Chapter 7
But I quickly realized something was wrong.]
My phone started buzzing constantly with incoming messages–all from friends in my social circle.
[Happy birthday. Daphne!]]]
[Where’s the birthday girl? Why aren’t you here yet?][]
[Crystal Lounge Tower B. Room 707–we’re all here waiting for you!]]
…]
I frowned.
I’d already told my core group of friends that I wasn’t feeling well tonight and we’d postpone the party until tomorrow.
So what was this about?
I clicked on one friend’s profile–Madison–and called her directly.[]
“Hey! Birthday girl! Finally answering your phone! Where did you disappear to? Everyone’s waiting to get you drunk!“[]
Madison’s boisterous voice came through, with chaotic background noise and deafening music
Looking at the familiar decor in her video background, I asked tentatively.
“You’re at Crystal Lounge right now?“]
“Yeah!” Madison panned the camera around to show me the environment.
“Didn’t your Archer send out the notification? He said your birthday party was here tonight and told us all to come celebrate. Several of us are here already, and we brought gifts for you!“]
She suddenly pointed her phone camera at the center of the private room.]
In that instant, my blood pressure shot through the roof again!]
Celeste was sitting on the central sofa with a sweet smile, unwrapping an elegantly packaged gift box.
Around her were piles of gift boxes of various sizes, several already opened.
I recognized the gold embossed brand logos on those boxes immediately–all typical of my friend group’s style.
There was no way Celeste’s scholarship student friends could afford those
I wasn’t trying to be snobby, but I’d seen Celeste’s crowd at school–they dressed simply and lived frugally.
How could they possibly afford gifts worth tens of thousands each?
My voice turned cold.[]
“Madison, those gifts that girl is opening… they are the ones you guys got for me, right?”
Madison looked confused for a moment, then nodded matter–of–factly.
“Yeah. Your Archer said she’s your best friend, you have the same birthday, so you specifically authorized her to receive and open gifts on your behalf.-]
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“By the way. Daphne, when did you make such a ‘good friend‘? How come none of us knew about her? That’s not very nice of you! People who don’t know might think it’s her birthday today!”
I was so angry my whole body went cold, my fingers turning white from clenching them.]
What a perfect “receiving and opening on my behalf“]
What a perfect Archer!]
He actually fucking dared!]]
“Wait for me there.“]]
I squeezed these words through gritted teeth, then hung up abruptly.||
Then I immediately called Archer.[]
The
phone rang for a long time before being answered.]
“What is it?”
His tone was cold and distant, like he was deliberately giving me the cold shoulder, still angry about having to pay for the dress.
I couldn’t care less what he was mad about and launched straight into it.
“Archer! What the hell is wrong with you! What gives you the right to call my friends over to boost Celeste’s party? Are they your friends? What right do you have to invite them?”
“And what gives you the right to let Celeste open the birthday gifts my friends brought for me?!“]
Archer was getting defensive and angry at my accusations.
“Why are you being so nasty? What do you mean ‘boost her party?–||
“I’ll bring your friends” gifts back to you later! Celeste was just helping you open them–it’s not like she’s actually keeping them! Do you think everyone’s as money–obsessed as you are?“]
Clearly, he was still holding a grudge about me making him pay for the dress[]
Before I could respond, he hung up-]
