Chapter 176 Birthday Cake
Hazel, furious at their constant insults toward Camila, jumped to her feet and shouted, “Get out! You’re not welcome here!” The laughter gradually died down as everyone turned to Hazel, their faces full of disdain.
“Who do you think you are to kick us out? The Reagon Hotel’s super VIP room isn’t even open to the public. I don’t think two nobodies like you could afford to dine here.”
“Know your place. In high school, Camila was penniless. She could only drink cold water to fill her stomach while we ate in the cafeteria. We offered her leftovers, but she acted too proud to accept. She’s the most pretentious person I’ve ever seen.” “We’ve always known what kind of person she is. Now she’s pretending to be rich? Pathetic!” someone spat, their tone dripping with contempt.
“Camila, if you’re here to cozy up to George, just admit it. We’re all classmates–we know exactly what you’re about. Stop pretending to be some kind of saint when we all know the truth.”
“What’s the point of being a top student if your character is rotten? Look at you now–an ex–convict trying to act all dignified. It’s laughable.”
Their insults buzzed around Camila like a swarm of flies, relentless and grating. As they spoke, they swaggered over to the table and casually took seats as if they owned the place.
One of them slid into the seat next to Camila, his hand landing on her shoulder.
His smug smile made her skin crawl as he said, “Come on, tell me what you want. I’ll treat you. Guess you can’t afford a meal. Fresh out of prison, huh? Bet you’ve never tasted anything decent.”
Camila yanked her arm free with a sharp motion, her voice cold and cutting. “Show some respect!”
Charlie Chapman, the man in the suit, flushed with embarrassment as the crowd watched him lose face. His expression turned sour, a mix of anger and humiliation.
He shot to his feet, jabbing a stubby finger toward Camila’s face, his voice booming with rage. “Camila, don’t you dare act so ungrateful! Let me tell you, if you miss this chance today, you’ll never set foot in Reagon Hotel again.“.
The others quickly chimed in, their voices rising in a chorus of mockery.
“Exactly! Charlie’s being generous enough to treat you, and you’re acting all high and mighty? Seriously, who do you think you are?”
“Back in high school, Charlie might’ve been at the bottom of the class, but now he’s rolling in cash as a construction foreman. He’s doing way better than any of us here.”
Charlie, enjoying the flattery, puffed up like a peacock. He rolled up his sleeves and waved his hands in front of Camila, showing off his expensive watch that sparkled brightly under the lights.
Not stopping there, he pulled out a high–end smartphone and a BMW car key from his pocket, slamming them onto the table with a loud bang. His smug expression dared anyone to challenge his success.
Hazel stared at the scene, her face frozen. She winced internally at his show–off behavior.
Camila’s face twisted in disgust, her brow furrowing deeply. She had no intention of explaining herself to this group of airheads. She knew full well that even if she did, they wouldn’t believe her. They’d just accuse her of putting on an act again.
Without a word, she pulled out her phone, intending to call Giovani. But the moment her phone appeared, the room erupted in mocking laughter.
“See? Told you she’s broke. Can’t even afford a better phone, yet she’s claiming she reserved this VIP room,” someone sneered.
“Who uses such a lame phone these days? Our phones are worth thousands each,” another chimed in. On cue, everyone pulled out their phones, each one showing off the latest smartphone model like it was a trophy.
Camila paid no attention to their taunts. She unlocked her phone, opened her contacts, and saw Giovani’s number–the first number pinned at the top.
Just as her finger hovered over the call button, Charlie suddenly snatched the phone from her hand. With a smug grin, he raised it high and slammed it onto the ground with a loud, deliberate motion.
“What’s this piece of junk? Stop embarrassing yourself with it I’ve not a few old phones lying around–way better than this trash. I’ll give you one after the reunion,” he sai Successfully unlocked!ery.
The phone hit the floor with a sharp crack. The screen shattered, and the parts scattered across the room, leaving nothing intact.
“See? I told you it was garbage. I didn’t even use much force, and it broke just like that. Did you pick this up from a junkyard or something?” Charlie added with a laugh.
Chapter 176 Birthday Cake
The group burst into laughter again, treating Camila like a joke, their amusement growing with every insult.
Camila froze the moment she saw her phone shattered on the floor. That phone wasn’t just any device it was a gift from Giovani, something she cherished deeply.
Watching it break right before her eyes was like a punch to the gut, and her anger flared up instantly, burning hotter than she could control.
Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped Charlie hard across the face. The sharp crack of the stap echoed through the room, cutting through the air like a whip.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Look at yourself in the mirror–you’re nothing but a fat, greasy pigt Whold want your crappy phone anyway?” Camila snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.
Her words were punctuated by a relentless series of slaps, each one landing with precision and force. Charlie’s face, already slick with sweat, turned an angry, blotchy red.
Charlie stood there, completely stunned, unable to process what had just happened. The other classmates in the room were equally shocked, their jaws practically hitting the floor as they stared at the scene unfolding before them.
To them, Camila had always been the quiet, studious type–the kind of girl who spent all her time buried in books and never joined in on social outings, even during school breaks,
Throughout high school, she had been a loner, keeping to herself. If she hadn’t been so beautiful and academically gifted she might have been completely invisible.
But her striking looks and top grades made her stand out, and her solitary nature only added to her mystique.
By the time everyone snapped out of their shock, Camila had already slapped Charlie six times in a row.
Finally, Charlie shook off his daze and exploded in rage. “You bitch! How dare you hit me? You’re dead meat he roared, raising his hand to strike her.
Just then, the door to the room swung open.
“Who’s Ms. Clark?” a gentle voice called out.
Everyone turned toward the door in unison. A cake perched on top.
ess stood there, smiling as she pushed a cart with an elegant birthday
“Excuse me, who’s Ms. Clark?” she asked again, since no one had responded.
The woman in the red dress stepped forward confidently. “That’s me. My last name’s Clark,” she said. Indeed, her last name was Clark.
She frowned slightly and asked, “Is there something you need?”
The waitress glanced at her, noting the festive red dress, flawless makeup, and stylish accessories.
She thought, ‘It must be her birthday today. Our manager said Mr. Campbell himself had reserved Room 101 for Ms. Clark’s celebration. Anyone important enough to catch his attention must be extraordinary. I can’t afford to offend her
With that in mind, the waitress’s smile grew even brighter. She carefully pushed the cake forward and said, “Ms. Clark, this is a birthday cake specially prepared for you by Reagon Hotel. Happy birthday!”
The woman in red froze. ‘Birthday? But my birthday is half a month away.‘ Then it hit her. ‘It must be George. Who else would go out of their way to do something so thoughtful for me?
‘It’s been years since our high school graduation, and it’s rare for everyone to find time to gather like this. We don’t know if we’ll meet again after today, so George must have ordered the cake in advance to celebrate my birthday.
‘George is now the sales manager at Campbell Group, a prestigious position. Reserving the VIP Room 101 and having the hotel prepare a birthday cake for me was surely a trivial matter for him, the woman told herself.
E
