Chapter 1838


    Mona shook her head, "Nothing, there was a misunderstanding about that thing. I can exin."


    With the way she flustered now, all the unconfirmed suspicions that had haunted Morrison for years


    seemed to coalesce into a stark revtion. It was the final blow.


    "Sure, since you''re scared of being wronged, you''re wee to exin. If I''ve indeed wronged you,


    rest assured, I''ll offer you a sincere apology."


    Rose spoke calmly, her emotions seemingly at bay. Back when she and Chloe used to hang out,


    she always thought Chloe was too nonchnt when dealing with certain issues, as if the person


    being insulted, ndered, or disadvantaged wasn''t her at all.


    Now that it was Rose''s turn, she began to understand that indignation was merely amusement for


    others.


    RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Pain for the loved ones, joy for the foes. And that was exactly what the other party wanted to see.


    Besides, getting too worked up seemed pointless and beneath her. It made her look like a clown.d2


    Most importantly, she had grown ustomed to it. After witnessing so much vile talk, it took a lot to


    get under her skin. Like now, she was the picture ofposure, her mind unusually clear.


    But against Rose''s tranquil demeanor, Mona was visibly rattled. She nced at Morrison and


    caught him staring at her, his narrowed eyes piercing.


    Quickly looking away, she pressed her lips together, "We all used to have such good times. I forgot."


    Rose''s lips twisted into a wry smile,ced with irony. "If that''s the reason, then indeed..."


    Morrison wasn''t deaf to the sarcasm. He wrapped his arm around her, turning her to face him, his


    brows knitted tightly. "What are you trying to say? That winter of our graduation year... you mean my


    birthday?"


    Something struck a nerve, and he took a deep breath before continuing, "Speaking of which, Rose,


    why didn''t youe to my birthday that year? Do you know how long I waited for you?!"


    A flicker passed through Rose''s eyes, "You waited for me?"


    Morrison clenched his teeth, "Thest birthday before graduation, and you stood me up! You always


    came before, but why not thest time..."


    "Morrison," Rose interjected lightly, his grip on her waist tightening.


    He realized something was amiss and quickly loosened his hold, awkwardly rubbing her waist.


    Rose looked up, her expression serene, "You changed the venuest minute and didn''t tell me."


    Morrison''s expression froze, then after a long pause, as if recalling something, he turned to Mona.


    "You didn''t tell her?"


    Mona suddenly felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. She opened her mouth, "I... I forgot."


    After a few seconds of silence, Morrison''s expression turned ferocious. "You said you were going to


    rehearse the y in the activity room and would tell her in person!"


    Mona trembled, "I really forgot..."


    "Forget my ass! You told me not to call her!"


    Morrison''s voice rose sharply, its cold fury almost terrifying.


    Mona recoiled, tears spinning in her eyes, "I..."


    The others were equally frightened into silence.


    Rose watched her calmly. "Everyone knew except for me, Mona, if we speak of malice, you''ve


    always had a head start. Still feel wronged? You can continue to exin."


    Mona bit her lip, her hands clenched, unable to utter a word. She nced at Morrison, but his gaze


    had barely lingered on her.


    What could she say? It was a direct confrontation with Morrison and Rose. Her actions from back


    then were impossible to justify now.


    Morrison had one hand hooked around Rose''s waist, while the other held onto her slender arm.


    "So, you went to the original ce that day?"


    Rose looked at him, her gaze sliding inch by inch across his face, then she asked in return, "Why


    did you decide to change the venue suddenly?"


    Morrison''s lips pressed together, and he looked ashamed. "It was my mistake."


    Rose pressed him, her gaze intense, "Was it your own decision, or did someone suggest it?"


    Morrison looked guilty, "Someone else''s idea."


    "Who?"


    Morrison met her gaze, his voice low, "Asking me to snitch in front of her, you''re putting us both in a


    tough spot, aren''t you?"


    "So, it was Mona who suggested you change the cest minute, right?"


    Morrison''s lips twitched, and he gave a barely perceptible nod. His fingers tightened around her


    waist, signaling her to help maintain his image.


    Rose watched him, a faint smile ying on her lips before she spoke again, her voice soft and


    distant.


