“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 arms just like this, feigning innocence.
She still remembered the day Naomi returned from overseas. Zayden had dropped everything to personally pick her up at the airport–leaving Eliza alone and humiliated.
At that moment, she had realized she was the joke.
Now, Eliza slowly looked up, her eyes pitch–black and unreadable.
The intensity in her gaze made Naomi’s heart skip. She instinctively felt a chill–but outwardly kept her composure.
“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, not even 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 accidental. Zayden had never found anything wrong with it
Now his face flushed with discomfort. “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 almost laughed.
Just high schoolers? Just holding hands?
Coming from Naomi, those words were always so absurd.
What–only once the two of them were in bed together would it count as “serious“?
“I was just making an offhand comment. Don’t take it personally,” Eliza replied coolly. “Class is starting soon. If you don’t mind, could you both leave? You’re interrupting our lesson.”
Her tone was polite–but also distant and cold.
Zayden’s heart twinged for a reason he couldn’t explain.
So Eliza could look at him like that now.
So cold. So dismissive.
He had always assumed she would come running back 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 is still your sister. Maybe she made some mistakes, but you’re her big sister–you should be more understanding.”
1/2
+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 acceptance–then went abroad–did she ever thank Eliza?
Not once.
ོ: མ འ རྒྱུ
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 other way. Like Eliza didn’t exist.
“I’ve already cut ties with the Rivers family,” Eliza said icily. “Naomi is not my sister. And our engagement? Consider it void. I. Eliza. have nothing to do with you anymore, 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 time with this nonsense again.”
“Did you hear that?” Henry snapped. “Eliza already told you–this is a classroom. 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 name.”
“Eliza–Zayden tried to speak again, but another voice cut through the air.
“You don’t understand human language?” Nolan had arrived, stepping calmly into the room.
Zayden clenched his fists reflexively.
Naomi glanced at Nolan, then back at Eliza.
Rumor had it Nolan 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.
“Nolan. Zayden was just speaking up for me,” she said quickly. “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 hadn’t forgotten–Nolan had been in juvenile detention for killing someone as a minor. He wasn’t someone to mess with.
Better to back off now than ignite a fire.
Under Naomi’s coaxing, Zayden finally left.
But as he stepped out of Class Six, he couldn’t help turning around–gazing once more at the girl sitting calmly among her classmates, as if he no longer mattered at all.
Send Gifts
78
