Chapter 4Ten Chances to Keep Me: Why I Chose His Brother

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Mia was my best friend, and her family was incredibly wealthy.

All the expenses for today's dinner were covered by Mia herself.

This made the few people who were eating snacks silently put them down.

Mia took a deep breath and forced a smile: "You don't need to pay."

"How could I do that?"

"Then what are you here for?"

Chloe frowned, as if puzzled: "Didn't I come to celebrate your birthday?"

Mia was completely exasperated. She put her hands on her hips, just about to unleash a tirade.

Liam suddenly appeared. He placed himself directly between her and Chloe, creating distance between the two.

His face was dark.

When he caught sight of me in his peripheral vision, his accusatory gaze immediately locked onto me.

He walked past Mia and stopped in front of me:

"Nora, aren't you going a bit too far?"

"I used to think you were kind and innocent, but I truly never imagined you would lead a group to isolate Chloe."

"That guy was right. Whenever you encounter Chloe, you turn into a psycho!"

His tone was filled with anger.

My chest swelled with a slight ache. I was a bit slow to react, then pointed at myself:

"You're saying I'm isolating her?"

"Isn't that true? You guys are over here eating, drinking, and having fun, leaving her all alone over there. If you never intended to include her in your circle, why did you invite her over?!"

Liam's words sounded incredibly self-righteous.

I just found it mocking. Ten years of childhood friendship, and it meant absolutely nothing.

A friend spoke up for me: "No, Liam, is there something wrong with you?"

"Chloe is the one who didn't want to come over. She said she felt bad eating without paying. Is it a bit much for you to blame this on Nora?"

"Yeah, what kind of person is Nora? Don't you know?"

Liam scanned the group, sneering: "You're all Nora's friends. Of course you'd take her side."

"Even if she killed Chloe right here today, I bet you'd all rush to cover up for her—"

"Are you done?" I raised my eyes to look at him.

Liam was silenced for a moment, but his face was still full of indignation, his brow furrowed.

"Liam, if you want to stand up for Chloe, fine. But please get your facts straight."

I tilted my chin up, pointing directly at the car Mia drove today: "The dashcam. You can go review the footage yourself."

"Whether we were bullying her, or she was putting on an act to make herself look like a victim, it's crystal clear!"

Mia immediately caught my drift.

She turned and started running toward the car. At that moment, Chloe, who hadn't said a word, finally spoke up.

She took a deep breath and tugged on Liam's arm.

"It's just a small misunderstanding. No need to blow it out of proportion."

"Since Ms. Vance doesn't welcome me, I'll just leave."

After saying that, she flashed a gentle smile at me.

Poised, bright, and kind.

Mia wanted to rip Chloe's mask off right then and there, but I stopped her. In the end, Liam threw one last line at me:

"Nora, if your dad finds out you're throwing your weight around bullying people outside, just wait until you get grounded."

"I'll tell him everything."

Leaving those words behind, he turned and immediately chased after Chloe.

Without looking back.

Once their figures completely disappeared from my sight, Mia said indignantly:

"No way. Chloe is that fake, and you can tolerate it? Are you a Ninja Turtle?"

"Liam is acting like he's under a spell. Right now, he's definitely thinking about how to tattle to your dad and call off the engagement."

I gripped the boba tea in my hand tightly, a chill spreading from my palm to my heart.

"It doesn't matter."

"If he doesn't want to be my husband, then I'll be his sister-in-law."

"I'll make him kneel and offer me tea every holiday."

Grandpa Vance had said before, whoever I chose would be the heir to the Vance family. Liam wasn't willing, but someone else was.