After that, everyone in the corner gathered, staring at Arthur with teasing smiles and laughter. They were laughing at him, eager to hear what he had to say to me.

Arthur said, "I've been thinking about you lately... a lot."

I gasped softly, my cheeks reddening. "Hmm, really?"

"Y-yeah... I want you to know that—"

I raised an eyebrow and asked, "That what?"

He looked around and saw that my friends were staring at him. He bit his lower lip in shyness and sighed. "I like you, Kara. I like you a lot..."

Memories flooded back from when we were seven years old. He was the one who saved me from drowning. And from that moment on, I started to like him. Like a hero, like my knight in shining armor.

I was a teenager with a massive crush on him; I shrieked happily and finally said, "Yes!"

Arthur smiled sweetly. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, then!"

"Alright..." I smiled back, my heart pounding as he left.

The disappointment on my friends' faces was so obvious. They shook their heads and asked, "Why?!"

I grabbed them and pulled them inside the stadium. "Why not?" I replied. And added, "He's a good guy—"

"Ew, he's poor," they said, continuing to complain.

And Vivian said, "I have an odd feeling about him. You should dump him in a few days, Kara."

"Oh, Viv, shut up. I like him."

"Oh, right, love is blind."

And I guess, Vivian was right. I was totally blind to see the real Arthur.

Taking a deep breath, I wiped away the tears and steeled myself. Opening the door, I forced my trembling legs back towards the restroom. The sounds I'd heard moments ago echoed in my head, a sickening confirmation of my worst fears.

I was ready to unleash my fury, but a voice drifted through the stall door, laced with practiced seduction.

"So, let me ask you again, baby," Nina purred. "Do you really want to marry her?"

Arthur's reply was cold, devoid of any affection I'd ever known. "You know I only want you, Nina. Kara's...well, she's boring like a typical housewife. That's why I chose you, you're perfect for me."

"Don't worry," he added, his voice dripping with calculated ease. "Even if I marry her, she can't control us. We just need to play the part a little longer."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt like I couldn't breathe because of their betrayal!

And when I was about to walk away, Vivian was already behind me.

“Vivian?” I whispered in astonishment.

Kara’s POV