Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Her words struck a chord within me, stirring up memories of our shared past. We had once been inseparable, gossiping and laughing together like sisters. But as time passed, I came to realize the true nature of our friendship.

Zoey had harbored a secret love for Burgess, my stepbrother, and had used our friendship as a means to get closer to him. When Burgess went abroad, Zoey followed suit, leaving me behind without a second thought.

It was only then that I realized Zoey's true intentions—to win Burgess's affection at any cost, even if it meant betraying our friendship in the process.

The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I couldn't bring myself to respond to Zoey's question. Instead, I stood there in silence, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling within me.

The audacity of Zoey's presence, coupled with her feigned innocence, stirred up a storm of resentment within me. How dare she waltz back into my life after all this time, pretending as though nothing had happened? The memory of her betrayal loomed large in my mind, casting a shadow over our reunion.

With a bitter sneer hidden beneath a mask of indifference, I pushed away Zoey's outstretched hand, refusing to play along with her charade. "Wasn't it you who didn't bother to answer my calls?" I retorted, my words laced with thinly veiled disdain.

Zoey let out a sigh, attempting to feign remorse as she conjured up a pitiful expression. "I lost my phone and had to get a new SIM card. I couldn’t give you my new number since I didn’t remember yours."

Her excuse fell flat in the face of my scrutiny, and I didn't hesitate to call her out on her lie. "If that's the case, you could have simply asked Burgess for my number, couldn't you?" I countered, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Zoey's forced laughter grated on my nerves, and I could see a flicker of embarrassment and anger flash across her features before she hastily composed herself, plastering on a saccharine smile.

Before I could voice my disdain further, Roxanne intervened, pulling Zoey into her embrace as though she were her own daughter. The sight made my blood boil, the injustice of it all fueling the fire of my resentment towards Zoey.

"What a lovely girl," Roxanne, my mother remarked, her words dripping with false sincerity. "It would be wonderful if you could marry into the Harrison family."

“Auntie, you must be kidding!” Zoey's blush only served to intensify my growing sense of outrage, and I shot her a scathing glare, silently seething at the thought of her infiltrating my family once again.

“No, she is not.” But my indignation reached new heights when Old Mr. Harrison himself chimed in, directing his words at Burgess. "Burgess, you know how Zoey feels about you..."

The implications of his words hung heavily in the air, and I felt a surge of anger rise within me. How dare they conspire to manipulate Burgess's feelings in such a manner, using Zoey as a pawn in their game of power and control?

The tension in the room thickened as Old Mr. Harrison's words hung in the air, poised to reveal his intentions regarding Burgess and Zoey's potential union.

But before he could elaborate further, Burgess interjected, his expression devoid of emotion. "Dad, I have no plans to get married at the moment."

Old Mr. Harrison's displeasure was palpable, his gaze bearing down on Burgess with a hint of disappointment, yet Burgess remained steadfast in his indifference.

Zoey's attempt to salvage the situation with a forced smile only served to accentuate the awkwardness of the moment. "Uncle, truthfully, I'm in the same boat as Burgess. Marriage isn't on my radar right now. I still want to enjoy a few more years of freedom as a single woman."

The irony of Zoey's declaration didn't escape me, and I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the realization that despite her relentless pursuit of Burgess, she hadn't managed to secure so much as a commitment from him. Yet here she was, attending the Harrison family banquet with the audacity of a woman who believed she belonged.

However, any sense of amusement quickly faded when Zoey's attention shifted to me, her smile taking on a devious edge as she addressed me directly. "Oprah, I heard your boyfriend cheated on you, didn't he?"

Her words struck a nerve, and I felt a surge of anger rising within me at the audacity of her intrusion into my personal life. But I refused to let her see how deeply her words affected me, instead choosing to respond with a calm demeanor. "Do you have a problem with that?" I countered, my voice laced with thinly veiled hostility.

Zoey's smile faltered momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure, her cheerful facade returning as she continued to speak. "Oprah, you're my best friend. I only want what's best for you. The best way to move on from a past relationship is to open yourself up to new possibilities. I happen to know some very suitable men. Perhaps I could introduce you to someone?"

Her offer felt like a thinly veiled attempt to meddle in my affairs, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was an ulterior motive behind her words. As I weighed my response carefully, a sense of unease settled over me, prompting me to question Zoey's true intentions.

What was she really planning? And more importantly, why was she so insistent on involving herself in my love life?

As Zoey mentioned Alfred Jeffery as a potential match for me, I couldn't help but regard her with a cold stare.

"If Mr. Jeffery is as exceptional as you claim, why don't you pursue him yourself?" I questioned, my tone laced with skepticism.

Zoey's response seemed earnest, almost too sincere. "I believe he's better suited to you. He has the qualities to bring you genuine happiness," she insisted.

But her words did little to pique my interest.

Roxanne, however, appeared to be swayed by Zoey's persuasion. She eagerly chimed in, "Oprah, why not take the opportunity to meet Mr. Alfred? Perhaps you could share a meal together and start by becoming friends?"