Thorne was overly eager to please, but no matter how expensive his car was, his status was still leagues beneath hers.
Yet Ivy didn’t spare him a single glance. She remained cold and distant, her gaze locked onto me instead.
I turned away, refusing to meet her eyes and took another slow drag of my cigarette.
Then came the sharp click of high heels, closing the distance between us. A familiar scent followed: sweet, intoxicating, unmistakably Ivy.
She stopped right in front of me. Without hesitation, she reached out, fingers gripping my chin, forcing me to look at her.
"Cassius, back then, I liked you so much. I followed you around every single day, but you chose Lilith instead."
"And look at you now."
"You don’t even own a car and Lilith has already cut ties with you."
Her nails dug into my skin as she tightened her grip. Then, with a smirk, she murmured, "What do you think? It’s not too late. You don’t have to marry into my family, just say the word and I’ll divorce my husband right now to marry you."
Back in high school, I had my fair share of admirers, but Ivy had been the most relentless.
She wasn’t even in my class, yet she sat through our lessons every day just to chase after me.
"Cut it out. You already have a kid; what nonsense are you spouting?"
I brushed her hand away, uninterested.
Ivy huffed, clearly making things up just now.
But there was still resentment in her eyes.
"Cassius, if I were you, I wouldn’t have shown up at this reunion. You’re just begging to be humiliated."
Thorne rushed over, eager to put on a show in front of Ivy.
I said nothing, taking another slow drag of my cigarette.
Seeing this, Thorne turned to Ivy with a smug look. "Ivy, don’t tell me you actually came here for Cassius?"
"Of course not." Her tone was indifferent, detached.
"Although Lilith and I were love rivals, we kept in touch online. We actually get along quite well."
"We talked for a while last night and she agreed to come today. She even said she’d introduce me to the owner of this place."
"Really?"
Thorne’s face lit up with enthusiasm. "Ivy, since we’re all classmates, why not take me along?"
"That’s not up to me." Ivy’s lips curled into a faint smirk. "It depends on what Lilith says."
"My relationship with Lilith is great. She even lent me her membership card for Evergreen Pavilion."
Ivy shot him a glance but didn’t say much. Instead, she lightly kicked my leg. "Give me a cigarette."
I handed her a cigarette without a word.
Ivy took it, flipping the pack over as if out of habit. Clicking her tongue, she mused, "Still smoking the 329s? These aren’t easy to find. Where did you get them?"
"A work benefit." I smiled.
Thorne scoffed. "Fake, I bet."
"Maybe." I shrugged.
At that moment, the grand entrance of Evergreen Pavilion swung open, not the side doors, but the central ones.
Evergreen Pavilion had strict rules. Regular guests were only allowed through the side doors. The central doors opened only for the truly distinguished.
As the heavy doors parted, heads turned.
A red carpet unfurled beneath the golden glow of chandeliers as staff moved with practiced precision.
A stout man in a tailored suit emerged, a folding fan in hand, flanked by an entourage.
Thorne stiffened, instinctively smoothing out his clothes. His voice dropped to an awed whisper. "This has to be a big shot… The owner of Evergreen Pavilion wouldn’t personally open the main doors otherwise."
Even Ivy, who had just lit her cigarette, flicked it away, her demeanor shifting. A rare moment of unease crossed her face as she hissed, "Straighten up. Don’t embarrass me.
Everyone straightened their clothes, their expressions turning serious.
Just as Ivy was about to step forward and greet him, the owner of Evergreen Pavilion did something unexpected: he walked over himself.
Ivy and Thorne immediately rushed to meet him, their smiles bright and eager.
I, however, remained where I was, casually leaning against a car, cigarette between my fingers.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, the owner didn’t just walk; he jogged over.
Thorne shot me a sharp glare before smacking the back of my head. "Stand up!" he hissed.
