Chapter 2
828 Words
After that, the group chat completely blew up.
A: Wait, what does that mean? What about the money I transferred?
B: Serene said she already worked it out with you.
C: Lindsay, your family has so many antique dresses. What's the big deal about lending a few to your classmates?
D: 300 bucks might not be much, but that's all we can afford. Why are you being so stingy?
I stared at the messages flying across the screen and let out a cold laugh.
When there was something to take advantage of, everyone was suddenly the loudest one in the room.
Now that they were worried their money had gone down the drain, they were turning around and blaming me.
Serene sent a sad little emoji.
Serene: I just wanted everyone to save some money and help promote Lindsay's family's dresses at the same time. I never thought she would embarrass everyone like this.
With just a few words, she painted me as the villain and tossed me straight into the fire.
I kept a cold expression and replied again: Antique gowns are not available for loan. Also, a 300-dollar rental is not happening.
After sending the message, I placed my phone face down on the desk.
I was about to go wash my face in the bathroom when the dorm door was suddenly shoved open.
Serene stood in the doorway, her face dark and angry.
"Lindsay, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
She slapped her phone down on my desk.
"You embarrassed me in front of the whole class. How am I supposed to lead the prom preparations now? I'm still the class president. Could you at least think about the bigger picture?"
"Think about the bigger picture? Does that mean my mom has to lose hundreds of thousands just to make you look good?"
She frowned. "What does a few hundred thousand mean to your family anyway? Can't you just treat it as a benefit for your classmates?"
I stared straight at her. "Using my family's things to win favors from others sure comes naturally to you."
Her expression changed slightly.
"Lindsay, don't be so nasty. Classmates are supposed to help each other out. How did something so simple become something ugly when you say it?"
I stood up and pushed her phone back toward her. "Refund everyone's money, and we'll forget this ever happened."
Serene clenched her jaw. "I'm not refunding anything. You have to bring the dresses tomorrow."
I looked at her entitled expression, and my heart unexpectedly became calm.
Since talking nicely didn't work, there was no reason for me to keep being nice to her.
The next morning, before I was even fully awake, the prom group chat was already going crazy.
A: Lindsay, Serene said you were just throwing a tantrum last night. We're still going over to try on the dresses today, right?
B: I already told my mom I didn't need to buy a dress. She was so happy.
C: Lindsay, don't change your mind at the last minute. You should keep your word.
I rubbed my forehead while scrolling through the messages.
Keep my word?
When did I ever agree to anything?
Serene sent a spreadsheet into the group chat.
Serene: These are the students who want to rent dresses. Please have your mom prepare them ahead of time.
I clicked open the file, and my blood pressure nearly shot through the roof.
There were 32 names listed under the 1930s Chanel haute couture collection.
Another nine people chose the 1950s Dior fitted dresses instead, saying the Chanel gowns had skirts that were too wide and would make dancing at the party inconvenient.
Six more people requested matching wide silk shawls from the same era.
At the bottom, there was even a note: Each person will receive a silk slip and an Hermès bag.
Lindsay: When you dream, could you please stop dragging my family into it?
Serene replied instantly.
Serene: Everyone saw that, right? This is exactly what Lindsay is like. She acts like she's close with everyone, but the moment money is involved, she shows her true colors.
Alex immediately jumped in to add fuel to the fire.
Alex: Lindsay, your family's prices are obviously inflated. Last time I bought an antique hairpin from her mom, it was 800 dollars. I found the same one online for only 60. Her mom kept saying it was worth every penny. She really knows how to rip people off.
Sara also joined in.
Sara: I once saw a hand-painted silk scarf at her house. They wanted 2,400 dollars. You could buy two at the night market for 80 bucks. That's a 30 times markup. Don't you feel guilty?
Jeanne went even further.
Jeanne: At the end of the day, aren't they just old pieces of fabric with some old beads sewn on? Calling them antiques is just a way to tell a story and jack up the price.
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