Chapter 4

Everyone took Mia’s side, and suddenly, I was the one on trial.

Twenty years of friendship had been reduced to a cruel joke.

“Fine, I have a bad temper. But you three chose to be friends with me for twenty years! Anyway, you won’t get that chance anymore.”

I grabbed my backpack and turned around to leave, but Evan caught me by the arm.

“Jenna, just take the chance we’re giving you. There’s no need to take things this far. Once we finish Mia’s welcome party, let’s go back to campus together.”

“I don’t need—”

Before I could finish, Evan and Lily shoved me toward their private room, forcing me inside.

A massive three-tiered cake sat on the table with Mia’s name written across the top.

Then my eyes landed on the gift bag beside Jason.

I recognized it instantly. It was the designer bag I had been dreaming about for months.

Evan promised to buy it for me as my birthday present in June.

Beside it were the high heels and camera Lily and Jason had once insisted they would give me.

Mia immediately picked up all three gift bags. Her face was glowing with happiness.

“I love everything you guys got me! Jenna, it’s okay. I’m just happy you came.”

I did not even bother giving her a sarcastic look.

Jason had never been much of a talker, but he had always treated me well.

He pulled me into a seat and said flatly, “Jenna, just let it go. The five of us are actually a pretty good fit.”

I almost laughed at how absurd it sounded.

“Exactly what part of this is good for me?”

Music started playing as everyone gathered around Mia, cheering while she made a wish and blew out the candles.

Then she grabbed a bottle of beer and came straight toward me.

“Jenna, have a drink with me. Let’s put all the misunderstandings and bad blood behind us, okay?”

I rose to my feet. I was done dealing with these people.

“No.”

However, Mia ignored me and pushed the beer toward me anyway.

The sharp edge of the can sliced viciously across my wrist. Pain shot through my entire body.

However, Mia screamed louder than I did.

“Ouch! My hand hurts! Jenna, if you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine. I can leave, but I need this hand for my architectural drawings!”

Her nail was barely chipped. It would grow back in a few days.

My wrist, meanwhile, was a bloody mess. The pain was so intense I could barely think.

Evan’s expression darkened. He immediately grabbed Mia’s hand and examined it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let this keep you from drawing.”

Lily and Jason joined in, their faces twisted with anger as they condemned me.

“Jenna, how could you be so cruel? That’s the hand she uses to draw!”

“Jenna, as your friend, I’m seriously disappointed in you.”

Tears streamed down Mia’s face as she collapsed into Evan’s arms.

“Please don’t blame her—ouch! It hurts so much!”

Evan wrapped an arm around her and led her out.

As he walked past me, the look of disgust and accusation in his eyes was enough to make even a stranger’s heart sink.

“Jenna, you’ve gone too far. You ruined what was supposed to be a celebration.”

He walked right past my bleeding wrist without a second glance. Instead, he chose to protect Mia.

My eyes welled with tears, but when I spoke, my voice was unwavering. “Evan, we’re done. Let’s break up. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.

“Lily, Jason, we’re not friends anymore either.”

Evan’s gaze faltered for a moment, but he still turned and walked away with the others.

“Whatever.”

The sprawling room was suddenly empty, leaving me alone to face the full weight of my heartbreak.

The candle’s flame suddenly went out. Just like that, the years of memories, affection, and loyalty between us were reduced to nothing.

I tore a strip of cloth from my shirt and wrapped it tightly around my wrist, holding my breath as I made my way outside.

When I was at the door, I nearly ran into Nathaniel Hayes, a fellow student from the law department.

His expression immediately darkened when he saw my injury. He called a cab without a second thought.

“Your wrist looks pretty messed up. You should head to the hospital.”

I did not hesitate as I got into the car.

“Thank you.”

He stayed with me the entire time my wound was treated.

When everything was done, Nathaniel insisted on seeing me safely back to my dorm.

Before he left, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “Jenna, a few of us are planning to visit a law firm over the holidays to get some hands-on experience. Would you like to come with us?”

I pondered for a moment. I was alone now anyway.

Instead of staying in my dorm and dwelling on the pain, I decided to keep myself busy and do something that would help prepare me for my future career.

I nodded and replied, “Sure. I’d love to! Thanks for inviting me.”

Nathaniel walked away with noticeably lighter steps.

The long-awaited holiday finally arrived.

I soon received a friend request from Evan with a note attached.

Evan: [Jenna, you’ve dragged this tantrum out long enough. Get to the airport now and apologise to Mia in person, then we can all enjoy our trip overseas together. You have one hour to get here.]

Lily and Jason sent my identical requests, all demanding that I apologize to Mia.

They even treated forgiving me like some grand favor they were generously offering.

I scoffed and ignored every one of them.

Instead, I focused on exploring the law firm with Nathaniel and the others, soaking up everything I could learn.

(3rd POV)

At the airport, Evan, Lily, Jason, and Mia kept glancing toward the security checkpoint.

The boarding announcement came over the speakers.

Evan’s expression darkened. “Forget Jenna. She’ll probably regret everything soon and buy a ticket tomorrow to come find us.”

The four of them boarded the plane without me.

Just before turning off his phone, Evan irritably opened his social media feed.

Then, he saw Jenna with another guy in someone else’s video.

There she was, wrapped up in another man’s arms.