Classic Novel
Game over
Veronica observed, sipping her cocktail, “Ah, so you two are acquainted.” She taunted Martha, “Give this cocktail a try; after all, you seem to enjoy coveting what doesn’t belong to you.”
Martha, a hint of fear in her voice, responded quickly, “Um, I don’t know him.”
Veronica clicked her tongue in irritation, shaking her head at Martha’s facade. How could she have been so blind to see the girl’s true color all these while?
Everyone eyed the person who had just stepped in with confused expressions on their faces. The boy seemed to be around their age, however, he wasn’t familiar at all. He didn’t bear the hallmarks of someone from their high school.
“Who’s he?”
“No idea.”
“Recognize him?”
“Not at all.”Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.
Veronica smiled, reassuring them, “Relax, everyone. You’re about to meet him now.”
Martha’s heart raced, fear escalating within her.
Veronica turned to the newcomer, asking, “Tell us who you are and what brings you here.”
The guy’s eyes shifted, locking onto Martha. “I’m Jason, Martha’s boyfriend.”
The room erupted in chaos once again.
“What?!!!”
“Boyfriend?”
“Isn’t Max her boyfriend?”
The guy sneered. “I’m her real boyfriend whom she’s kept hidden from you all. You see, Martha and I go way back; we’ve been dating for a long time. Though it was my idea for her to mingle with you rich folks… Right, Martha?”
However, the girl remained frozen in place, not daring to look at anyone right now.
Jasper glanced at Mia, “Don’t be deceived; Martha never genuinely loved you. She loves no one more than herself, that much I’ve come to understand. She was only using you. She needed someone meek to help her around… and you came in handy.”
Mia was stunned. Throughout high school, she’d never seen this person, and she never knew her best friend had a hidden relationship with someone. And what was he saying about her being used?
“Martha, do you really think I’ll stand by and let you marry that rich kid?” Jason scoffed, shifting his attention to his disappointing girlfriend.
“You’re using me as a stepping stone-after everything I’ve done for you. I paid your school fees, brought you to the city, and now you want to leave me for someone who isn’t even yours to begin with?
At first, I considered letting you be with him-of course, because it will be beneficial to the both of us. But every day, I thought about it. You’d get married and discard me. I can’t let that happen. I shouldn’t let that happen, right?”
He clicked his tongue and addressed everyone, “You see, folks, I edited the audio recording myself. Martha sent it to me, wanting to frame Mia as the boyfriend snatcher. I doher dirty work. I always do.
“Anyways, here’s the unedited version.” Chuckling, he reached into his front pocket, producing his phone. Moments later, a voice recording played:
“If Max and I had been together before you started dating, things would be different, but…”
Everyone in the room recognized the voice in the recording-it was Martha’s.
“Don’t worry. We’ll simply explain to everyone that you and Max used to be together. I supposedly disrupted your relationship, stole Max from you, and now, you two have rekindled your love and are back together.” This revelation came from Mia.
“Oh no! That’s too much? Can we really go along with that?”
“No, it’s nothing. It’ll be fine.”
Sobs echoed, followed by a “thank you” from Martha.
The audio ceased, plunging the room into profound silence. If a pin dropped at this moment, its sound would reverberate clearly and loudly.
However, the silence only held for a fleeting second. The next moment, the room erupted in a cacophony as everyone spoke simultaneously.
“This is unbelievable!”
“And I thought Mia was the culprit, not knowing she’s the-”
“Victim!”
“Martha’s been lying to us!”
“Martha is the boyfriend snatcher!”
“How could she?!”
“Martha is such a horrible person!”
“From the recording, it’s clear she manipulated Mia into saying those things.”
“Emotional blackmail!”
“Martha, you’re a terrible person.”
“You have a special place in hell!”
A knot twisted in Martha’s chest as she absorbed every word. She dug her fingernails into her palms, feeling them break skin.
She was completely done for.
How the entire situation flipped against her within thirty minutes left her utterly bewildered, confused, and irritable. She desperately wished for the ground to open and swallow whole her right now.
“Mia, it’s not like that…” Martha sputtered, her lips quivering uncontrollably.
Mia Thompson gazed at her expressionlessly.
“Who are you?” She asked in a low voice.
After tonight’s revelations, she couldn’t help but see the girl differently-like she was a total stranger.
“I’m still me, Mia. I’m Martha. Don’t mind them.” Martha rushed nervously, gripping Mia’s hand.
“I find that hard to believe.” Mia shook her head, withdrawing her hand swiftly.
Turning to leave, she halted after just a couple of steps.
In the doorway stood Max Anderson.
Martha, following Mia’s gaze, gasped and froze upon seeing Max.
The young man wore a heartbroken expression as he gazed at her. Slowly, he inched closer and asked in an almost inaudible voice, “Is everything true?”
Martha trembled, hot tears streaming down her face. “I-It’s… Max, I-” No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t seem to get words out of her mouth.
Max breathed out heavily in bewilderment. She didn’t need to say anything; the look in her eyes had already given her away.
“I thought you loved me. I left Mia for you. So, you were using me… You even have another boyfriend…” He felt betrayed, and his heart broke further. “How could you? I thought what we share is genuine.”
Upon hearing him, the onlooking ex-classmates broke out in gasps.
“So, it’s true. Max was originally with Mia.”
“Oh, poor Mia.”
“I feel sorry for her.”
Shaking his head at Martha, Max turned away and exited the venue. He had a lot to say, however, he felt empty. As he passed by Mia, his steps slowed momentarily and he glanced at her briefly before marching out.
Martha, tears flowing, rushed after him.
Blinking back tears, Mia resumed walking and also left the place.
“Show’s over. Bye, guys!” Veronica placed her glass on a table and quickly followed her friend. Vivian did the same, trailing behind.
As Mia stepped outside, a cool breeze gently brushed her face, and she sighed deeply, releasing all her frustration.
“You do need that.” A deep, magnetic voice from the side startled her.
Turning, she met the speaker’s gaze. Recognizing him, she immediately shuffled into his embrace, pouring her heart out.
Shawn’s thin lips curled into a comforting smile as he patted the girl’s back. “Un. Let it all out.”
The CEO anticipated his wife’s impending breakdown after discovering the truth, prompting him to come directly from work.
After the girl’s tears subsided, he assisted her into the vehicle, and they soon headed home.
From a distance, Veronica and Vivian observed as their vehicle disappeared, a subtle smile playing on their lips. They, too, headed to their respective homes.