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Reassured by the doctor, he meticulously prepared before holding me close.
In the quiet room,our heartbeats thundered.
Zach tried contacting me later,but I avoided him,even visiting a different campus building.
While in the restroom, classmates passing by eyed me strangely.
“She’s the homewrecker,right?”
“After her parents died—they say it was her fault—she clung to Zach and refused to let go. Otherwise, how could Fiona have been dumped?”
“Such a good person,and someone stole her love.”
No,it wasn’t like that.
I didn’t mean to hurt Fiona.I wasn’t clinging to him.
Dazed,I felt thrown back to those times when people cursed me.
They called me a jinx,as if misfortune would strike anyone who got near me.
Last life,I couldn’t save myself.Would I suffer for this again?
Clutching my aching heart and with tears falling, I stopped the girls, my voice firm.
“I didn’t wreck their relationship.”
“I recorded what you said.If I hear this again,I’ll call my lawyer.”
“You don’t want a record,do you…”
Stammering, they trembled as they apologized.
Feeling weak, I leaned against the railing and called Ethan.
He arrived quickly,draping his jacket over me,holding me close.
From that day,the rumors stopped.
Ethan said Fiona had spread the rumors. After their breakup, Zach hadn’t spoken to her.
I didn’t sue Fiona,but she left the country,likely never to return.
For some reason, Zach publicly cleared my name, saying he loved me and couldn’t let me go.
He stared at me intently as he spoke.
But I didn’t want to look at him.
My cold demeanor crushed him.
He sought me repeatedly,asking if I truly didn’t love him.
No matter how many times I said it,he’d come back.
I firmly refused to see him.
But when Zach invited me to his mom’s birthday party,I couldn’t say no.
Every childhood friendship likely starts with close-knit parents.
Zach and I were no exception.
After my parents’ accident,his parents took me in, and Zach stayed by my side until I recovered from my grief.
So I couldn’t refuse.
Zach picked me up early. He was wearing a white suit and had brought a matching white dress.
Like couple’s outfits.
“I don’t want to wear it.”
“Rachel…okay,no dress.I’ve never denied you anything.”
Zach lowered his head,pain flashing as he eyed his suit.
I attended the party in a pink dress.
His parents were as warm as ever.At the family dinner,his mom held my hand,probing.
“Rachel,you and Zach grew up together.Remember when you adored him,saying you’d marry him?”
I smiled and declined.“Auntie,that was just childish talk.”
Zach’s eyes dropped,his hand under the table clenching,jealousy raging.
After dinner,his mom asked Zach to drive me home.I didn’t refuse.
He didn’t take me to Ethan’s place but to my old home,where I lived with my parents.
Parking,I looked at Zach.His hands gripped the wheel tightly.“Stay here tonight,okay?”
Seeing his lost expression,I didn’t refuse.
