Chapter 7 Just before noon, the glass doors of the gallery swung open. The sharp click of high heels echoed against the polished floor, jarring in the quiet. I looked up, meeting Nicole's imperious gaze head-on. "Can we talk?" We settled into a corner booth at a café on the square. It had been six months since I'd last seen Nicole, and she looked worn down. Her cheeks were so hollow you could see the curve of her bones. Beneath her curled lashes, her eyes were dull, lifeless. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you?" I gave an awkward smile, choosing not to reply. "My mom married into the Garcia family when I was 12. The moment I met Kenneth, I fell for him. "You think you were the first to notice I liked him? When I was 17, he read my diary-every single page was filled with my fantasies about him." Suddenly, she turned and fixed those empty eyes on me. "I could've spent my whole life loving him in my own way, but you-one word from you, and he kicked me out." A memory flashed through my mind-the first night I ever stayed in Kenneth's room. He'd been so excited, shutting the door and wrapping me in his trembling arms. His kisses burned a trail from my forehead down to my collarbone. Just as things were about to go further, the door burst open. Nicole stood in the doorway, her eyes vacant as she stared at us. I nearly screamed. She was bare-legged, wearing only one of Kenneth's T-shirts, her face completely expressionless. "Ken, I can't sleep. Can I stay in your room tonight?" Kenneth was startled, too. He shoved her out, furious, and spent ages calming me down afterward. 0.0 % 12:03 The next morning, Nicole casually tossed that damp T-shirt into the washing machine right in front of me. I blew up at Kenneth over it, and that was the argument that finally sent Nicole overseas. I let out a soft sigh. "Didn't you already ruin my wedding? You got what you wanted. Why are you here now?" She froze. Then, after a long pause, she took a sip of her cold coffee. "You think I wanted to come here? He made me. He said if I didn't apologize, he'd cut me off for good-never see me again." I nodded calmly. "Well, you've done your job. You can go.' But she kept talking as if she hadn't heard me. "Later, I realized I don't just hate you-I hate him even more. "He knew how I felt, but he sent me away, left me all alone in another country. He ignored my calls, didn't answer my messages, refused to visit." Nicole's lashes trembled, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "I started dating his best friend. We went to wild parties, played all sorts of messed-up games. I waited for him to be heartbroken, to regret everything, to beg me not to leave. But in five years overseas, he never asked about me once. He's such a bastard." I stared at her delicate face, stunned and speechless. No wonder Kenneth ended up fighting someone and getting hauled into a police station that day. After a moment of shocked silence, I finally found my voice. "This is between the two of you. It has nothing to do with me anymore." Nicole's eyes brimmed with tears, but she forced a stubborn smile and pulled a necklace from her pocket. "Is that so? Well, I think you'll like this." 50.5 % 12:03 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!