"Miss Crawford, after being ruined back then, do you have anything you'd like to say to the person responsible?" a reporter asked.
She gave a soft laugh and looked straight into the camera.
"I saw him today. His eyes are still as beautiful as ever. If I get the chance, I'll dig them out myself—and string them into a bracelet for my fiancé."
The crowd gasped at her venom.
But for us, after six years of hating each other, such words were nothing new.
"Did you ever retaliate back then?" another reporter pressed.
"I crippled his mother—does that count?" She tilted her head and smiled.
I swirled the wine in my glass, listening to my daughter's bedtime story on the phone, gently coaxing her to sleep.
My calm indifference clearly irritated Kianna.
Or perhaps between the two of us, no excuse was ever needed—we simply wanted each other destroyed.
She came over and sat beside me, pressing one finger against my phone screen.
Catching a glimpse of what I was watching, she let out a mocking laugh.
"The Great Compassion Mantra would suit you better."
Then she turned to introduce me.
"Carlos, this is our college class monitor, Diego."
Carlos smiled warmly and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Diego Reynolds. I'm Carlos Smith, Kianna's fiancé."
Everyone around us waited for me to snap, to put on the familiar show of rage.
Instead, I only replied lightly, "Hello."
Kianna narrowed her eyes at me, as if she wanted to strip me bare with her gaze.
Kianna gave a scornful laugh, as if amused that I was still putting on a show.
While she continued her interview, Carlos suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Diego, I heard Sonia's ex-boyfriend of six years is here tonight. Do you know who he is?"
I couldn't be bothered to guess the truth hidden in his words. I pulled my hand back and carefully wiped it with a handkerchief.
"Sorry. I have a cleanliness issue."
Carlos ducked his head, embarrassed.
Across from me, Natalia sneered.
"Still pretending, Diego? You've been a fraud since college. Two years later and you're still the same fake."
"Natalia, don't say that," Carlos protested. "Mr. Reynolds doesn't seem like that kind of person."
"You're fooled because you've only met him once. I've known him for six years. If it weren't for him, my sister would never have gone bankrupt!" she seethed.
"What do you mean?" Carlos frowned.
"Big brother, you still don't get it? He's my sister's scumbag first love."