Chapter 207

By the time Penelope returned, the ceremony had already started. A promotional video for the university was playing on the big screen.
As she took her seat, a woman in a black dress next to her spoke up. “Well, if it isn’t our class beauty. Still looking as bewitching as ever after all these years.”
It didn’t sound like a compliment.
Penelope didn’t quite recognize the woman, though she looked vaguely familiar. The tone, however, confirmed she was a former classmate.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” the woman asked, raising an eyebrow.
Penelope replied coolly, “I’m sorry, have we met?”
“Penelope, you’re just as arrogant as you were in school.”
“If I’m arrogant, then what does that make you?”
Penelope turned her head to face the front, dismissing the woman.
During her university years, she had been too busy with her studies and part-time jobs to socialize much with her classmates. It wasn’t arrogance; she simply hadn’t had the time.
After graduation, the class president organized annual reunions. Rebecca always went, but Penelope had never attended once.
She didn’t know them well, it felt like a waste of time, she hated the inevitable comparisons, and she wasn’t good enough at acting to fake a deep sense of camaraderie.
Her attitude must have offended her old classmate, who now seemed determined to embarrass her.
“Hey everyone, who wants to trade seats with me?” the woman called out loudly.
Their entire row was filled with former classmates, who had clearly heard the rumors from Susan and Rebecca. They all turned to look.
“What’s wrong? Why change seats?” someone asked, playing along.
The woman pinched her nose dramatically. “It reeks of cheap perfume over here. I wonder who it’s coming from.”
Her comment was met with snickers from several others.
“You know, she’s right. It’s pretty strong. I can smell it from here.”
“Seriously, who comes to an event like this without showering?”
“If I were her, I’d be too embarrassed to even sit here.” Fresh chapters posted on.net
They chimed in one after another, not caring whether the rumors were true. It was one person against a chorus of mockery.
“I’ll switch with you,” Rebecca said, standing up from her seat on the other side of the aisle with a sigh.
The woman clucked her tongue. “Rebecca, you’re too good a friend. She slept with your husband, and you’re still trying to save her from embarrassment
Rebecca walked over. “I’m sure she regrets it now.”
“Her? Regret it?” The woman had already stood up but wasn’t finished with Penelope yet. “If you ask me, people who become mistresses, should be struck by lightning.”
Penelope let out a small laugh. “I agree with that.”
“You know it’s wrong, so why did you—”
“To interfere in someone’s relationship, especially your best friend’s, is utterly shameless,”
Penelope cut in, her eyes fixed met
Rebecca. She noticed Rebecca was still smiling as if the words, no longer had the power to shame her. “The saddest part is that people like that never look in the mirror. They have no idea how ugly and disgusting they’ve become. Just like now, she’s smiling, completely
unaware that karma is real, and
payback is always coming.”
Rebecca continued to smile, a picture of tolerance and grace. She offered her
seat to the woman and then sat down next to Penelope.
“Penelope, we can still be friends. You used to take care of me, and now I can take care of you.”
“Oh? And what does your ‘care’ entail?”
“Pity? Sympathy? Or maybe just charity.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Without Zebulon and the Sullivan family, you have no one to back you up. Your glory days are over.”