Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 42

**Chapter 42: They Are Not My Friends**

**Natalie’s POV:**

His words landed with the impact of a switch being flipped, igniting a frenzy among my classmates. They surged forward, eager to curry favor and atone for their earlier jabs. It was as if a spell had been cast, transforming their mockery into a desperate need for my approval.

“Natalie! Seriously, it doesn’t matter if you’re the Scott family heiress or not. I’ve always thought you were awesome since back in school,” one of them blurted, his enthusiasm bordering on absurdity.

“OMG! The whole ‘heiress living in obscurity’ thing is actually happening here. I’m so stoked to be part of this!” another chimed in, practically bouncing on her heels.

“Natalie, you kept this so quiet! Why not say something sooner?” someone else exclaimed, their voice dripping with faux concern.

“Natalie, come on. That was all just banter before. Don’t hold it against us. We’re not even that tight with Rebecca. She’s the one who was picking on you,” another piped up, attempting to shift the blame.

The air thickened with noise and excitement, but this time, the attention was squarely on me. I stood at the center of a swirling storm of eager faces, all sporting exaggerated smiles that barely concealed their ulterior motives. Alice, who had once stood beside me, was now shoved to the periphery of this chaotic gathering.

In stark contrast, Rebecca found herself isolated in the corner, the target of everyone’s disdain. To demonstrate their newfound allegiance to me, one classmate gave her a hard shove, barking out, “Rebecca, you’re such a pain in the neck! You’ve turned this class reunion into a disaster. You claim to know the Scott family heiress, but you can’t even recognize her when she’s right in front of you!”

“Natalie can’t be the Scott family heiress! It’s impossible!” Rebecca protested, her denial a desperate grasp at straws.

I navigated through the throng of sycophantic faces, making my way toward her. The cacophony around me faded into a hush, as every eye in the room turned to follow my movements.

With a sudden, deliberate motion, I raised my hand.

Rebecca, interpreting my gesture as a prelude to confrontation, let out a high-pitched scream, recoiling and shielding her face with trembling hands.

But my intention was far less dramatic; I simply reached past her to retrieve my old bag from the sofa behind her, the very one she had so carelessly dismissed.

As I turned back, my gaze swept across the room, absorbing the myriad expressions of shock and disbelief. My voice sliced through the tension, icy and unwavering.

“Rebecca, that fancy-pants circle you’re dying to break into? It holds no value for me. What I truly cherish are the good old days when we were all equals, running wild and hunting together.”

There was no trace of smugness in my demeanor, only a cold, unyielding resolve.

“Status, money, and social standing do not define a wolf. They certainly aren’t a justification for treating others like dirt.”

“If a single call and a text from the Scott Group can turn your world upside down, then what you’re really in awe of isn’t the person, but the labels and bloodlines that come with them.”

“All this brown-nosing just makes you look cheap and tarnishes the meaning of ‘classmates.’”

In his hands were an assortment of elegant gift bags and meticulously crafted membership cards.

I raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the offerings before me. The memory of my classmates’ duplicitous behavior resurfaced, and a cold smirk crept across my face.

They are not my friends. I don’t need these cards. Someone else is footing the bill tonight. Waiving any part of it would probably irritate the host… I said coolly.

I didn’t need to elaborate. The manager, sharp as a tack, caught my drift immediately and responded with an understanding smile.

“Don’t you worry, Ms. Scott. I know exactly what to do. I’ll ensure the host has a fantastic time.”

I nodded curtly, choosing to say nothing more. With the manager leading the way, still bowing, I strode out of the bar without looking back.

Outside, a sleek car sent by the Scott family awaited me at the curb. I slid into the backseat, rubbing my temples as a wave of fatigue washed over me. It wasn’t physical exhaustion; it was the weariness that came from navigating the treacherous waters of insincere social interactions.

The car glided smoothly into traffic. Pulling out my phone, I quickly texted Alice, advising her to leave the party early and prepare for tomorrow’s meeting.

Not long after my car pulled away, I noticed a sleek, understated luxury vehicle a short distance away, also beginning to roll onto the road.