Chapter 4

Evelyn's POV

Not wanting Jason to discover my divorce plans and ruin everything, I agreed to attend the party with him.

The next day, before going to the party, I first gave the divorce papers to the lawyer and asked him to expedite the procedures.

Then I contacted a private investigator, gave him Amanda's photo, and had him investigate the real reason Amanda went abroad back then.

After handling all this, that evening, Jason picked me up right on time for the party.

In the banquet hall, it wasn't until I saw Amanda surrounded by admirers that I realized this was a party Jason had thrown for her.

My steps froze abruptly.

Only then did I understand-the reason Jason brought me to this party was probably at Amanda's request.

Otherwise, there was no reason for him to deliberately bring me to his beloved's party.

Seeing Jason, Amanda's eyes lit up. She lifted her dress and walked over quickly, intimately linking her arm through his.

"Jason, you're here!"

Then she showed a surprised expression.

"Evelyn? Oh my God, it really is you! It's been so long!"

She extended her hand with an impeccable smile.

I didn't take that hand, only nodded slightly.

"Miss Prescott, it's been a while."

Amanda's hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment before she withdrew it nonchalantly.

Her smile didn't diminish at all. Instead, it became more familiar.

"Why so formal? Just call me Amanda. Between us, there's no need to be so polite."

"You two know each other?"

Jason's gaze moved between us with a hint of surprise.

"More than just know each other."

Amanda smiled sweetly, her eyes glancing lightly at me.

"We were high school classmates. Though back then... we didn't interact much. We weren't very close."

I smiled slightly.

"Yes, not very close. It's just that the 'special attention' you gave me back then, Amanda, remains vivid in my memory to this day."

My deliberately emphasized words made Amanda's smile stiffen.

But quickly, Amanda regained her composure.

"Oh my, that was so many years ago. We were young and didn't know any better back then."

She coquettishly shook Jason's arm.

"Jason, look-Evelyn still remembers those childish pranks."

Jason's brow furrowed slightly.

Amanda then took a champagne glass from a passing server's tray and turned to me.

"Come on, Evelyn, let me toast you. Whatever unpleasantness there was between us back then, consider this drink my apology."

She offered me the champagne.

I didn't take it.

"I just got out of the hospital not long ago. The doctor said I shouldn't drink."

"Just one small sip."

Amanda insisted, feigning hurt.

"Or are you really so hung up on those little student conflicts that you won't even accept my apology drink?"

Jason's gaze fell on me with invisible pressure.

"She's personally apologizing for such a small matter. It's just one glass of champagne. Don't make things difficult for Amanda."

Don't make things difficult for Amanda.

I slowly turned my head to look at Jason.

His profile was sharply defined in the light, still handsome.

But in those eyes that had always shown me tenderness, another woman's reflection was clearly visible, along with a trace of displeasure at my "inconsiderate" behavior.

I looked at him for a full three seconds, then reached out to take the glass.

"Fine."

The moment our glasses clinked, Amanda's hand slipped.

The entire drink spilled across my chest.

"I'm so sorry!"

Amanda exclaimed, though satisfaction flickered in her eyes.

"I'm so clumsy! My hand slipped... Evelyn, are you okay?"

The dark liquid quickly spread across my light-colored dress. Eyes around us turned our way.

Not only did Jason not check on me, he instinctively stepped forward to hold Amanda's hand.

"How could you be so careless?"

I looked down at the stain on my chest. No one knew better than me whether Amanda had done this on purpose to humiliate me.

I looked up and gave Amanda a slight smile.

"It's fine."

Then I turned and walked toward the three-tiered cake nearby.

Before anyone could react, I grabbed the back of Amanda's neck and firmly pressed her face into the center of the cake.

A scream erupted.

Frosting covered Amanda's entire face. She struggled to lift her head, her makeup smeared into a mess, utterly disheveled.

The entire hall fell silent.

Jason's expression changed drastically. He yanked me away forcefully.

"Evelyn, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind!"

I staggered back two steps before steadying myself. Casually pulling out a tissue, I wiped the frosting off my hands.

"Sorry. My hand slipped."

The exact same words Amanda had just used.