<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As we waited for the car, we felt rxed after the wonderful dinner. My mood, too, had finally lightened a bit after the meal.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Meanwhile, Teri was excited and keptplimenting Logan the entire time we were there.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She went on and on so much that I felt secondhand embarrassment.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She giggled before raising her fist in the air. That felt so good! Ari, didn’t you feel good? Finally, someone put Elijah in his ce. Did you see his face? He looked like he was about to blow a gasket.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">However, I merely absentmindedly responded to Teri and was barely engaged.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Teri said, “Ari, you better hold onto that big shot. He’s way more reliable than Elijah. On top of that, he’s loaded.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I felt awkward. “What are you talking about? How could I possibly deserve him? Stop saying that, he’ll be</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I here any minute.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Teri waved it off. “Why wouldn’t you deserve him? You’re the daughter of the York family…”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Well, isn’t this the daughter of the York family? What are you doing here? Waiting for someone? A young man in a shy floral shirt swaggered over with a fewpanions.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">There were men and women, and they were all dressed fashionably.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Then, I noticed several sleek and limited–edition sports cars parked along the driveway, and some people. were stepping out of them.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I frowned slightly as I nced over at the young man greeting us.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Teri took a nce at him and said, “That’s Porter Pord. He’s one of the dandies who hangs out with Elijah. He’s with Evelyn and them. Let’s just ignore him. Nothing good everes out of his mouth.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter twirled his car keys in his hand and arrogantly walked over. He then sized me up with a glint of surprise in his eyes.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">He said, “Wow, Ms. York, looking pretty decent today. You should’ve dressed like this a long time ago. That garish makeup you used to wear was just terrible and tacky.” He openlymented about my</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">appearance.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I had dressed down for the medical check–up at the hospital today. After all, all of my nice clothes were still in Elijah’s vi. I wasn’t wearing any decent jewelry today too simply because I didn’t have any</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter seemed intrigued by my silence. “Hey, Ariana. Do you have any ns tonight? Why don’t youe to the Pour House for a drink? Elijah will be there too.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I frowned. “I’m not going.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter looked surprised. “You’re noting? Didn’t you used to beg me to take you there? Have you forgotten? You even recharged 100 thousand dors for me and purchased a bottle of ck Label.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I nced at Teri.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Teri probably didn’t expect that I would’ve tried to curry favor with someone like Porter just for Elijah.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She spoke up angrily on my behalf, “Ari already said she’s not going. You guys can have fun by yourself Why drag her along? Are you expecting her to be your sucker again and foot the bill?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter was momentarily stunned before shrugging it off with a casual smile. “Why make it sound so bad?</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;"></font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Sucker? Come on, Ariana. Have I ever made you feel like a patsy?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I looked at his smug grin and felt like I had just swallowed a fly. I had certainly been yed for a fool before without a doubt.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">It was probably even more than once. That was why Porter could so brazenly invite me for a drink.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I knew it was just another attempt to get me to pay and couldn’t help but feel sick at the thought.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I coldly said, “I’m sorry, Porter. I’ve been on medication recently. I’m not going.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">He and the group behind him startedughing. Some of them even exchanged mocking nces as if they were watching a fool.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">However, I ignored their taunting eyes and tugged at Teri’s arm. “Let’s go.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Teri was desperate to get me far away from them and immediately pulled me toward the parking lot.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter called out from behind, “Hey, we’re not done talking. Ariana, why are you running off? I’m not going to eat you. I swear that I’m telling the truth. Elijah is meeting us for drinks tonight. I can show you the chat</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">1 quickened my pace without turning back.</font></font>Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Porter saw me walking away with determination and scoffed from behind. “Oh, she sure is quick to run. It’s funny how she had insisted oning with me to see Elijah. I only stood her up a few times. I never thought she would hold a grudge against me.”</font></font>