Tommy observed Jackie and Cassie, both engrossed in their mobile phones, and leaned over to Caleb. "Now's your chance to run," he whispered with a smirk. Caleb chuckled in response, but Jake chimed in, adding a note of caution. "Just be careful, okay Caleb?" he said, his tone serious. Caleb could sense the worry in his friends' expressions, their concern evident as they glanced at him. But Caleb wasn't fazed. He knew better than to believe Cassie was here to humiliate him. After all, now that Cassie knew his true identity and his immense wealth, he understood that her attitude towards him had shifted dramatically. He was well aware that Cassie was here to fawn over him, to try and seduce him like she had attempted the other night. While his friends might be apprehensive, Caleb felt confident in his ability to handle the situation. He remained calm, steeling himself for whatever Cassie had in store. As they approached the table where the two women awaited, Caleb was keenly
"Jackie..." Both women turned their heads towards them, their expressions shifting accordingly. Jackie's smile appeared forced as she noticed Caleb with Tommy, while Cassie's grin stretched across her face, seemingly larger than life as she returned from her friend's table. A flash of disgust crossed Jackie's face as she turned to look at Cassie. "That loser delivery boy is coming here? Are you planning on humiliating him right now or a little later?" she whispered, her voice tinged with eagerness. "Actually, now would be perfect," she continued, her eyes scanning the packed cafeteria. "Look around, it's full of people. This is the best time to make sure everyone sees it," she added, her tone dripping with anticipation. "I was thinking maybe—" she began, her mind already racing with ideas on how to make the scene as humiliating as possible for Caleb. But before she could finish her sentence, Cassie hastily walked past her towards Caleb, chirping happily, "Caleb, you're here!
A faint smirk danced across Caleb's lips, though his outward demeanor remained composed. Internally, he chuckled at the irony of the situation. There was no need for him to feign wealth because, in truth, he was immensely wealthy. Ignoring Cassie's glares, Jackie squared her shoulders and addressed Caleb directly. "You didn't need to explicitly say you were rich," she began, her voice unwavering. "But you certainly gave off that impression when you were generously buying drinks for everyone at the table at the bar. It was obvious you were trying to impress everyone, including my cousin. And I'm damn sure you didn't have the money to cover those drinks. I bet my boyfriend here gave you the money to make you look good in front of everyone." Tommy reached out, gently grasping Jackie's arm, his touch urging her to reconsider. "Jackie, please, let's not make a scene," he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't the time or place for this. We're in a crowded cafeteria.
Jackie crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she continued, "All I asked was for your 'friend,'" she air quoted sarcastically, "to apologize to Cassie. Not a big crime, right?" Her tone dripped with sarcasm and frustration, emphasizing her point as she looked around at the watching students. Tommy had enough of Jackie’s relentless attempts to humiliate Caleb. Stepping forward, he firmly said, "Okay, Jackie, that's enough. You're going too far. This isn't fair to Caleb, and it's not helping anyone." Jackie laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Me? Going too far?" she pointed at herself, her eyes flashing with indignation. "And what about your friend? Didn't he go too far that night at the club? Pretending to be something he's not? Trying to fool everyone, especially Cassie? You think that's okay?" Her voice rose with each word, dripping with anger and frustration. "I can't believe you're defending him after what he did." Tommy's face tightened with frustration. "So wh
"Are you out of your mind? Stop this foolishness and let's go!" "No, Jackie. I'm staying." Jackie's body tensed, her eyes locked onto Cassie, desperately searching for any sign of what was transpiring within her cousin's mind. The words hung heavy in the air, and Jackie felt her chest tighten as she struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before her. "What on earth are you saying, Cassie?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief and a tinge of desperation. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, but in that moment, all sound seemed to fade away, leaving only the weight of everyone's eyes on Jackie. She felt a surge of uncertainty, her thoughts racing as she tried to unravel the mystery behind Cassie's words. As murmurs rippled through the cafeteria, Jackie noticed the stunned expressions on the faces of her classmates. However, it was Jake and Tommy whose reactions were most pronounced. Their eyes widened with disbelief, their expressions mirroring the shock
"I'm really sorry for the unnecessary commotion my cousin caused, Caleb," Cassie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at him, hoping that Jackie hadn't ruined anything between them. She couldn't afford to have Caleb distance himself from her. It was crucial for her plans that she stayed on his good side, if she wanted things to work out the way she intended. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding on her part, and for that, I apologize on her behalf," Cassie said, her voice trembling slightly. She struggled to maintain her composure. She could feel the tension in the air, each second stretching painfully as she worried about the damage done. Her eyes darted to Caleb's face, searching for any sign of forgiveness or understanding. The entire cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. Tommy and Jake exchanged bewildered looks, unable to believe what they were hearing. The other students, who had been sure that Jackie wo
Jake leaned in close to Tommy, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I bet you ten bucks she won't do it," he whispered, unable to contain his amusement at the absurdity of the situation. Tommy chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're on," he replied, equally entertained by the spectacle before them. "But I have a feeling this is far from over," Tommy mused, curiosity evident in his voice. "Jackie cares too much about her image to apologize to someone she considers beneath her." He paused for a moment, observing Jackie with clenched fists and eyes filled with conflicting emotions as she stared at Cassie. "But then again, Cassie is the one person Jackie truly cares for..." His voice trailed off, his gaze still fixed on the unfolding drama, intrigued to see how it would all play out. Cassie stared at her cousin, her eyes narrowed with impatience. Her right foot tapped rhythmically against the white tiled floor of the cafeteria, each tap echoing her growing frustration. She sneere
Although Jackie had apologized to Caleb on the surface, a simmering anger bubbled underneath. She shot a sharp glance at Tommy, her frustration evident. "Cassie and I came all the way from our dorms and waited for an hour for you guys to show up," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "And now you want to treat us to a meal in this shabby college cafeteria? Seriously?" Cassie shifted uncomfortably beside her, sensing the tension rise again. "Jackie, it's OK, I don't mind..." she began, but Jackie held up her hand, cutting him off. "No, Cassie, I did what you asked. Now let me say what I need to say." Cassie glanced at Caleb, trying to gauge his reaction, searching his face for any sign of anger or irritation. Tommy's face fell slightly, and he closed his eyes momentarily. He knew it was too good to be true. His girlfriend always wanted the last word, unable to let things go without having the final say. The weight of Jackie's words hung heavily in the air. He glanc