...

Colin froze, then scoffed, "Come on. You're 29 and still so childish? You think this trick will get my attention?"

His friends echoed him one after another.

"Know your distance."

"An ugly duckling can't beat a swan."

"Are you jealous, pulling this stunt to embarrass him?"

Joyce bowed her head, sounding pitiful. "I'll pay you. Does $20,000 work for you? Just don't hassle Colin anymore. He called you here for my sake. If you're mad, take it out on me."

Colin's heart melted at her words, and he glared at me. "Don't you dare bully Joyce in front of me!"

His hand clapped on my injured arm, and I cried out in pain.

He turned a deaf ear, his eyes fixed on Joyce.

She murmured, "Selena is hurt."

Colin glanced at me, sneering, "If she were really hurt, would she be standing here demanding payment?"

My heart sank at his harsh words. He always assumed the worst of me.

I lost my parents at 15.

Colin's mother, Lauren Porter, supported my education. She was kind and often gave me rides to her house for meals.

Colin was always in the car. He was a year older, raised to be polite and warm.

I owed them so much, and I couldn't help falling for him.

But then, I found out Colin's dad, Mark Porter, was cheating with their nanny.

I tossed and turned all night before telling Lauren the next day.

She divorced Mark without hesitation, going abroad and starting a company that thrived.

Colin chose to stay with Mark, and I felt guilty about ruining his family. So, when he mocked me, insulted me, or pranked me, I never fought back.

But I was human. I got tired.

Enduring the pain, I raised my hand to show a glittering ring on my finger. "Don't worry. I'm engaged. I came today to repay your kindness. Now we're even. Pay up for the cat rescue and my medical bills. Dragging it out looks bad."

...

The place fell silent. Nobody expected that turn of events.

I showed them the payment code, insistent.

Joyce glanced at Colin, but he was dazed. She bit her lip and transferred the money.

"Enjoy your happy lives together," I smirked, turning to leave.

Colin grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing?" I yelped, knocking off his hand.

He stared at my ring. "Are you so desperate to get married? Wearing a fake ring? If it's real, I'll be thanking you for finally leaving me alone. You know how annoying you've been? Like a dog that won't go away."

His mockery hit hard. His friends burst into laughter.

Before, I'd squirm with embarrassment.

In a good mood, Colin would smooth things over. In a bad one, he'd insult me even more harshly.

This time, I didn't hold back. "If I'm a dog, what are you? Poop or a cheap bone nobody wants?"

My sarcasm got under his skin, and the laughter around us died down.

Some tried to defuse the tension.

"Why is this getting so serious?"

"It's just a joke. Don't make it a big deal."

"We're friends, right?"

I looked at their faces, disgusted by their hypocrisy.

All this time, I had put up with them for Colin's sake. With that grit, I could've done anything.

"Forget it. I'm not fit to be your friend," I said, continuing to walk away.

Colin chased after me, but Joyce suddenly cried out, crouching down.

The cat in her arms yowled and bolted.

Colin rushed back to help her up. "What's wrong?"

She held up a scratched hand, sobbing, "Queenie has never hurt me before. I could tell something was off when I held her. I don't know what she went through in the fire."

Colin's brain short-circuited, and he yelled at me, "What did you do to Queenie?"

There he came again, acting like her puppet and blaming me for everything. No matter how flimsy her lies were, he never doubted her.

I looked at him like he was an idiot. "What would I do to a cat that I risked my life to save? It ran off from her arms, so why don't you ask what she did?"

I walked away, done with these dumbasses.

Colin grabbed my wrist and yanked me to the ground. Gravel dug into my wounds, and I grunted in pain.

When I struggled to reach my phone, he kicked it away, demanding, "Apologize to Joyce! You stressed out the cat and got her hurt. You owe her an apology."

...

"I didn't do anything. Why should I apologize?" I struggled to stand up.

My defiance annoyed Colin. He kicked me in the stomach, sending me back down.

Pain shot through my body. I couldn't even speak.

Joyce tugged at his arm, looking uneasy. "No violence, Colin. We can talk it out with her."

He looked at her scratch, pulling her close. "I'm worried about you. You don't have to speak up for her. Stay back and watch how I make this right for you."

She snuggled up against him, shaking her head. "It's fine. She doesn't have a cat or love them like I do. Understandably, she didn't handle it right. I can't hold her responsible, especially since she's hurt."

Colin grudgingly agreed, "Alright. If she apologizes, I'll let it slide."

The others piled on, pointing fingers at me.

"Just take the out and apologize."

"Come on! You're either careless with animals or straight-up abusive."

"Joyce is letting you off. What are you waiting for?"

I tried to get up, but Colin kept pinning me down with his foot, shattering the last bit of hope I was holding onto.

The polite boy in my memory was gone, only a grumpy man left in his place.

He loomed over me. "Apologize!"

My face was pale, but I refused to give in. "For what? Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?"

Someone shouted in the crowd, "What, you think it's right to abuse a cat?"

A bunch of onlookers caught the keyword. Curious or angry, they stepped closer and snapped photos of me.

That schemer pointed at me, spreading lies. "That's her! Looks decent but abuses cats!"

I covered my face, shouting, "I didn't! Check the surveillance. I saved that cat from the fire."

The schemer fell silent, glancing at Colin, who didn't bat an eyelid.

"I know you didn't mean to hurt the cat," he said. "You just don't care about animals. Apologize to Joyce, and I'll let you go. It's your fault the cat freaked out."

I glared, my gaze burning him.

He looked away, then signaled someone to make me bow.

That schemer got close with a smirk. "Wanna get married? You're not bad-looking, and I can grant your wish."

His breath stank of cigarettes.

"Let me go!" I gagged, struggling hard.

The next second, the guy flew two feet back, passing out with a grunt.

A familiar, cool scent hit me as someone helped me up.

I looked up to see a handsome face, and tears poured out.

"You left the party early," he said, his voice deep and soothing. "I got worried and checked the surveillance. I'm sorry I'm late."