CHAPTER 8
1172 Words
AMELIA POV
The invitation card twirled in my hands as I made my way back to the guest room I’d claimed as my own. I knew the consequences of what I was about to do, but I was willing to take them.
I couldn’t bear seeing them so close together in the dining room. That b***h was flirting with what’s mine, and I was not going to stand by and watch from the sidelines.
I shut my bedroom door behind me and tossed the card onto my dresser, glaring at the ugly navy-blue print. Jade’s words echoed in my head, grating on my nerves. If Xavier was what she wanted, then it would be over my dead body.
I picked up my phone from the dresser and scrolled through my contacts. Then I stopped, switched to my blocked list, and found the name I needed. I quickly unblocked the number, my finger hovering over it for a second before I pressed dial.
“Hello?” His raspy voice sounded like he had just woken up.
“It’s me,” I said, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“I know it’s you, Amelia.”
“Good. Then let’s get down to business. There’s something I need you to do for me.” I went straight to the point — there was no time to waste.
There was a brief pause, then a mocking laugh. “So, you unblocked me just to use me again?”
Yes, that was true. I wasn’t the one who told him to start catching feelings after a one-night stand. Well… two nights, technically.
“That’s not the point. I—”
“You only call me when you want someone gone,” he sneered before hanging up.
I immediately tried to redial, but it went straight to voicemail.
“i***t! Bastard!” I screamed, pacing the room as my mind raced. I needed a plan, fast. I wasn’t going to let that b***h take the spotlight or the praise.
Then another idea popped into my head. I snatched up the phone I had thrown onto the bed in my rage and dialed my manager, Jim. I’d worked with Star Entertainment for over twelve years — the first legal company Xavier’s father opened before he and his wife died in a terrible accident six years ago.
I became an A-list model at Star last year. That was when I officially met Xavier.
Jim was worse than a lackey — always eager, always biting off more than he could chew. He picked up before the phone rang twice.
“Li!” Jim’s overly high-pitched voice nearly burst my eardrum.
Li — my stage name. I loved it because it gave my brand a touch of exotic mystery.
“I need you to do something for me—” I quickly explained what I wanted, and, as usual, Jim listened attentively.
“I’m on it,” Jim said before hanging up.
I smiled at the ceiling in satisfaction and sank back onto the bed.
I was nearly dozing off when my phone rang again. Jim.
“Yes?”
“Miss, there’s a problem.” His tone was panicked.
“What do you mean?” I bolted upright.
“We copied the invitation you sent us and readdressed it to Lyra. But the men I asked to stand by said she threw the invite in the trash.”
“What?!” I nearly shouted.
“If she threw it away, she’s not coming — which means your plan is ruined.”
My blood boiled. “Send me her house address right now. You’re all useless!” I hung up without waiting for a reply.
I quickly changed clothes and stormed out of the house, determined. I was going to make Lyra come to the party, whether she liked it or not.
It was nearly a forty-minute drive from Xavier’s house to Lyra’s — and that was with me beating most of the traffic. The neighborhood made my skin crawl: plain, gray, and crawling with lowlifes. It was the kind of place that made the news for all the wrong reasons.
I stepped out of the car, locked it, and headed straight for her door.
Knock, knock.
I knocked several times before hearing the bolts unlock.
“Hello!” I gave her my most practiced fake smile as Lyra’s face appeared in the doorway. Her black hair was loosely tied back, her pretty brown eyes wary. She really was beautiful — no wonder Carlo fell for such a pitiful thing.
“Hello?” she said skeptically. She didn’t know me, of course. She’d been cut off from the house long before I entered Xavier’s life — but I knew everything about her.
“Do you mind if I come in?” I smiled sweetly. No way was I discussing this outside and risking getting robbed in this dump.
“Sure.” She stepped aside, letting me in before locking the door.
“Sorry to barge in on you.” I took a seat on the couch, shifting around too much as I searched for a hint of comfort. When I saw Lyra’s brow furrow, I stopped.
“I’ll keep this short. I’m here on behalf of Jade.” I made sure to say Jade’s name clearly, letting it hang in the air.
“Who’s Jade?” Lyra asked, sitting on the couch opposite me.
“She’s the event planner for your child’s birthday party — the one happening at Xavier’s house tomorrow. She asked me to invite you.”
“Tell her I’ll have to decline. I can’t go there.”
“Why?”
“Why would I go back to a house where no one wants me?” Lyra’s voice cracked, and for a moment I almost pitied her.
For half a second, I wondered if I was going too far. Then I pictured Xavier smiling at Jade’s stupid little jokes. No. This was necessary.
“Why do you think this invitation came?”
“Does Xavier know about this?” she asked, evading my question.
“Yes. He wrote the guest list for her.”
“He asked her to invite me?” Lyra’s brows knit together. From what I knew, Xavier had made sure she was completely cut off from Kila. His sudden change of heart must have come as a shock.
“Yes.”
She stared at me for a long moment, clearly conflicted.
“So, are you going to waste this opportunity?” I pressed.
“I don’t know… I’m not sure.”
“Not even for your daughter?”
“I—”
“Fine,” I said, rising to my feet. “I’ll tell Jade you rejected the invitation so she can cancel your name. Let’s just hope this isn’t the last time you get to see them.” I smiled, satisfied with the sting my words left behind.
“Don’t. I’ll come,” Lyra said finally, her voice was music to my ears.
- Writer
