I fell silent for a moment, snapping back to reality. I saw Heidi's face, a sarcastic smirk playing on her lips.
"Now what? Does it ring a bell?" she asked.
She was taking this moment to humiliate me, but I refused to give her any satisfaction.
"Sorry, I can't remember anything," I lied, turning my back. But before I left, I wanted to warn her about something. "Whatever you have with Rowan, it's none of my business."
Back at the table with my friends, I tried to act like nothing had happened, but I could sense their curious gazes.
"You okay, Mary?" Gail asked.
"Of course, I'm fine," I forced a smile.
Just as I was about to put that unpleasant encounter with Heidi behind me, I saw the door open.
I was startled to see Rowan walk in. He scanned the room, as if searching for someone, and his eyes landed on me. I could see anger in them, though I couldn't understand why.
"Mary!" he called out, his voice loud enough to draw attention from everyone around us, especially my friends.
"Hey, Rowan? What are you doing here?" I asked, puzzled.
"Come with me," Rowan suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me outside the restaurant's corner.
"What's wrong with you?" I was annoyed by his sudden appearance and the disrespectful way he dragged me away, right in front of my friends.
"I should be the one asking, what the hell is wrong with you, Mary? Why did you hurt Heidi?!" He was furious, and I didn't expect the slap he gave me across my cheek.
It was the first time he had ever hit me. I stared at him in disbelief. He showed no sign of remorse—just pure fury.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I held my cheek. The slap still stung, like his palm had left a mark on it.
"What the hell! I didn't do anything to Heidi!" I defended.
"Don't lie to me, Mary. I knew you were harsh on her because I assisted her in the hospital. You're so pathetic! You even pushed her, and now she got a knee injury," Rowan muttered.
In the distance, Heidi hobbled toward us, using her cane, but earlier I saw she could walk properly. Rowan immediately reached Heidi to help her, and she dramatically fell into his arms, as if she wanted to prove Rowan would always catch her.
"You should have stayed in your seat. I would have brought her over to apologize to you," I heard Rowan say, his voice filled with tenderness.
With tears in her eyes, Heidi shook her head. "It's okay, Rowan. It's not a big deal. She didn't do it on purpose. Don't be so hard on her," she said softly.
"No! I won't tolerate this. She needs to apologize," Rowan insisted, his voice laced with venom.
"Rowan, we can't do that. If her brother finds out you hit his sister, it might ruin your friendship. It can also ruin the bond in your packs," Heidi added as if she was concerned.
At the mention of my brother Freddie, a strange expression crossed Rowan's face, but it looked like he didn't mind my brother's reaction as he was too focused on Heidi.
"Freddie entrusted her to me. So I have the right to tell her that what she did was wrong," Rowan clarified.
I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "What exactly did I do wrong? Tell me, Rowan! What right do you have to dictate what's right and wrong to me? And who the hell are you to have the authority to control my life? My brother didn't say anything like that!" I said angrily.
Rowan frowned and seemed agitated. "I am your brother's trusted friend, and you were left under my custody."
"Custody?" I was flustered. "Don't treat me like a kid, Rowan! I'm not a robot for you to control me whenever you want! You can't make me apologize for something I didn't do," I dictated.
Rowan clenched his fists and glared at me. "Enough with your lies, Mary! I knew you did it on purpose because there's no camera in the restroom, but you can't run away from your consequences!"
He treated me like a convict when he had no proof, he just believed Heidi's lies. I felt so helpless, but I had to defend myself and not be stung by the injustice.
"How sure are you that it was me, Rowan? She can't show any proof, but you easily believed what she's saying?" I looked at Heidi, who I knew had made up a story just to ruin my name.
Rowan then shook his head. "Why would Heidi wrongfully accuse you? She must have a reason, and she's not the kind of person who lies. I've known her since we were kids," he defended her.
"So you're saying I'm the liar here?" I asked, bitterly.
After years of being together, I thought he would trust my character, but I was wrong. In front of Heidi, our six years meant nothing.
One word from her, and my name would be ruined, and I had no chance to defend myself. I would instantly become a convict in his eyes. Indeed, she was the favorite one, and I was just his second best. She was his everything, and I was nothing but a replacement.
There was no point in arguing. I would just waste my time with these idiots who knew nothing but how to humiliate me.
"Where are you going?" Rowan asked as I turned my back.
I stopped for a second to give him one last look. "Somewhere peaceful, somewhere you don't exist," I mumbled.
