Chapter 6
Keith had always been a man of few words, but for the sake of getting me to accept Bessie, he kept emphasizing the same point over and over–even though we were all only children, if our families decided to have a second child, we’d have to accept them as part of the family. Just like Bessie.
He didn’t spell it out, but I understood what he meant: during the three months I’d been away from Manhattan, Bessie had become inseparable from them.
I told him, “I used to think the four of us would be friends for life.”
Keith froze and didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive. Just before pushing open the private dining room loor, he suddenly gripped my hand, his expression conflicted.
‘If you don’t want to do this, I’ll just take you home…”
Jnfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to respond because the door was pulled open from inside.
Bessie’s eyes lit up. “Keith, you actually brought Isabella!”
After three seconds of silence, I heard Keith’s barely audible “Mm–hmm” in response.
Bessie looked at me carefully. “Keith didn’t force you to come, did he?” She seemed eager to explain. “All three of hem are so good to me–they don’t judge me for modeling nude at school, and they all wanted to pick you up when hey heard you were back. But I thought Keith would handle it best since he wouldn’t use force. Isabella, I’m really…. eally sincere about this.”
nside the private room, Alexander and Henry were sitting close together with an empty seat between them, complete with place settings–obviously meant for someone specific.
found a random spot near the door, and surprisingly, Keith sat down beside me with his eyes cast downward.
No one spoke, creating an eerily awkward silence until Bessie waved over a server. Soon all the glasses were cleared rom the table except for two. She eagerly poured fresh juice and offered it to me.
Isabella, I know you have this thing about sharing glasses with them. It’s not very convenient, but since you’re back ‘ll definitely give them back to you first… Oh-!”
She didn’t finish her sentence because I very deliberately poured that glass of juice over her head.
Alexander panicked, quickly pulling her away. “Isabella, what the hell are you doing?! Do you have to bully her to death?!”
Henry jumped up too, frantically tearing open sanitizing wipes to clean the stains on her dress.
Bessie started crying hysterically as I let go of the glass, watching it shatter on the floor.
15:04
Dumped by My Three Crushes for a Gold Digger Now Hat Di
Chapter 6
“You keep trying to provoke me because you want me to play along with your victim act, right? Well, I just did. So tell me, what’s your next move? Where exactly are you planning to replace me?”
Bessie sobbed, “Isabella, I really didn’t…”
Alexander slammed down the juice–soaked towel with a sharp “smack.” “Isabella, you’ve gone too far!”
BANG!
The door burst open as Frederick stormed in, chest heaving like he’d run here in a panic. Before I could react, he pulled me behind him.
“This is how you three ‘protect Isabella‘?!”
All three of them went rigid. Alexander and Henry exchanged glances.
“What are you doing here?”
You could hear Frederick’s heavy breathing throughout the room. Bessie grabbed Alexander’s sleeve, her eyes red but momentarily forgetting to cry.
‘Didn’t Isabella go for portfolio reviews? Since when do portfolio reviews… come with a guy attached?”
Frederick’s gaze fell on her face. “You didn’t have to take any tests and still managed to bring back three.”
That line seemed to insult everyone in the room except me, but I found it satisfying. I patted his shoulder and stepped forward.
‘I actually came here today because I have something to say.”
All eyes turned to me as Keith called out, “Isabella…”
spoke slowly and clearly. “You really didn’t need to create a separate group chat behind my back. If you like Bessie, accept that.”
Henry grinned. “See? I told you we didn’t need to hide it from Isabella.”
However–our friendship ends here. From now on, you can openly parade her around just like Alexander’s been doing.”
Henry’s smile froze on his face. Alexander frowned. “What do you mean? You’re cutting us off?”
Now I’m Dating Then Rival
