Deceit Behind Her Marriage [English]

CHAPTER 3

Lauren could hardly swallow her surprise upon seeing the three individuals she had avoided for the past six years. Without hesitation, she made her way over to Jessica's table, offering the woman a kiss in greeting, even though her heart raced like a startled deer.

"Oh my gosh! I never expected you to return after— What? Six years?" Jessica exclaimed, her face radiating her delight at seeing Lauren at the reunion.

Responding with a warm smile, Lauren consciously tried to remain composed and not let her gaze wander to the newcomers despite the undeniable attention they would attract.

"Yes, I've been away for six years, living in America. How about you? I heard you've opened a restaurant in various malls in the city. How's your business?" she inquired, sitting opposite Jessica.

"It's manageable, although it's quite challenging. Despite having my sibling assisting me at the office, it remains a headache," Jessica replied.

Lauren gave a simple nod.

"Oh, by the way, would you like a drink?" Jessica signaled to the passing server. "Waiter!"

The man in a white polo shirt and black slacks turned toward them and approached with a tray of beverages.

"I'd like a martini, please," Lauren requested.

"I'll come back for you, Miss. All I have is white wine," he replied.

"No problem," she responded. At that moment, she needed a strong drink to gather the courage to share her purpose with her former friends—that she intended to borrow some money.

"So, why are you by yourself? I was under the impression Brett would be accompanying you, especially with Kori being here, isn't he?" Jessica inquired, nodding toward the woman sitting in the corner spot.

She’s with her two close friends, Finn and Drew. At that moment, no one had the courage or intention to approach the three.

Lauren thought that they hadn't changed a bit. It seemed like they had their own world. She used to be part of their group back then—when Finn was still her boyfriend, and her family was still on a pedestal. Just then, the waiter returned with her requested drink. He handed her the glass of alcohol. Downing it in one gulp, the bitterness quickly traced its path down her throat.

"Could I request another one?" she inquired the waiter, who had yet to leave their table.

"No problem, Miss."

"May I also have some water, please?"

The server simply nodded.

Turning to Jessica, she explained, "Regarding your question, I honestly don't know why Brett isn't here. Perhaps he'll join us later to pick up Kori."

Based on her friend's disclosure, she made this statement even though she was aware of the absence of any romantic relationship between Brett and Kori. She felt it was not her place to discuss Brett's love life, especially given his status as a star player on the national basketball team.

"Oh, by the way, didn't you also date Finn Burnham? What led to your breakup? Many people assumed he was why you moved to Los Angeles six years ago." Her friend quickly covered her mouth. "Oops! I'm sorry! I can be so thoughtless."

Jessica winced, and it was evident that her comment was unintentional. In response, Lauren mustered a forced smile. The question, in fact, made her feel uncomfortable because it held some truth—Finn was indeed the real reason why she moved to Los Angeles. Fortunately, the waiter returned just in time, delivering her requested drink.

"Lauren!" They both shifted their attention to a new man approaching them.

"Oh, hello, Bobby," she greeted him with a subdued tone. She had no desire to see him, but she made an effort to smile.

The newcomer stood taller than her, with a blend of Spanish and Asian heritage that enhanced his striking appearance. He had a straight nose, brown eyes, a medium build, and an undeniable charm. His family was renowned as lawyers in the country, and he had pursued her in the past, back when the news of her impending marriage to Finn was circulating, but he had discontinued his pursuit after that.

"Wow! You still look gorgeous! How are you?" Bobby commented.

"I'm doing fine," she replied.

"Are you free tonight?" he asked directly.

She promptly shook her head. "Nope."

"How about tomorrow night?"

"I just arrived from New York, and I'm still catching up with friends and family," she explained.

She retrieved her phone from her small clutch bag to subtly signal her lack of interest in continuing the conversation with the man. Swiftly, she dialed Kael's number and brought the phone to her ear, making it clear to Bobby that she wasn't interested in his advances.

"May I have your number? Who knows, you might find some free time," Bobby persisted.

His words sent a chill down her spine. No! She did not intend to engage in conversation or date with him. She would disagree. While there was a good chance she could borrow money from him, Lauren preferred to explore other options rather than expose herself to potential harm.

"I'll catch up with you later," he said, sensing she was preoccupied.

"Sis!" Kael responded from the other end of the line.

