Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 85

Darren pushed up his glasses and said, “Guys, it’s cool to rib me a bit, but Xaviera’s a bit shy. Can we tone it down a touch?”

The seniors burst out laughing. “Look at you, jumping to her defense already!”

Then someone shifted the spotlight to me, “Xaviera, just a heads–up, Darren is a real piece of work. Keep your eyes peeled, alright?”

They totally got the wrong idea about me and Darren.

In Rivertown, social circles were clear–cut. In the past. I would have gone all serious and set the record straight, but after getting a few knocks from life, you learn to wise up. So in that

moment, faced with their teasing, I just smiled and kept mum.

Why spill your guts when you barely cross paths?

The more you say, the guiltier you look.

The party vibe was pretty chill, but for some reason, standing among these folks, I felt like someone was watching me, on and off.

to catch that gaze, it was like chasing a ghost.

Just my imagination?

clutch snapped

stepped aside and saw Hogan’s message right away, [Right side of the

point, that

no clue why Hogan wanted to see me at

came fast, [Better to talk

be honest, if Hogan wasn’t my investor, I probably wouldn’t

he was the money man, when he talked, I

stood alone by the floor–to–ceiling window, brows knitted like he was wrestling with some big life

said, “Ms. March, didn’t you

settle scores, did he?

I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I only agreed not to compete with Cecilia

with

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Chapter 85

was pretty