with a flirtatious flick of her halt, <b>Lucinda </b>stepped forward and <b>linked </b>her arm through Sean’s, <b>dering </b>with a smile full of meaning “So, you must be Miss Hiley? I’m Lucinda Bean’s girlfriend.”
Sean’s girlfriend.
Charlotte’sshes lowered as her gaze locked onto Lucinda’s hand curled around his arm. Her chest tightened like something had just pierced straight through it,
Sea stood frozen. His eyes dropped to Lucinda’s hand but be said nothing. Itis Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked like he wanted to exin, but the words wouldn’t
Mia had seen enough. She stoned over and yanked Lucinda’s hand away.
“Get your hands off him!
“If you <b>wanna </b>show off your <b>new </b>love, take it outside,” she snapped, her face thushed with fury. “This isn’t the ce for your PDA. What’s the matter? Can’t the Jasper heir afford a hotel room?!”
The words were harsh, and everyone felt the sting.
Tan winced and quickly stepped in to calm her down.
“Okay, okay, Mia–breathe Let’s not turn this into a scene. We’re all <b>triends </b><b>here</b>.”
“Let go <b>of </b><b>me</b>!” she <b>snipped</b><b>, </b>trying to shake him off.
Tan held on and fram
frantically shot her a look-“Not now!
Lucinda, stillposed, smiled sweetly and leaned closer to Sean..
“Sean,” she purred, “looks like your friends aren’t exactly thrilled to see us. Why don’t we go get a room and have our little celebration somewhere more private?”
She yed the innocent card so well, it was almost an art. Every nce, every word, perfectly measured. She was the queen of sweet, maniptive charm,
Charlotte’s chest clenched. Her wide, doe–like eyes shimmered as tears welled up. Her nose bumed, and it hurt just to breathe. But she refused to cry–not in front
of them
She stared at Sean, voice trembling, barely holding herself together.
<b>“</b>You had a reason for this, right? Please tell me this isn’t what it looks like, post talk to me. I can take it–1 just need to hear it from you”
Her <b>voice </b>cracked.
“You promised me…as long as <b>I </b>didn’t bring up breaking up, <b>you’d </b>never leave.”
Sean’s eyes were like the deep end of a frozen sea–dark, unreadable. He gave her a cold smile, lips curving in a bitter
“Miss kiley<b>, </be on. We’re not <b>kids</b>. <b>You </b>really believed a line like that?”
Her face went ghost–white
Her lips moved<b>, </b>but no sound came out.
Sean couldn’t take the look on her face. It gutted him. He <b>looked </b><b>away</b>, forcing himself to keep his tone t.
“I’ve made myself clear. Don’t make this harder than it <b>has </b><b>to </b>be. Let’s <b>all </b><b>keep </b>some dignity.”
Charlotte’s strength drained out of her. Her <b>shoulders </b>slumped as she staggered to the side, quietly stepping out of the way of the door.
Lena ind <b>over </b>and pulled her into a lu
“It’s okay, Lottie, We’relieve. You’re not alone. It’s going to be okay.”
Mia was trembling with rage.
“bean jasper, you’ve seriously <b>crossed </b>the line!”<ul><li>lunged <b>toward </b>him, ready to hit<b>, </b>but <b>fan </b>grabbed her just in tinse</li></ul>
no–don’t do something stupid,” he pleaded, holding her back.
still <b>hugging </b>Chiarlotte, nced at her brother and gave him a sharp look.
<b>Jordan </b>stepped forward and whispered something to Sean under his breathe.
Whatever he said, it worked. Seantumed, nodded stiffly, and walked <b>out </b>with Lucinda beside him.
Mia was seething
“I can’t believe them I cannot believe them. The audacity!”
sxrifi holding onto her, looking like he had aged ten years in five minutes.
Mia whipped around and red at him.
Tan’s heartunk “oh no. Here ites,<b>” </b>he thought.
Sure enough, she socked him hard in the arm.
You can leave too!”
tan winced<b>. </b>
“Come on, Matt didn’t even do anything!”
In that moment, tan really did feel more wronged than anyone