Over at Skywater Bay, Winter was taken aback.
"A trip? What about Aria..." "Don't worry, Winter," Frank assured her. "It turns out that it was just a misunderstanding—nothing happened between Aria and I." Winter froze and dropped Carol's phone with a loud thud.
"Winter? Winter?" Frank called out from the other end.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWinter turned toward her mother in disbelief. "Mom. Did | hear that right? Pinch me! Is this real?" "Silly girl." Carol smiled, shaking her head as she left to make dinner.
"Oh, I'm still here, Frank," Winter exclaimed as she scrambled to pick up the phone from the floor, her usual liveliness instantly restored. "In two days, was it? No problem—I have the day off." "Then it's a promise." "Yes!" Winter whooped in joy once she hung up, throwing herself on the couch, and promptly told Jean about the good news.
Jean, however, was not surprised.
[Hah! | knew Aria deceived Frank, and you doubtedbefore! See? When | asked her if he actually liked her, his reaction made it clear he didn't. | knew right then they'd split up eventually.] Still, Winter felt sympathy: [Doesn't that mean Aria would be sad?] Jean's reply was predictably annoyed.
[Who, Aria Lond? That's enough from you, princess—you had no idea how high-and-mighty she held herself the other day, and she even said we're no longer friends. Why bother?] Then, she added: [By the way do you remember? Our professor applied for sick leave. And you're saying Frank knows medicine? Why not invite him as a guest lecturer?] [I'll think about it.] Winter was hesitant since she would need Frank's permission.
[Fair enough. See you tomorrow.] [Yeah.] Winter sighed as she lowered her phone.
After musing to herself for a while, she went against Jean's advice and sent Aria a text.
[I don't know what happened, but we're still friends, right?] In White Hall, Aria's phone jingled in Eron White's bedroom just as she finished her bath.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThud! Her visage contorted with fury as soon as she read Winter's text, and she even stamped on it for good measure.
"That fake bitch! Sending texts just to mock me?!" "Oh, don't worry, Aria." Eron grinned in his bed, resting his chin on his hands as he lay on his stomach.
"Just do what I tell you to tonight, and no one will be laughing at you." "Yeah..." Aria walked up to his bed, her hips swaying flamboyantly as she gazed lovingly at the man who was old enough to be her father.
"You'd take responsibility for me, right?" she purred.
"Of course." Eron smiled, with a hint of disdain Aria could not see.
In his mind, she could not be dumber, believing herself to be a rich mistress when she was just a disposable tool!