Chapter 8
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. How could they say such things about me? I was their mate, their partner, and yet they were treating me like some kind of villain.
Amy’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she listened to Dylan and Marcus’s words. She was eating up their attention, and I could see the satisfaction in her eyes.
“Thank you, Dylan. Thank you, Marcus,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. “You two are the best. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. How could they be so blind? Couldn’t they see that Amy was manipulating them, using them to get what she wanted? How could they believe Amy’s lies so easily? Didn’t they know me at all?
But as I watched them fawn over Amy, I realized that they had never really known me. They had only seen what they wanted to see – a weak and vulnerable girl who needed their protection.
And now, they were using that same narrative to justify their behavior towards me. They were using Amy’s lies to demonize me, to make me out to be the villain.
I felt a surge of determination. I was not going to let them get away with this. I was going to fight back, to clear my name and show them the truth. But soon Amy’s pretentious voice sounded, pulling me back from my thoughts, “What about Bella? Will she not expect gifts from you? After all, she has topped the university in which I hardly managed a seat.”
Her voice was laced with sadness and self mockery, showing herself inferior to gain sympathy. My two blind mates exchanged a glance before they speak, “Amy, if you feel inferior to Bella because of your grades, next time we will bribe the officials and will have your grades increased, even better than Bella.”
“Yes, we can do anything for you, and don’t you worry about Bella’s gifts. We have also bought gifts for Bella, but much cheaper than yours. If you two wear these dresses and accessories on the same occasion, you would look like a princess and Bella your maid.” Marcus added.
“Thanks Dylan,” she said excitedly. “Using money to increase grades is still a better option than sleeping with the directors. I can also use these methods
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when others are passing all boundaries just to be in the top.”
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“About whom are you talking, Amy? Who is sleeping with the directors to increase their grades?” Dylan asked in amusement, and as expected, Amy continued in her pretentious tone, “Did you not hear about it? Bella is seen coming out of the directors‘ car in the middle of the night. Her shoulders were exposed and her inner garments were quite revealing. Our classmates are assuming she has slept with the directors of the university just to get admission in the same university as us.”
“Is this why she was bullied the other day in college?” Marcus asked, his eyes darkening.
“Yes, our batchmates were quite angry at her. After all, she snatched the seat of a deserving student by selling herself to an old hag.” Amy said with a grinning face. As if seeing the changes in my mates‘ expression, she tried to cover herself with other pretentious remarks, “But, it’s all rumours speculating in our classmates. We are not sure if she has actually done something as low as this. Do you think Bella can stoop this low?”
Out of anger, I couldn’t hold myself back and pushed open the door only to see their faces hang open in shock. The color from their faces faded as they looked up at me with their pale faces.
“Bella…” Marcus was the first one to respond as he stood up, maintaining a safe distance from Amy, “What are you doing here?”
“I happened to visit my beta’s home. Since Amy’s home is located just next to him, I thought to give my BEST FRIEND a visit,” I said in sarcasm before adding with a pair of dark eyes, “But, it seems like my best friend and mates are having some quality time together. I shouldn’t have interrupted you guys. Sorry to disturb you.”
I could see the guilt and regret in their eyes with the fear of being caught. Dylan immediately got up from his place and walked closer to me, saying, “What quality time, Bella? Don’t misunderstand us. We came to your pack to congratulate you and Amy with gifts. You weren’t at your home. So, we decided to visit Amy first.”
I was stunned to see how confidently Dylan lied to me. If only I knew my mates were able to stare straight into my eyes while lying, I wouldn’t have suffered two lives in their hands. Just then, Marcus picked up a paper bag and walked closer to me, saying, “Watch this, Bella. Dylan brought you such a beautiful dress. You will look like a queen when you wear it.”
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བདཔད་་་ up ཕལ་ད མ་ walked closer to me, saying, “Watch this, Bella. Dylan brought you such a beautiful dress. You will look like a queen when you wear it.”
I stared at the dress. It was a third grade gown made up of a fabric that could tear any second. Compared to what Dylan gave Amy, it really looked like * was designed for the stand–in to wear because it had the same design as Amy’s gown, just the quality was too poor. One could easily tell that Amy’s gown was a masterpiece while mine was a duplicate just to make its copy.
“Look, what I have brought for you,” Marcus added while presenting me with a ring made up of pink diamonds. It also had the same design as Amy’s necklace but it wasn’t a duplicate. It seemed like Marcus had gifted the whole set of necklace to Amy, but chose to give only its ring to me.
I smiled ironically watching their so–called genuine love for me before I said, “I don’t think I deserve these precious gifts. You better give these duplicates to Amy along with the original ones. Don’t worry, I’m not wearing any expensive dresses or accessories in a freshers party. Even if I wear my own dresses, your Amy will still stand out in the party, looking like a princess you two want.”
Out
After throwing out these words, I slammed the door closed and walked
Chapter 8
