Chapter 5

I met Samuel's eyes that were full of surprise. "Samuel, what's wrong? Everyone's watching."

"Why did you come in his car?" Samuel asked.

I enjoyed the shifting look on Samuel's face as I answered sweetly, "Oh, I just ran into him."

Jason came over too. His polite distance was measured, and it seemed to make Samuel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, I stayed calm and gentle.

Before leaving for the party, I had purposely not asked Samuel whether he was coming to pick me up. Samuel always made me take a cab by myself whenever it was Gemma's birthday in the past years. He would even avoid seeing me as much as possible for half a month before Gemma's birthday, as if he were trying to avoid suspicion.

I did not know whether this was part of their game. But now, none of that mattered anymore.

Maybe I was too calm tonight, too different from how I used to be.

Although Samuel stayed beside Gemma the whole time, his eyes kept drifting toward me.

"Nina, you're dressed so beautifully today. If someone didn't know better, they would think it was your birthday," Gemma said, her hostility tonight a little too obvious.

In the past, no matter the occasion, Gemma had always acted like the winner in front of me. That was because Samuel was always backing her up. But tonight, she had clearly realized that both Samuel and Jason had their attention on me.

I replied nonchalantly, "If I don't dress up nicely, how am I supposed to make your brother look good?"

"You witch!" Gemma could not hold it in.

I made a tearful look and forced out a few tears, then hid behind Samuel. "Samuel, Gemma still doesn't like me much. I don't know what I did that's so upsetting for her. I dressed up for you too."

Samuel frowned. "Gemma, you went too far this time."

Then, I made a face at Gemma from somewhere Samuel couldn't see. I formed the words with my mouth without making a sound.

'You lost.'

This was the same act Gemma had always used in the past. Why did she find it so unacceptable now when the same thing was done to her?

I provoked Gemma so badly that her face went pale, and she reached out wanting to slap me. But before her hand could touch me, Samuel stopped her.

I cried again and said, "I've made her so upset. It's going to be inappropriate if I stay here any longer."

After that, I walked outside, glancing at Jason as if by coincidence.

Jason set down his glass of red wine and stood up before following me out.

Samuel had to physically hold Gemma back in his arms, stopping her from lunging at me in a rage. But when he saw Jason following me, his expression grew even darker.

When we reached the parking lot, I took Jason's arm and laughed so hard I could barely stand. "Am I a really bad person?"

My fingers brushed over Jason's knuckles.

Jason had seen through everything I had done just now, but he said softly, "No."

I burrowed into his embrace and whispered into his ear as I tiptoed, "Really? I can be even worse."

I saw Samuel's anxious figure searching everywhere from not far away. Then, I reached out and wrapped my arms around Jason's lean waist, kissing him from his shoulder to his neck before pressing my lips to his thin lips.

Jason's body stiffened for a moment, then he kissed me back fiercely as he felt himself burning with passion.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Samuel's expression become twisted.