Chapter 2

“No thanks. Someone else already paid for the photos.”

I politely declined his offer. After all, letting another man pay for wedding photos would not be right.

Matthew knew he was in the wrong, so he did not get mad.

Instead, he grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

“Alright then. Since it’s your birthday, I’ll plan a big surprise for you.”

I really did not want to go.

After running around all day, I just wanted to sleep.

But Matthew held my wrist tightly and would not let go.

After leaving the condominium, he took me to a fancy restaurant.

I did not go to those places often.

They made me feel uncomfortable, and the food portions were way too small for me.

When we got to the private room, I saw a bunch of familiar faces.

Matthew’s usual group of friends. They were the same ones who had made fun of me earlier.

Some of them, the ones who lost their bets, started complaining when they saw me.

“Wrenna, how can you be this dumb? He’s tricked you so many times already, and you still fall for it every time? You’re hopeless!”

I did not react. I already knew they did not like me.

Mostly because I was in the way of Matthew and his childhood crush.

The only woman in the group spoke up for me.

“Don’t be mean. It just means Wrenna is a bit naive. She trusts people too easily.”

Krystal Johnson walked up to me with a smile and held my hand. She comforted me and handed me a red gift box.

“Wrenna, I heard it’s your birthday today. This is a gift for you.”

I took the box without thinking. I did not know how bad it was going to be.

Krystal opened the box while it was still in my hands, and white powder sprayed all over my face.

Everyone around us started laughing like crazy.

“That’s not being naive. That’s just being dumb!”

“This is hilarious. She really thinks she can hang out with us with a brain like that?”

I closed my eyes and wiped the flour off my face. I was angry and ready to speak up, but Matthew spoke first.

“Okay, that’s enough. It’s Wrenna’s birthday. Don’t cross the line.”

He tried to pull me into a chair.

I looked at him coldly.

“Do you think just saying that is enough? After something like this?”

He raised his eyebrows like it was no big deal.

“What do you want me to do? It was just a prank. It’s not that serious.”

At that moment, I realized that when a person was too angry to speak, they just ended up laughing instead.

“Matthew, after all these years, did you ever treat me like your girlfriend?

“How could you just stand there and let them treat me like this?”

This was the first time in seven years I stood up to him in front of everyone.

And just like I thought, his expression instantly darkened.

“Then what do you want?”

I pointed at Krystal, who pulled the prank.

“I want her to say sorry!”

Krystal quickly made a pitiful face.

“Wrenna, if you really can’t take a joke, then fine. I’ll apologize. Just don’t fight with Matthew over this.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I want to see what else she can do,” said Matthew with a mocking smile.

He looked at me disdainfully.

“Wrenna, you’re really getting bold. How dare you talk back to me like this in front of everyone?

“If you can’t handle a joke, then don’t play along. We can just break up.”

I shook my head and laughed.

Matthew probably still thought I would never leave him.

Every time I did something that upset him, he would just threaten to break up like it meant nothing.

“Fine. That’s exactly what I want. We’re done, Matthew!”