Chapter 3

Back then I was stubborn, believing that childhood sweethearts meant love, and that I'd found a best friend who always had my interests at heart.

But reality dealt me a heavy blow.

And now, of all people, I had no choice but to turn to Pamela for help. This childhood friend saw things more clearly than I did.

"All right, look at the face you're making. You don't owe me millions, so it's not worth me squabbling with you."

Pamela is very observant. She noticed my awkwardness and spoke up right away to smooth things over.

"Pamela, do you really think I'm that awful? Even my own mother doesn't approve of me."

I felt a little wistful. As the car drove farther and farther, Pamela was taking me to the airport.

I'd chosen a new job, a new life—or you could say I was running away.

"Your mother just lives in an older world. If you really argue it out with her, it'll probably backfire. Better to just smooth it over."

"Give it time, and she'll see it for herself. Besides, you were the top student back then—how could you be awful? If it weren't for..."

Pamela stopped there, and I understood what she meant.

Because that was exactly when our constant arguing began.

Pamela dropped me at the airport, and I boarded the plane, just as I'd hoped. I thought I'd finally be rid of that irritating Samuel, rid of that disgusting Lena for good.

But I'd still underestimated how things would unfold.

I'd only just arrived and found a hotel to stay in for a while. Since I still had to prepare for the interview, I also meant to clear my head a bit.

But the very next day, the moment I woke up, there was a frantic knocking at the door.

I hurried into my clothes and went to open it, but the instant the door opened, I froze.

Samuel had come.

Lena was there too, and even my mother was there.

And to my even greater surprise, the police had shown up.

That was truly the last thing I expected.

"You? How did you find me here?"

Before I could gather myself, Samuel spoke first. "Willow, I've been so good to you—why would you do this?"

"Tell me! Who exactly have you been carrying on with?!"

"Running off from your own wedding, and going to the next city over for a secret rendezvous."

Samuel hurled slander at me without a pause, leaving me completely bewildered.

"You brat, grown your wings now, have you? Daring to run out on your wedding! Do you have any idea how many relatives are watching..."

My mother took over next, the spit flying without stopping for a second.

If the two officers who'd come along hadn't stepped in to cut them off, they'd have gone on cursing me for at least another half hour.

A moment passed.

The officer looked at Samuel and the two others with a stern expression. "This is a family matter. Don't let it disturb the hotel. Keep things peaceful within the family, talk it out properly, and don't carry on the way you were just now."

The officer meant well with his advice, but it did no good.

It was from the police that I learned they had gone straight to calling the police after finding out I'd fled the wedding.

And the charge was absurd, deeply insulting!

They had reported me for prostitution!

And my dear mother had testified to it herself! That was how the police had been able to trace me and get here so fast.

Ha. With data tracking, no one really can get away.

But it also makes it that much easier for people this vile to grow bolder.

By now there was no anger left in my eyes, no other emotion either—only disappointment settled into calm.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

I'd had enough of the nagging, the humiliation.

I did my best to steady myself, so I wouldn't sink into being one of those filthy people who can't tell right from wrong.

"Willow, your mother and Samuel didn't mean anything by it, they were just worried about you."

Lena spoke up. Hearing her words, watching her put on that pitiful little act, it was as if she were the one who'd been wronged.

She made me sick.

This was the best friend I'd known all those years.