My Childhood Friend Stole My New House

The moment I opened the door, the dozen or so people standing in the living room froze. They were just as shocked as I was.

"Are you a burglar?"

A woman in her fifties was the first to shriek from the crowd.

"How dare you break into my house in broad daylight? This is outrageous! Grab him and beat him up!"

She actually twisted the truth and accused me instead. She was truly shameless.

Furious, I grabbed a coat rack from the entryway and swung it in front of me.

"This is my house. You've trespassed and now you want to attack me? That's a crime. I'm calling the police. Let them deal with you."

The first person who ran forward immediately backed off. He cursed under his breath.

"You punk, how dare you fight back? Get the mop. I doubt we can't handle him!"

As soon as he finished his sentence, Willa Scott ran out of the kitchen to stop him.

"Don't call the police. Don't fight. It's all a misunderstanding."

Willa smiled as she tried to calm him down. She then walked over to me and gave me a look.

"Ryan, what are you doing here? Come on in. You're just in time. You're lucky enough to catch our family gathering."

I frowned in confusion. Before I could even ask what was going on, her boyfriend, Sebastian Judd, leaned against the doorframe and spoke in a mocking tone.

"Willa, is your childhood friend really that persuasive?"

Willa paused, turned around, and winked at him.

"Babe, it goes without saying that you're a lot more persuasive than him."

Sebastian chuckled smugly.

"It's true that no one can beat me in that department."

Their open flirting drew laughter from everyone else.

On the other hand, I was sick to my stomach. It felt as if the person I trusted the most had thrown me under the bus.

The thought made me raise my voice.

"Willa, you brought outsiders into my house without my permission–"

Before I could finish, Sebastian cut me off harshly.

"Willa, I'm still curious. How did he sweet-talk you into giving him your house's passcode? If we weren't here today, what would he have done to you?"

The smile vanished from Willa's face instantly. It was replaced by a serious expression.

"It doesn't matter what he wanted to do. I wouldn't have given him the chance. The only person I care about is you.

"He didn't sweet-talk me. He got on his knees and begged. He said he had a fight with his family and got kicked out with nowhere to stay. You know how soft-hearted I am. I didn't think much of it and just gave it to him."

My heart jolted as if struck by lightning.

We had grown up together, yet this was the first time I saw her fabricate lies so easily. She ruined my reputation in an instant. I stood there dumbfounded for a long time.

Sebastian looked at me with pure contempt.

"No normal man would stoop that low. Who knows how many women he's begged behind the scenes just to get what he wants."

She gave him a look of approval.

"Babe, how are you so smart? There was a time he stripped naked and begged me just to buy a watch he liked. I've told you about it."

Sebastian burst out laughing. "So that was him? He's honestly shameless."

At that moment, Meredith Judd, Sebastian's mom, started laughing loudly with the others.

"He doesn't have much of a body, does he?"

Willa smirked and shook her head.

"I never paid attention. He's obese and ugly as hell."

After saying that, she looked at her boyfriend as if seeking praise.

Sebastian smiled approvingly.

"That's my girl. You know your boundaries."

"A man with a body like that? Looking at him would give you pinkeye."

Their back-and-forth mockery turned me into nothing more than entertainment. It was utterly disgusting.

I forced down the rage surging inside me.

"Willa, for Mrs. Scott's sake, I'll give you one last chance. Leave with them right now. I'll pretend this never happened. If you don't, I'll send you all to prison."