    "I did go. I went to the ce you initially chose, but no one was there. I couldn''t reach you on your


    phone. When I finally did get through, it was Mona who answered. She did give me the address but


    neglected to mention the specific location. I thought she''d have informed the staff, but I was turned


    away at the door. When I tried calling you again, there was no answer."


    Morrison''s grip paused.


    "Do you know why I mentioned that winter of our graduation year? It''s because your birthday back


    then was just like today, with heavy snowfall. I called you until my phone died, afraid to leave for


    even a moment in case I missed you, so I waited outside the club the entire night."


    Rose''s voice shook as the suppressed feelings from the past bubbled up, her eyes reddening, a


    mist forming.


    Morrison''s Adam''s apple bobbed, his own emotions swelling in sync with hers. "I did too. I waited all


    night, afraid that if I left, you wouldn''t find me."


    His words trailed off as he embraced her, kissing her forehead, "I''m sorry."


    "I worked for over two months to get your birthday gift ready, and it never got to you. I fell ill the next


    day, and didn''t return to school until after the New Year. By the time the new semester started, your


    attitude had changed drastically. You didn''t give me any exnation, and there was no chance for


    me to approach you and find out what happened.


    “I''ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out if I did anything to tick you off before your birthday,


    to make you mess with me like this."


    "I didn''t," Morrison replied, his voice stiff with the awkwardness of baring his feelings in front of


    Rose. "It''s just seeing you so calm, not picking fights with me for a change, it would''ve made my


    day. That''s why I wanted to celebrate my birthday."


    The confession was awkward, especially for Morrison, who was used to their years of constant one-


    upmanship. Neither had ever shown weakness to the other, and this new vulnerability felt alien.


    Yet, here he was, spilling his guts just like he had at her productunch. This time, though, it felt so


    much more awkward. But what was the difference? In front of her, he''d long since lost his shame.


    Why started being coy now?


    Rose clutched at Morrison’s shirt, her spirits lifted despite herself at his words. Morrison nted a


    few quick kisses on her forehead before stepping back and extending his hand towards her.


    "What''s up?" Rose asked, puzzled.


    "Where''s my present? My birthday gift?"


    Rose hesitated, turning away slightly. "I didn''t get you anything this time."


    Morrison frowned, not with anger but with a hint of hurt on his handsome face. "I mean, I''m thrilled


    you showed up for the party, but I''d be over the moon if you had a birthday gift for me."


    Rose was silent.


    Morrison, trying to cajole her, pecked her cheek. "You''ve got something for me, haven''t you? Come


    on, hand it over."


    Rose ducked her head a little more, gripping her purse tightly.


    "I really didn''t get anything."


    Morrison''s keen eyes caught her subtle gesture and he snatched her purse right from her hands,


    rummaging through it. Aside from car keys, a tube of lipstick, and a velvet box, there was nothing


    else that looked remotely like a gift.


    He triumphantly pulled out the box, grinning at Rose before opening it without hesitation. Inside was


    a tinum bracelet, clearly not meant for a man.


    Morrison paused, holding the bracelet up. "This is for me?"


    Rose blushed furiously, reaching to snatch it back. "If you don’t like it, give it back."


    Morrison instinctively lifted his hand higher to keep it out of her reach. "So you did get this for me?"


    She didn''t answer, but her silence said enough. She still made a grab for it, and he held it even


    higher out of her reach. The two of them looked every part the bickering lovebirds.


    Morrison''s demeanor was like that of a child, ying with the girl''s belongings and teasing her. It


    was a ssic case: the more someone liked another person, the more they wanted to yfully


    tease and bully them.


    To everyone around, the nature of their rtionship couldn''t have been clearer.


    "using Mrs. Witt of bias because she''s an ex-girlfriend, targeting her with one-sided hostility.


    Geez, look at what she''s done."


    "Maniptive since school days, huh? She made someone wait out in the cold all night."


    "She must have been guilty from the start to y such a trick. She''s bold, isn''t she? Doesn''t she


    fear being caught?"


    "And on his birthday of all days, ying such cruel tricks? Given how much she used to focus on


    Mrs. Witt, she must''ve known about her part-time jobs, right?"


    These unabashedments mostly came from those who had previously sympathized with Mona.


