A

reactions of the people around me. Everyone seems confused, their clamouring growing louder and louder until their gazes finally land

abet

transforms into something devious, something so evil it makes my blood run cold. She smiles, like she's en

staring down at the floor with fake sa

breaking as tears stream down my face. I glance around the room again, and the more I do, the mo

voice shaking once I see how they're feedi

ss and disappointment written on her face. "Lana, I saw the messages. I didn't want to

pure rage fills my body as

. My closest friend, n

g my head at her, staring at her with disgust. Before I can get a

ntment and fury. She blocks my path and stares b

She seethes, and I s

ry to reason with her, but

gle to find the words to say. I'm too overwhelmed. Finding Tyler cheating with my best friend, and

ad, her hand swings fast, and before I know it, the sharp crack of her palm hitting my cheek echoes through the room. Gasps ring out and my head snaps t

me. "You grew up with nothing and tried to crawl your way into our world like a parasite. Ty

hroat. Everyone's watching, wide-eyed and whispering. No one moves to h

small. "He's lying. He's the one who cheated.

After all, he was safe, because he could give you the life you never had. You never loved him. You used him... And th

You're the one in his bed, Elizabeth. Don't act like th

grief in his voice. "And I don't want to shame her any more than necessary, but I found texts. Pictures. Vide

n perfectly controlled. "But I can't marry

crowd ea

utter, "Typical

Wow, I never tr

Tyler. He des

l crash

oesn't. She simply shakes her head and looks away. My throat aches. My hands shake. I look around the room, at people I've laughed with, da

ieve: the poor orphan girl who conned h

hing?" I whisper. "None of

le

"You need to leave. You'r

them, giving Tyler and Elizabeth one last look before I spin around and run out of the room, through the open double doors, out into the ni

I don't turn. They won't believe me. Not to

on thi

ow what losing me