Chapter 4

Edith grabbed Nora immediately when she saw Nora was about to charge inside.

Edith knew Nora's temper. If Nora stormed in and caused a scene, she'd be the one who'd suffer for it.

There were too many people inside, along with James—and that man would never allow any harm to come to Susie.

If anyone was getting hurt, it would be Nora, so Edith had to drag her back to their room.

Throwing her handbag on a chair, Nora huffed, "Why did you stop me, Ed? Don't you remember that bitch?"

Edith poured Nora a glass of water, trying to calm her down. "Of course I do. She was in the same year as we were in college, wasn't she?"

"So you really forgot!" Nora had a drink before telling Edith, "She was that third-wheeler who almost ruined things for Quinn and me!"

Edith paused, remembering at that very instant.

Nora and Quinn Zeltrech had been dating openly since high school, with their families even approving of an engagement for them.

They also attended the same college so that they wouldn't be apart, but it hadn't even been three months since the start of freshman year when the rumors started: Quinn was getting real chummy with a certain girl.

Furious, Nora was about to question Quinn when she found said girl wiping Quinn's sweat at the basketball court.

Nora was absolutely enraged and slapped Susie across the face before demanding a breakup with Quinn.

Quinn did love Nora and refused to break up with her, and a scuffle ensued.

They somehow ended up in the middle of the road when Quinn was knocked down by a car, suffering a fracture.

Nora, feeling guilty, agreed to reconcile.

Susie, however, insisted that she was the reason Quinn got hurt and ended up in a hospital, forcing her way into his hospital room and delivering him soup every day for a month.

Then, as if bewitched, Quinn felt pity for Susie and demanded time away from Nora to 'calm down'.

As a result, Nora locked herself in her room for two weeks.

Edith and their mutual friend, Wilson Jones, were so worried that they sought out Susie, demanding that she stay away from Quinn.

So that was Susie too?

Really, celebrity status allowed even the plainest faces to shine—it wasn't surprising that Edith couldn't remember Susie despite finding her face familiar.

And seeing Edith's reaction that she remembered, Nora huffed, "The world is way too small, don't you think? Didn't she leave the country before? What is she doing coming back here? Because of her, it took Quinn and me years to make up… So she's going to ruin it for us again?"

Nora was about to call Quinn to check, but soon paused. "No, wait. Wasn't James Shatner sitting beside her? How did they end up together?"

Edith poured herself a cup of tea, smiling faintly as she finished it. "Have you forgotten? There were rumors of her getting chummy with James too, but we just didn't take notice since we weren't acquainted with James before."

James was in his senior year when they were just freshmen.

With Nathan Shatner's health already failing back then, he had to take charge of Shatner Inc. and only occasionally attended college.

And whenever he did, the fangirls would flock around him, crowding out the entire campus.

Edith had yet to meet James at the time, but the rumors of Susie and James spread like wildfire; she and Nora used to gossip about it themselves.

Frowning, Nora snorted. "Is that bitch a serial temptress or something? Doesn't she know that James is married?"

Edith smiled wryly.

How could Susie not know? And James most definitely wasn't protesting.

And after last night, Edith decided that she had no right to intervene.

Taking a deep breath, she told Nora her decision. "Girl, I'm resigning from Shatner Inc. Also, I'm going to divorce James."

Nora was dumbstruck.

As Edith's childhood friend, she naturally knew how obsessed Nora was with James.

Remembering Susie again, she asked angrily, "It's that bitch's fault, isn't it?"

Edith shook her head—it wasn't just because of Susie.

Long story short, it was because James didn't love her.

Ever since she learned the truth about her identity, it felt like something inside her had been hollowed out. She couldn't summon energy for anything anymore.

Naturally, that also meant she lost her obsession with James.

Afraid of hitting a nerve, Nora asked gingerly, "The Shatners found out about your identity and forced you to divorce?"

Edith couldn't help but laugh. "It's the opposite, actually—the Shatners refused to let me divorce James."

"Then why would you want a divorce?" Nora groaned in disappointment. "You were trying to make him fall for you for so long—are you just going to give up now?"

Edith shrugged.

It was true that it really was a waste. Forget the Shatners' position in the country—even James' personal wealth and position were something she could only fantasize about.

But she tried, and nothing came of it.