    Anger only red stronger with the sense of being tricked.


    "I''m really curious about what she gave Mr. Witt for his birthday back then. Maybe she was afraid


    she couldn''t measure up to Mrs. Witt''s gift, so she resorted to this scheme."


    "I know," someone suddenly spoke up. "It was just like today, she gave him a watch. But unlike


    today, she didn''t put it on Morrison herself."


    Laughter and surprise echoed through the crowd. "What kind of watch? Given Mr. Witt''s status, she


    couldn''t have afforded anything special, right?"


    The same person added, "It was a luxury watch, worth a pretty penny back then. I remember


    wondering how Mona, with her ordinary background, could afford such an expensive gift."


    Mona''s already pale face turned ashen.


    "Maybe I''m overthinking, but there were several thefts at school right before Morrison''s birthday."


    Gasps rippled through the crowd. "Theft?"


    Suspicious gazes turned towards Mona. "Coming from an average family background, yet giving


    expensive watches. Where did the moneye from?"


    The person shrugged. "No idea, just thinking aloud. Don''t jump to conclusions; it''d be terrible to


    wrong someone."


    Sarcasm dripped from the word "wronged." The situation was clearly Mona''s doing, and now it was


    painfully obvious.


    The disdain in the crowd''s eyes was palpable as they looked at Mona.


    Meanwhile, Morrison, who had been yfully engaging with Rose, turned his attention to the


    speaker.


    Rose took advantage of his distraction to snatch the bracelet back. Morrison didn''t protest but


    stared at the man who had spoken, then strode over to him.


    "Mason?"


    The man hesitated. "How do you know my name? We were ssmates, but we never really


    officially met before."


    Morrison''s expression darkened. "Who invited you?"


    Mason raised an eyebrow, a sly smile ying on his lips. "That''s my little secret. But I''m curious, Mr.


    Witt, are you pleased with Mrs. Witt''s attire today?"


    Before Morrison could respond, Rose''s voice rang out. She approached with curiosity. "Mason? I''m


    d you remember me."


    She shed a grateful smile. "You really helped me out back then. I really owe you one. Are you in


    R City now?"


    Mason nodded. "Yep."


    "Then let''s have lunch sometime, my treat..."


    Rose was about to continue when Morrison swept her into his arms, cutting her off mid-sentence.


    "Why bother? Does he look like he needs a meal from you?"


    Mason just chuckled. "Actually, I could use that meal."


    Morrison furrowed his brow in exasperation, "Everything you''ve ever given away, I''ve returned


    double. Enough tost you years."


    Mason blinked, "What?"


    With a look of disdain, Morrison nced at him.


    "Riley."


    "Right here, Mr. Witt."


    "Go order a truckload of tampons to be delivered to Mr. Mason. And make sure they''re top-shelf


    brands. We need to show our sincerity."


    Everyone fell silent. Wow, that was something.


    Although no one else knew why Morrison would suddenly say such things, Mason and Rose


    understood all too well. Rose''s face turned a deep shade of crimson, "Morrison, what on earth are


    you talking about?!"


    Mason chuckled awkwardly, "I think Mr. Witt is just joking. Why would I need so many tampons?"


    Morrison snorted twice, "Who knows? It''s odd for a grown man to be prepared with tampons at all


    times during school. Could it be some sort of psychological quirk?"


    Mason''s mouth twitched. "I''m starting to wonder why Mr. Witt remembers me at all."


    "Yeah, because you''re the guy who walks around with tampons." Morrison retorted.


    Mason paused, "Does Mr. Witt''s jealousy have to be so palpable? You''re still wearing the birthday


    present your ex-girlfriend put on your wrist. Are you sure you want to keep feasting on that stale,


    years-old jealousy?"


    Morrison''s face stiffened for a moment. He looked down, and Rose nced at him before her gaze


    flicked to his wrist. He barely caught the slight drop at the corner of her lips and felt a pang of


    anxiety.


    "No wonder you didn''t appreciate my bracelet. But then again, men prefer watches."


    "Who says that?"


    As Morrison spoke, he began to unsp the watch, tossing it carelessly aside without a second


    thought.


    "Wearing a watch is somonce? I prefer bracelets." he dered with a rebellious pride.