Chapter 4

Before I left, I met my best friend, Sarah, for lunch.

On my way to the restroom, I unexpectedly ran into Amber Stone.

She looked completely different from before.

She wore sophisticated makeup and Dior’s classic little black dress, looking slender, elegant, and quite alluring.

A delicate lady's cigarette was held between her vibrant lips.

"Miss Reed, I’m sure you’ve heard the news."

Amber looked at me, a provocative smile playing on her lips.

"Jake Miller and I are getting engaged."

I looked at her, suddenly remembering how innocent and shy she had appeared when I first saw her.

For some reason, a wave of melancholy washed over me.

"Yes, I heard."

Amber's smile deepened. "Miss Reed, are you very jealous?"

"I heard you had three miscarriages for him, and over the years, you’d do anything low to keep him, to marry him."

She leaned against the window, her smile laced with disdain and contempt.

I glanced at her calmly. "Miss Stone, you just said you 'heard.' "

"We’re both women; there's no need to spread such vicious, fabricated gossip."

Amber instantly scoffed. "It’s all over Newport City. How is it gossip?"

I didn’t want to waste my breath on her and turned to leave.

But Amber suddenly spoke in a passive-aggressive tone, "Miss Reed, not all girls are the same. Didn't your mother ever teach you self-respect?"

My steps abruptly halted.

Hearing the word 'mother,' a rush of blood instantly surged to my head.

I didn’t have time to think, couldn’t be rational. I spun around and slapped her across the face.

"Miss Reed…" Amber paused, then immediately covered her face and burst into tears, feigning distress.

"I know it hurts that Jake and I are getting engaged, but you shouldn't hit people…"

"I understand you're angry, but you can’t force feelings."

"Jake doesn't like loose women like you. It's not my fault…"

She sobbed, sounding wronged and pathetic, but every word she uttered felt like a dagger to my heart.

"I know your mother died young and you didn't have anyone to guide you, but Miss Reed, I won't hold this against you this time…"

I gritted my teeth, my jaw aching, and raised my hand to slap her again.

But my arm was seized firmly by Jake Miller.

"Lana Reed, apologize to Amber."

"I won't apologize."

I stood ramrod straight, my face pale, my lips colorless.

But my eyes were blazing red, strikingly intense.