Lies Have Consequences

I adjusted the strap of my Chanel purse and chuckled. "Oh, Viola. You've been dying to say that for a while, haven't you? What, you want this purse too? Too bad you can't afford it."

Viola's face turned red, her lips trembling as she took a step back.

Aaron frowned deeply and moved in front of her, his voice full of disappointment as he said, "Eve, I never thought you were like this."

I tilted my head. "What am I like?"

He enunciated each word. "When did you become so arrogant and cruel? Viola's family is struggling and you deliberately flaunted your wealth to humiliate her. Do you have no conscience?"

He looked at me with open disgust.

I went still.

Arrogant and cruel?

I suddenly remembered Aaron stopping me outside the library a year ago. His youthful smile had been as bright as the summer sun. "Eve, you're the most cheerful girl I've ever met. You're like the sunshine. When you smile, the whole campus lights up."

His ears had turned bright red. "Will you be my girlfriend? I want to keep seeing you smile."

So, this was it. Once he stopped loving me, my cheerfulness became obnoxious, and the sunshine became blinding. My chest tightened achingly.

Viola pulled at Aaron's sleeve. Her voice was soft and fragile, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Aaron, don't blame Eve. This is my fault. I only wanted you to talk her out of being Sophie's..."

She trailed off and bit her lip, as though she could not bear to say it out. "But she wouldn't listen, and then she humiliated me with that purse..."

Her voice trailed off and her eyes reddened. Meanwhile, Aaron's expression softened even more.

The commotion drew the attention of nearby students, and small groups gathered around us. Some recognized the Chanel purse on my shoulder. Others recognized Viola.

"Isn't that Sophie's lackey? Since when does she carry Chanel?"

"When the maid gets a handout, she starts treating herself as a proper lady too."

"Keep your voice down. Her owner might hear you."

"Her owner's abroad, so she's just staying with no one watching after her now. Haha!"

Their insults came one after another, loud enough to make sure I heard them. It was like they had it all coordinated. Some even covered their mouths as they laughed while others looked me up and down as though they were looking at some product for sale.

Aaron listened without saying a word in my defense as he looked at me exactly the way they did.

Viola hid her face behind his arm, her shoulders trembling, but I caught her smirking.

I almost laughed.

It was only a Chanel purse. I had a walk-in closet full of purses like it. I did not like drawing attention to myself or receiving any special treatment, so I had never mentioned my family. Everyone had assumed I was my sister's lackey.

Sophie worried about me and had insisted that I move into her dorm room so we could look after each other.

I took a deep breath. "I'll carry whatever purse I want. I don't think that's any of your business, right?"

I did not expect that to strike a nerve, and Viola instantly raised her voice.