Chapter 2

Lloyd’s smile froze, and a vicious glare appeared briefly in his eyes.

No one dared say a thing and just watched this drama unfold.

“Claude!” Upon hearing me accuse Lloyd of adultery, Naomi immediately spoke up to defend him. “Lloyd was just drunk that day, and I had someone send him back to the hotel. Could you not think of us as such horrible people? Also, you’re the one who sent the message. Why are you angry at Lloyd?”

When I saw how she was defending Lloyd, I clenched my fists tightly, and the veins in my temples bulged.

Even though I was furious, my voice remained calm.

I picked up my phone and added another voice message. “I’ll wait for you in Room 302.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Among them, Naomi’s expression was the most sour. It was as dark as a thundercloud.

“Let’s just break up.”

I shifted my gaze from her face to her necklace.

I had worked for three months during my university days to buy that necklace for her.

Back then, she had been happy for a long time, but she had still ended up changing her target of affection.

All my sincere love went up in flames.

“Calm down. Let’s cut the cake. I’m hungry.”

“That’s right. Let’s have some cake.”

When the others saw how serious the situation was, they hurried over to mediate.

Naomi narrowed her eyes and hissed, “Are you being serious, Claude? You’re really giving up on our relationship for a joke?”

She was the one who betrayed us first, and yet, she was accusing me of giving up?

“Naomi, can you truly say that there’s nothing between you two?” I asked as I pointed at Lloyd.

Taken aback, Naomi did not dare to look me in the eye.

That guilty look was like a slap in the face.

“There’s really nothing between us, Claude. Naomi just takes care of me a lot, and I treat her as my sister. We’ve been really close with each other, and that’s why you misunderstood us. If it bothers you, I’ll just resign.”

Those manipulative words lit up Naomi’s fuse.

She dragged Lloyd behind her. “This has nothing to do with you. Claude is the one who can’t take a joke. He’s petty and aggressive. If anyone’s leaving, it’s him.”

I was thoroughly disappointed in her attitude.

I sized them up repeatedly before turning around without hesitation.

When he saw that I was about to leave, Lloyd immediately said, “It’s your birthday today, Claude. Have some cake before you leave.”

I wanted to say no, but he pinned me against the chair.

Most of the people here were my work friends. That was why I had sat down. I did not want to embarrass them.

Lloyd did not even ask for permission and just picked up the knife to cut the cake.

Then, he pushed a cake covered in crushed peanuts in front of me. He flashed a wicked grin at me.

“I’m not taking it,” I said, rejecting him decisively.

In the next second, Lloyd put on a hurt expression.

“You think I’m an eyesore, don’t you? I’ll leave right now.”

He got up and pretended to leave.

Just as I expected, Naomi grabbed him.

“Claude, how long are you going to keep up with this tantrum?”

I gave her the side-eye, and my expression was cold. “I’m allergic to peanuts.”

Naomi was stunned, and guilt flashed in her eyes. Even so, she remained stubborn.

“If you’re allergic, just say so. Lloyd didn’t know. Did you have to put him on the spot?”

“I put him on the spot? I just said that I wasn’t eating it, and that was considered putting him on the spot?” I mocked them both. “If he doesn’t know that I’m allergic to peanuts, that’s fine. But what about you? Are you telling me that you don’t?

“Are you seriously telling me you can’t tell that he’s provoking me?”

The series of questions rendered Naomi speechless.

I took off my matching ring and threw it at Lloyd.

“For you. I hope you two live happily ever after.”