Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 129 It's Fate That I Can't Hold On

It was Lacey, still rockin' her work clothes, probably straight from the office.

Some sketchy dudes had her surrounded, their hands all over the place, thinking they could get away with it.

"Back off! You only mess with girls when they're wasted?"

Bella was the first to jump in.

Bella was always the righteous one; she couldn't stand this kind of crap. Even if it was a stranger, she'd step in without a second thought. Those guys had no clue how hard Bella could hit and acted all tough.

"Another hottie, come on, join the fun."

"Who the hell dares to touch my girl?"

Bella was ready to throw down, but Oliver's shout made her pause.

This was Oliver's bar, and it was better if we didn't have to get physical.

Everyone here knew who Oliver was.

"Oh, she's Oliver's girl. Our bad, our bad." The dudes quickly laughed it off and bailed.

"Jason. I'm at Blue Ocean Bar, waiting for you."

Lacey was slumped over the bar, oblivious to everything. She picked up her phone and called.

I didn't know what Jason said, but she suddenly got all emotional. Already pretty hammered, she now sounded like she was about to cry.

"I begged you to take my first time, and you still don't want it? I've thrown all my pride away, I don't even care about my dignity anymore, and you still treat me like this?" Her words were a bombshell. We all widened our eyes at the same time.

A few chicks nearby must've heard too, 'cause they covered their mouths and giggled.

Lacey tossed her phone aside, wiped her tears messily, and couldn't even hold her head up, but she still pounded the bar.

"Drink, I need a drink."

If she kept drinking, Lacey would end up passed out right there.

She was usually so classy, but once drunk, her image was totally trashed. If she knew what she was doing, she'd probably want to die of embarrassment.

The bartender placed a drink in front of her, and without lifting her head, Lacey reached out to grab it.

I walked over, took the drink away, and said, "Lacey, you can't drink anymore."

"I want a drink. Give me a drink."

Lacey probably didn't even know who was talking to her. Yet she could accurately dial Jason's number, which was pretty impressive.

I even wondered if she had dialed the wrong number.

Oliver's phone rang. He showed us the screen; it was Jason.

After the call, he cursed.

"Jason just dumped this mess on me."

Lacey mentioned she was at Blue Ocean Bar. Jason had turned her down, but he knew she was drunk. Given how Jason is, he wouldn't leave a drunk girl alone in a bar, so he called Oliver for backup. "Let's get her family to pick her up," Oliver scratched his head, clearly frustrated, and said irritably.

and her dad, a high school teacher, wouldn't be the best to come get her in

great idea. Let's just get her a

place is empty anyway. Let's take her

grabbed one of Lacey's arms, practically

way, drawing curious

guys; otherwise, folks would definitely think

on Bella's couch, and

were so wiped out we just plopped

back tonight. Since Lacey was here and it would be tough for Bella alone, I explained to Ethan that I'd crash

and got up. When we turned on the light, we saw Lacey slumped on the couch, her hand hanging down, and a broken glass on the

us with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, I wanted to get some water and accidentally

her hands on her

no biggie,

helped her sit up. She downed it

hair, which had been tied up, was now loose and messy. She kept tapping her head, saying it

that drunk, of course, your head

am I?"

said, "This is

for causing

dryly. "Not really, you're the

her hands through her hair and just smiled bitterly. Bella

looked up,

shows, or dating, I was studying. I've always been a top student, a good girl, and

date, I never liked anyone. Jason is the first guy I've ever liked. What's so special about him? He's amazing. But there are lots of amazing guys like him. I just like him for no reason

liked him, and if she tried to explain why, she couldn't really

for love. I just didn't want my clean slate to be wasted on that jerk." After saying that, Lacey buried her head in her legs, her hair falling and

"What jerk?" Bella asked.

had

Mark?" I

Lacey lifted her head again, tucking her hair

What could I do? To Linda, I'm obviously not as important as Richard. Even though I resent Linda's favoritism, Richard is my brother, and of course, I want him to get out as

wants to

a bitter

don't seize the right moment, you'll only regret it later. But what is the right moment? For me, now is the right

whether beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, capable or not, didn't live a smooth life. Everyone had pain, struggles, and situations beyond their

got it." Bella

looked

eyes sparkled with a mischievous

way to deal with

to work, Bella went to her Taekwondo class, and Ethan called

practicing, Ethan went to work,

a cab to

but Oliver was nowhere to be found, and his

the bar, each holding a drink,

was pretty nervous, still skeptical about Bella's

and Bella suddenly nudged me with

door and saw Lacey, now out of her work clothes, walking

trying to put his hand on Lacey's shoulder

then discreetly looked away, leading Mark into

powder into one of them, shook it a bit, and then carried the drinks on

in; Mark might recognize me from the dinner Ethan had

room, she gave me

all

we finally saw Lacey helping a very drunk Mark out