Chapter 334

 334:
It was then that Kane, sensing the escalating tension, decided to step in. “Come on, Beth, let’s leave it there for now. We’re all old classmates, and it’s been years since we last reconnected. Let’s keep this reunion pleasant.”
With a sigh, Beth relented, her tone tinged with resignation. “Okay, for the sake of old times and Kane, I’ll let it slide.”
Shifting the conversation, Linsey asked, “By the way, I was just looking through our group members. Isn’t Shari in the group yet?”
Kane, scratching his head, replied, “No. She hasn’t clicked accept on my invite. Maybe she’s swamped with other things.”
Before Linsey could ponder further, Beth cut in with another sly remark. “Weren’t you and Shari inseparable back in school? After all this time, I’m surprised you haven’t kept in touch.”
Linsey’s confusion was palpable, her forehead creasing in irritation.
Did Beth really have to pry into every little thing like it was her personal mission?
“Life’s been hectic for all of us; staying connected isn’t always feasible. Is that so hard to understand?” Linsey retorted.
Beth’s next words made Linsey’s irritation deepen into a scowl.
“Really, Linsey, it’s like you’re totally clueless about Shari’s situation, isn’t it?”
Linsey stood rooted to the spot, her heart pounding in her chest. What on earth had happened to Shari?
Without giving her a moment to think, Beth blurted out the news. “She’s gotten divorced. Her husband left her high and dry, and now she’s juggling life as a single mom, barely scraping by. Ugh, what if she’s only coming to the reunion to squeeze some money out of us?”
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The news hit Linsey like a ton of bricks. Shari was divorced and struggling?
A pang tightened in her chest at the thought of what Shari was going through. When Shari left for another country after graduation, their connection faded away.
In Linsey’s mind, Shari had been living the dream overseas, happy and content. But the truth turned out to be nothing like what she had pictured.
Despite Beth’s reputation for being blunt, she wasn’t known to fabricate stories—especially not in front of their old classmates.
Linsey was disturbed by the revelations, her interest in the ongoing group chat quickly fading. She couldn’t bear the thought of prying eyes and wagging tongues dissecting Shari’s misfortunes any further.
Beth, seemingly oblivious to Linsey’s discomfort, tapped out another message with a feigned look of concern. “Just a friendly warning, Linsey—keep your guard up. If Shari clings to you, you might just find yourself in deep trouble.”
Linsey felt a rush of concern wash over her. She couldn’t just sit back and watch from the sidelines, not when it came to Shari’s plight.
The first step, though, was to reconnect with Shari and gauge her current situation—only then could she effectively offer her support.
With a sense of urgency, Linsey reached out to Kane in a private message. “Hey, do you happen to have Shari’s contact info? Could you send it over to me, please?” she typed, her fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard.
Kane responded promptly, providing a phone number along with a cautionary note. “Here’s Shari’s new number. I’ve tried reaching her a few times myself, but she seldom answers. She’s probably overwhelmed—juggling work and her kid, and on top of that, she’s tangled in a messy legal battle with her ex-husband.”
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