Chapter 18 Coincidence
Finished
Linda covered her mouth as if she were looking at a pitiful beggar, her eyes full of disdain as they landed on Jazlyn. “This has been the talk of the school for ages. Did you think she was still the pure and flawless goddess everyone admired back then? Julian himself confirmed it–how could it possibly be false?”
Julian Schmidt had been the heartthrob of Seaville University: handsome, wealthy, and the dream of countless girls. He and Jazlyn were once considered the golden couple of the campus, with nearly everyone knowing they’d had a romantic history.
Seeing the shift in Jazlyn’s expression at the mention of Julian’s name, Linda’s words grew even sharper, Julian deeply regrets ever being involved with you. He can’t believe he was so blind to fall for someone like you–a vain, money–grubbing woman who dumped him to marry some rich old man. How’s that any different from selling yourself?”
“You…” Emily’s face was flushed with anger. She looked ready to leap across the table and tear Linda apart.
But Jazlyn merely let out a soft, frosty laugh.
Linda’s outburst finally clarified something for Jazlyn–so this was where all those nasty rumors had originated.
It was true she and Julian had shared a brief spark, but they had graduated before anything serious could develop. Afterward, Jazlyn married Kingsley and cut ties with her past.
Now, looking at Linda’s smug expression, Jazlyn chuckled coldly. “Linda, if you liked Julian so much, you could’ve just said so. Back then, everything you wore and used was something I gave you. You didn’t need to sneak around smearing my name just to win Julian over. If you wanted him, I would’ve handed him to you on a silver platter.”
Linda’s face darkened instantly.
In the past, Linda had struggled financially–even her tuition had been paid by Jazlyn. Jazlyn had never imagined that the person she had helped so generously would one day betray her like this.
Now that the Xanders had fallen from grace, Linda was the first to twist the knife.
Her face red with anger, Linda jabbed a finger at Jazlyn and spat, “Enough already! Are you just trying to humiliate me for being poor back then? I know I used to be nothing more than a tool for you to flaunt your wealth. Now that I’m doing better, it’s bothering you, isn’t it? Jazlyn, no one is more fake than you!”
Emily, unable to hold back, shot back, “Oh, and riding on a man’s coattails to feel superior is any better? Give me a break!”
Linda tilted her head arrogantly. “It’s still better than Jazlyn selling herself to an old man for money, isn’t it? Don’t act like you didn’t know—this is all anyone in our circle talks about. And let’s not pretend you don’t see it. Look at her now! She’s been tossed aside after a few years, left with nothing, and she deserves every bit of it!”
Turning to the staff, Linda called out, “Hey! I want to load 100,000 dollars onto my card here.”
The server’s face lit up in surprise. “Are you serious? Wow, miss, you must be such a generous person!”
“But,” Linda added with a sneer, “I need you to kick this woman out of here. She’s filthy–spending years with some old man? Disgusting.”
Her finger pointed at Jazlyn like she was dirt on the floor. Her nose lifted high, her expression dripping with condescension.
After the Xanders‘ bankruptcy, Jazlyn had become all too familiar with this kind of behavior. Seeing Linda’s antics now, she simply let out another cold laugh. That’s funny. If everything I’ve touched is so ‘filthy, then you’d better dump Julian unmediately. He’s a man I discarded, after all.”
“You…” Linda’s smile froze. “Julian?” she scoffed after a pause. “You think you’re still in a position to talk about him? He’s disgusted by the mere thought of you. The Schmidts are nothing like they used to be–they’re climbing higher and higher. In Seaville, they’re a top name. And Julian? He’s about to strike a deal with the Zinn family. The Zinns! That’s a level of power and wealth you couldn’t even dream of reaching.”