So she didn't want to keep struggling in something this twisted.

Her relationship with James was very different from Nora and Quinn, as Nora and Quinn had feelings for each other.

And despite the interference, they managed to make it work in the end.

On the other hand, she and James were just a one-woman show…

Not keen to continue the subject, Edith checked her watch. "What's taking Will and Fi so long?"

Nora smacked herself on the head. "Ah, I got so upset I forgot. Anyway, Will is running late. As for Fiona York, don't bother calling her up ever again. Just pretend she doesn't exist."

Edith was stunned but soon got it—that was just how certain relationships worked.

Still, it left her a little emotional.

Fiona wasn't a part of their clique before, and she had basically forced her way in during college.

But just one week after Edith's real identity came to light, she didn't even wait to distance herself.

"No need to mourn over her," Nora assured Edith. "You have Will and me—we're the three real friends who actually grew up together."

Edith smiled faintly. "Yeah."

Life was always about gaining and losing.

Having gone through so much recently, she really didn't care about Fiona ghosting her.

Nora, keen to cheer up Edith, decided to skip the sob stories and ordered food.

They were halfway done when she left to take a call.

As she didn't return for ten minutes, Edith suddenly remembered that temper of hers and quickly went out to look for Nora.

To no surprise, she found her down the other end of the hallway.

Susie was clutching her cheek and hiding behind James, while James glared coolly at Nora.

"I'll let it slide because you're Edith's best friend," he growled. "But watch that temper of yours in public."

Nora, however, wasn't having it.

She wasn't afraid of James even if her parents were!

"And what are you going to do about it?!"

She pointed at Susie as she snapped at them both, "This bitch is a serial temptress, or are you blind?! Giving up on Ed for her?!"

James glowered. "Watch your mouth."

Nora rolled her eyes. "Oh, quit pretending already. Have you ever protected Ed like this?! Well, I will teach that homewrecker a lesson for trying to ruin marriages!"

With that, she raised her palm to slap Susie again, but James caught her wrist, scowling.

"Stop!" Edith snapped coldly and ran over to pry James' hand off.

But he refused to budge, so she looked up to glare at him. "So the great Mr. Shatner is going to hurt a woman?!"

James was caught off guard and loosened his grip—Edith had never glared so hatefully at him before!

While Nora stumbled backward, Edith hurried to her worriedly. "Are you alright?"

Nora shook her head, turning to curse that menacing man indignantly instead. "You will have your just deserts for making Ed cry."

James was no longer calm just then—he was quite cold, as he was convinced that Susie was hurt.

Edith fought against the pain in her heart and was ready to talk when Susie darted out behind James, staring at her fearfully. "Ms. Conrad, you bullied me previously because you thought I came between Quinn Zeltrech and Nora. Are you still upset about that after so many years?"

Caught off guard, Edith blurted, "I bullied you?"

Beside her, Nora bellowed again, "When did Ed ever bully you?! Don't think you get to run your mouth just because James Shatner is protecting you!"

Susie was immediately on the verge of tears. "We were freshmen, but you and your boyfriend cornered me behind the fence… You threatened to harm me and made me swear not to ruin Quinn's relationship, or you'd strip me naked in public… You even took videos threatening me!"

"What?! When did I…"

Edith frowned but glared at Susie when she realized what she had said. "Ms. Lindt, Wilson and I just warned you against being a third-wheeler. When did we record anything?"

Susie kept quiet, merely hanging her head like they were threatening her again.

Fuming, Nora was ready to hit her when Wilson suddenly appeared and held her by her waist, pulling her away. "Calm down."

"Let me go!" Nora cried. "I'll rip the mouth off that lying bitch! Ed bullying her?! The audacity! God knows what else she lied about behind our backs!"

That was when James growled threateningly, "Nora Turner! Should I call Quinn so that you finally behave?"

Nora paused as she knew that James was really upset now, even threatening her with Quinn.

Still, Edith strode up, standing between Nora and James, clearly protective.

Her eyes locked onto Susie, "You need proof to make accusations, Ms. Lindt. You don't get to say whatever you want just because enough time has passed."

"I saw it," James suddenly said, turning toward Edith.

Edith was stunned. 'What?"

"I saw you and Wilson cornering Susie," James replied calmly.

Edith's hands clenched at her sides. "So you believe her… and not me?"