Chapter 79
As soon as Ellie entered the room, the atmosphere shifted, and a wave of excitement filled the air. She stood awkwardly in the middle, feeling out of place, her discomfort growing with every passing second. She was on the verge of fleeing when Lacey, eager to introduce her, was interrupted by Haley.
“Lacey, let me handle the introductions,” Haley insisted with a smile that seemed more possessive than friendly.
Lacey, surprised by Haley’s sudden intervention, raised an eyebrow. “Haley, do you two know each other?”
Haley nodded confidently, and all eyes turned toward her. She walked over to Ellie, who seemed entirely uninterested in acknowledging her presence, and didn’t show any signs of discomfort. Haley smiled, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “I never would have guessed that Lacey’s friend is actually Alex’s sister!”
The room buzzed with surprise, and Ellie could feel the eyes of everyone on her. The room erupted in gasps and teasing comments.
“Wow, so she’s Alex’s sister? She’s really stunning!”
“Hey, Haley, does your sister-in-law have a boyfriend?”
“No wonder Lacey praises her so much. She’s truly a stunning beauty!”
Ellie felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. Haley, always the center of attention, had never imagined someone like Ellie could steal even a fraction of her spotlight. The thought of being compared to a “poor girl from the countryside” didn’t sit well with her, and Ellie noticed a flash of irritation in Haley’s eyes.
Pushing down her discomfort, Haley smiled sweetly at Alex. “Even though Ellie doesn’t share the same last name, Alex is very fond of his sister and keeps a very close watch on her.”
Ellie, hearing the veiled implications in Haley’s words, couldn’t help but feel a bitter irony rise within her. Haley’s words seemed to carry a hidden suggestion, as if to point out her lower social status. Ellie quickly considered leaving, but before she could gather the courage, several people rushed over and dragged her to a seat.
She looked around, startled to find that there was a handsome man sitting on each side of her, both of them staring intently at her, their eyes unnervingly focused. Her mind spun with confusion and anxiety—she didn’t want to be there, but at the same time, she didn’t know how to leave. She simply sat there, avoiding Alex’s gaze as best she could.
“Since everyone’s here, let’s play truth or dare,” someone suggested, and the group eagerly agreed.
Ellie, not wanting to seem rude, reluctantly joined the game. To her surprise, in the very first round, Alex lost to Layton. Layton, grinning mischievously, turned to Alex and asked, “Alex, who’s the woman you love the most?”
Alex didn’t hesitate, answering, “My mom!”
The room erupted in laughter, and Ellie couldn’t help but smile. She had expected him to say Haley, but his answer was a pleasant surprise.
Layton, enjoying the game, asked the next question, “Who do you most want to marry?”
Alex, without missing a beat, said, “Obviously, my girlfriend.”
Ellie glanced at Alex, only to see him put his arm around Haley with a suggestive look that made her stomach tighten. She quickly turned her head away, fighting the discomfort rising inside her.
Layton’s third question was, “If both your sister and your girlfriend were in danger, who would you save first?”
Alex, glancing briefly at Ellie, replied casually, “Of course, I would save my girlfriend.”
Ellie felt a cold wave of discomfort surge through her. She gripped her cup tightly, her fingers aching as she struggled to conceal her unease. His answer felt like a slap in the face.
The room was growing louder, the energy shifting as someone called out, “Since Alex and Haley are so in love, why not have a public kiss?”
The crowd cheered eagerly. “Yes, yes, they must kiss!”
Ellie felt as though the walls were closing in on her, the atmosphere becoming suffocating. Her heart ached as she watched Alex lean in toward Haley, who shyly turned her face away. With playful determination, Alex pinned her to the sofa and leaned in again.
Haley, now laughing nervously, begged for mercy, but Alex chuckled softly, cupping her face gently as they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. Ellie looked away, her heart heavy with something she couldn’t quite name.