"Hello, bro!" She turned to Jessica, saying, "Excuse me for a moment, Jess. I'll go to the powder room."

The woman nodded.

"How's everything back at home?" She redirected her attention to her brother.

"Mom was getting ready for bed, and I'm still reviewing. We're doing well here. Don't worry. Enjoy your night with your friends!"

"Thank you!"

She had just entered the restroom when she bid her farewells. After taking a moment to check herself in the mirror, she stepped inside one of the restroom stalls lined up to use the toilet. While seated there, she heard a group of women entering the ladies' room, chatting and laughing.

Lauren stood up and was about to flush the toilet when she heard her name mentioned.

"Have you heard why Lauren Escarrer was here? She was looking for someone who could lend her money," Lauren overheard from outside, causing her to clench her fist.

"Really? Gosh! I never expected her to reach that point. If I were in her shoes, I might as well give up," one of them responded with arrogance.

"Her family owes my dad money. Lauren's mom apparently visited my dad's office, and guess what? They're requesting an extension. They think the millions we lent them were just a joke."

"I don't know what happened to her family. Weren't they one of the wealthiest families before? What happened to them?"

"Don't you know? While her dad was alive, their stocks plummeted due to government issues. Her dad's office was in turmoil from way back then, and they said he used to gamble at the casino."

"Poor Lauren. She definitely needs millions to repay the debt."

"I can't! Just the thought of borrowing money, I can't handle it anymore."

"That's supposedly why Finn canceled his wedding with Lauren. Like, seriously? Finn Burnham marrying Lauren Escarrer, who's buried in debt?"

Lauren squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fist. The girls outside were utterly unaware of her real-life situation. Who were they to pass judgment on her family like that? She heard the door to the neighboring cubicle being forcefully pushed open.

"Are you finished with the gossip? Who authorized you to discuss my friend?"

Lauren heard a voice, which turned out to be Kori's. She never thought the woman was also listening.

"I'm sorry, Kori. W-we didn't mean to discuss Finn."

"Get out!" Kori ordered firmly.

Then, Lauren listened to the hurried footsteps as they departed from the restroom. She comprehended why the others were fearful of Kori. Kori's family was far from typical; when she desired something, she almost always managed to obtain it.

The sound of running water from the faucet reached Lauren's ears, signifying that Kori was washing her hands. After a few moments, she heard Kori's footsteps moving away, followed by the door opening.

Lauren waited a few more minutes before deciding to leave the concealed cubicle. This was the first time she experienced such intense embarrassment. She hadn't anticipated becoming the target of mockery among her former schoolmates. Despite the truth in their words, she couldn't muster the anger to confront the situation, as she had genuinely come there to seek financial assistance.

At this moment, her primary concern was preserving her dignity. She should have heeded Brett's advice and refrained from attending this gathering.

Lauren ventured over to Jessica's table, and though unable to muster the courage for further interaction, she gracefully extended a polite smile.

"Oh, you're back. Brett came by looking for you, but there was quite a commotion earlier involving Kori, so Brett had no choice but to escort his girlfriend out."

Lauren furrowed her brow in response to the unexpected turn of events. She hadn't realized how much had transpired during her brief time in the restroom. She glanced at Kori's group's table and spotted Finn sitting alone and sipping his drink. Drew was conspicuously absent as well.

She shook her head. Did it matter that Finn was alone? Wasn't it time to stop caring?

Forgetting about Finn, she engaged in a conversation with Jessica. For the moment, she wanted to set aside her troubles and be a regular friend. She was determined not to confirm her classmates' suspicions that she had come to seek a loan. An hour passed before she said goodbye to Jessica and announced her departure.

Upon leaving the party, Lauren spotted Finn vomiting beside his car. Almost instinctively, she approached him, extending her support as she had done in the past.

"Are you alright?" she inquired.

The man looked at her with an intense gaze.

"W-where's Drew? Why did you get so drunk tonight?"

"Take me home!" he exclaimed. Finn handed her the keys, taking her by surprise. Clearly, he wouldn't entertain any objections from her, as he had already opened the passenger's side door and seated himself.

Lauren weighed her options, considering whether to comply with the man's request. Ultimately, she assumed the driver's seat to drive him to the Burnham residence, where she was intimately familiar, no matter where it was located.