyes widened. “You already look like that, and you still want to diet?”

I gave her a full head-to-toe stare, even bending down a bit to check under the table. Dramatic, yes. But I couldn’t help it. She was already slim. Slim-slender-sleek slim. And now she wanted to be… ultra-slim?

Girl. No.

“Cyrus said he wanted his girlfriend to be sexy,” she answered casually, like she wasn’t saying something absolutely ridiculous. I automatically rolled my eyes.

“He doesn’t even notice you, and you’re worried about what he wants in a girlfriend?”

I couldn’t hold back. I mean, priorities, please.

“That’s why I’m doing this,” she said brightly. “So he’ll notice me. So he’ll realize I’m girlfriend material because I’m doing what makes him happy.” She even smiled, hopeful, annoying, and cute all at once.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“Seriously? If you want to be slim and fit, do it for yourself. Not because of what someone else wants, especially not a guy who barely looks in your direction.”

She raised a brow. “Tell me… are you even my friend?”

“I’m telling you this exactly because I’m your friend.” Her expression shifted, as if she had more to say, but then she didn’t.

She and I… we’re best friends. And we’re honest with each other, brutally honest if needed. We say things even if they sting because it opens our eyes, just like now.

“You know what, just eat.”

She grabbed my fork, stabbed a piece of broccoli from my plate, and shoved it toward my mouth. I almost lost it.

I opened my mouth because I had no other choice, eating the damn vegetable while glaring at her.

She rolled her eyes. I would’ve rolled mine back, but I was busy chewing.

She took a bite of her apple. I pretended to ignore her even though she was mildly, very mildly irritating me. Her idea of dieting was just wrong, and we both knew it.

“So, how are you?” she asked, as if she were asking about the weather.

My brow arched. “How am I in what way?”

“After what happened to you last Friday night… nothing new?”

I froze mid-chew. Perfect timing. I almost spit out the broccoli.

Wait. Why did it sound like she knew something?

I didn’t tell her… right?

“Wait,” she said, eyes going wide. “Don’t tell me… something did happen?” I saw curiosity spark in her eyes, bright, mischievous, hungry for details. “Come on, girl, tell me…”

I took a deep breath and looked straight at her.

She was excited.

Practically vibrating.

Ready to explode from anticipation.

“Shit, Shirley—you’re not going to believe this,” I said.

“Try me,” she shot back quickly, leaning closer like the gossip queen of the decade.

“I need to meet him later.”

“What?” She almost choked. “He contacted you?”

“No.”

She raised a brow—confused, intrigued.

“Then how did you even agree to meet again?”

I swallowed. Hard.

“Unfortunately…” I grabbed my forehead. “He’s Uncle Lemuel’s younger brother.”

She froze. Literally.

Like the universe hit the pause button.

She stared at me—no blinking.

“S-Say that again…”

“He’s Uncle Lemuel’s younger brother,” I repeated, slower this time. “And he was at our house last night because Mommy and my future stepfather introduced us to him.”

“Oh.

My.

Queen.”

She leaned back in shock.

“Is this… fate?”

“Ridiculous!” I burst out. “I’m not a hopeless romantic like you! And for your information,” I emphasized every word—“did you forget that I have a boyfriend?”

Reality slapped her across the face.

She blinked, then stared down at her apple.

Slowly, she picked it up again and took another bite—this time with all the enthusiasm of a dead battery.

Her sparkle vanished.

Her excitement evaporated.

Because yes—

She suddenly remembered: I cheated on Javier. Although it was unintentional.

And worse?

I had no idea how to face that truth.

Shirley and I chatted a little more before we went back to class, but her tongue was clearly nowhere to be found the moment I reminded her of Javier. She didn’t nag me, didn’t ask questions, didn’t even give me a side-eye. The girl who normally talked as if she were fueled by five cans of energy drink suddenly went silent.

And I knew exactly why.

It’s because she hates cheaters, as in—down to the bone. Ever since we were kids, she witnessed her dad cheat on her mom over and over again. And the worst part? Her mom never fought back. She just endured it—swallowed the pain, pretended everything was fine because “the family needed to stay whole.”

Shirley never forgave that.

So for her, cheating = unforgivable.

But I kept trying to shut down the guilt clawing at my chest. I forced myself to focus in class, pretend to be attentive, and show that I was fine. But honestly? I was far from fine.

My insides felt like a countdown timer was ticking—dropping second by second as the hour drew closer. The hour when I’d see my soon-to-be step-uncle again.

Lance Richardson.

Even just thinking his name made my chest tighten. I didn’t know if it was nerves… or something else I absolutely refused to name.

When dismissal came, my body moved on autopilot toward the school gate. I was walking, commuting, sitting in the taxi, giving the driver the address—but my mind? My mind was wandering everywhere except the present.

While the taxi rolled down the road, my eyes were glued to the view outside, but my thoughts were nowhere near the passing streets.

They were all on Lance.

Every question I’d been avoiding came rushing in: What does he want from me? Why is he making me come? Just for the phone? Seriously? And why am I scared? Why is there—My dear friend help me—a tiny bit of thrill mixed with it?

I let out a long breath and straightened in my seat, trying to calm the uneasy pounding in my chest.

No use.

When I finally arrived in front of Lance’s company building, I stopped on the sidewalk. Like, literally froze mid-step.

I took a deep, shaky breath as I stared up at the building façade—an imposing modern glass structure clearly meant for big shots. Tinted windows, sharp architectural lines, and a holographic logo gleaming at the top.

I remembered what Uncle Lemuel mentioned last night while we were chatting on the porch: Lance was the CEO of a well-known tech company. The kind of brand I’d only seen in malls. Those expensive high-end gadgets that I’d never even dared to touch.

And now? I was about to walk inside.

Alone.

To face the owner himself.

The same man whose lips I had kissed just three nights ago and fvck until morning.

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.

“This is such a bad idea…” I muttered under my breath.

But I was already here.

Too late to turn back now.