Chapter 8

I thought I had made myself clear enough.

The people who set you up know exactly how wronged you are.

And the people who betrayed you know exactly what they've done.

I blew out the candles on my birthday cake.

The lights in the banquet hall came back on.

And there they were. Standing side by side.

Smiling at me.

Chloe acted like nothing had happened.

She was holding a huge, tacky Swarovski crystal figurine in her arms.

“Surprise!” She pushed it into my hands, all smiles and cheerful chatter.

“I picked this out just for you, Bella. Do you like it?”

Then Alexander dropped to one knee.

He lifted that diamond ring toward me, his eyes full of tenderness.

“Bella, marry me.”

The diamond blazed with light,

and the whole room burst into cheers.

Someone shouted, "Say yes!"

I looked down.

Inside the crystal figurine was a carving of me.

And Chloe had picked the worst possible photo.

It was a shot from some party — me drunk, mouth hanging open,

looking completely out of it.

She had always loved snapping ugly photos of me,

then showing them to Alexander and saying I looked "real" and "cute."

Our friends all raised their phones and started filming.

Chloe stepped behind Alexander.

Her phone was pointed right at me.

Then I saw her smug little smile.

I knew exactly how ridiculous I looked.

There I was — dressed up for the night,

holding that ugly crystal thing,

cheap rainbow light glittering off it. Ridiculous.

Alexander raised the ring a little higher,

urgency creeping into his voice.

“Bella, Chloe got you that gift to make it up to you.”

“Everyone’s watching. Haven’t you been waiting for my proposal?”

Make it up to me?

I lowered my eyes.

Alexander acted like he couldn’t see how cheap and ugly Chloe’s gift was.

I wanted to laugh.

But the tears came first.

Alexander and Chloe thought I was crying because I was moved.

I closed my eyes. I raised my hand —

Suddenly, sharp laughter erupted all around me.

Several bottles of champagne were shaken and aimed straight at me,

spraying me from head to toe.