Shadows Drift Beyond Memory by Xarin Vale novel Chapter 11

I’ve never been one to waste energy on drama.

When my roommate accused me of stealing her stuff?

Called the cops right there. Told them to find what I supposedly took.

When a teacher called me a slut in her office?

Dragged the entire class in. Made her point out exactly who I’d been sleeping with.

After that, word got around. Nobody messed with me.

Until this dinner party.

I’d just come back from the restroom when I heard my boyfriend’s girl bro talking about me outside the door:

“Total plastic surgery face. Slaps on some ‘natural‘ makeup and pretends she’s naturally gorgeous.”

“Designer everything at her age, driving a G–Wagon–what kind of job pays that well?”

“Carter, you better watch out. She’s total gold digger! Used you as her meal ticket to climb the social ladder!”

BANG!

I shoved the door open.

“Does your mouth always smell like shit, or did you actually eat some today?!”

The private room went dead silent.

Everyone’s eyes landed on me.

Carter Westbrook said nothing, but his expression darkened.

Gianna Hartley’s face went stiff for a second before she covered her mouth with a little laugh.

“I was just joking around. Why are you freaking out?”

“Unless… did I hit a nerve? Scared Carter’s gonna dump you?”

I pulled out my phone, played back the recording of everything she’d said on loop, and called my lawyer right in front of her.

Watching her face twist, I smirked.

“Time to own what you say.”

“If you can’t prove I’m a gold digger by the end of today, expect a letter from my lawyer. I’m suing you for defamation.”

The others at the table sat there stunned.

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Chapter 1

Nobody expected me to come at her this hard.

Gianna bit her lip, her face going pale.

Carter frowned, clearly annoyed.

“Briar Ashford, you’re being ridiculous.”

“It’s not that serious. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”

Ha. Spreading rumors about me isn’t serious?

When I was being trashed, Carter didn’t say a word.

But the second I defended myself, suddenly I was overreacting.

Did he think I was some kind of doormat?

I opened my phone and hovered my finger over 911.

“You’ve got three seconds to apologize, or I’m calling the cops.”

Since this was my first time meeting all of them, it was obvious everyone was closer to Gianna than to me.

Someone sneered.

“Wow, girl, you’re really going off. Did we actually hit the nail on the head? Is this all just an act?”

Carter’s expression darkened.

He grabbed my wrist, his tone sharp and cold.

“If you’re so sure you’re innocent, then prove it.”

My breath caught.

I couldn’t believe he’d actually say that.

No wonder he’d been silent earlier–he’d actually bought into her bullshit.

Seeing my expression turn icy, Carter said grimly:

“Just show me all your chat logs on your phone, and I’ll believe you.”

Hearing that, I actually laughed.

Why the hell should I have to prove myself over some baseless accusation?

I yanked my wrist free, crossed my arms, and leaned back in my chair.

My eyes locked on Gianna:

“That bag you’re carrying–that’s the new LV drop, right? Even the cheapest one’s like a hundred grand. So where’d you get the money? You got receipts?”

Everyone turned to look.

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Chapter 1

Sure enough, it was exactly what I said.

Now the scrutiny shifted to her.

Her face froze. After a pause, she pressed her lips together.

“Carter gave it to me.”

Got it.

“He’s my boyfriend, and he’s giving you something that expensive? I’ve got EVERY reason to think you two are hooking up.”

Carter suddenly slammed the table.

“Briar Ashford, you’re fucking insane!”

“Gianna and I are just friends. I gave her a gift–are you seriously that jealous?”

Right away, I opened my phone and pulled up a screenshot I’d saved from before.

In the picture, Gianna was wearing a black lace slip dress, half her chest exposed.

She’d sent it to Carter before.

The caption: [Do you think this dress looks sexy?]

I stood up, walked right over to the guy who’d defended Gianna earlier, and shoved my phone in his face.

“So tell me what do you think it means when a girl sends a photo like this to your partner late at night?”

He shut up fast, refusing to meet my eyes.

The others suddenly became very interested in their plates.

Finally, I turned to Carter and grinned.

“Well? What do you think?”

Carter’s face went dark. He shot Gianna a look full of pissed–off energy.

Realizing things were going south, Gianna shot to her feet.

“Briar, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“I didn’t mean to send that picture to Carter. I meant to send it to my friend–it was an accident.”

“I didn’t realize you’d been going through Carter’s messages and saving screenshots.”

I’d only seen it because I happened to glance at his phone when it popped up.

And saved it just in case.

But of course, Carter latched onto that part and turned his accusatory gaze on me.

“You were snooping on me?”

Chapter 1

Gianna’s voice broke into a sob.

“Carter, please don’t fight because of me. I’ll apologize to her, and I’ll stay far away from you from now on.”

Carter grabbed her arm.

“You’re not the one who needs to apologize.”

Then he stared at me, his tone turned ice–cold:

“Looks like Gianna was right–you’re just a gold–digging bitch who’s only after my money.”

“You probably drained a bunch of old guys dry, and now you’re trying to lock down a rich kid you can manipulate. Don’t bother hiding it

anymore!”

“We’re done!”

“And cross me, and you’re done!”

“I’ll be waiting for the day you come crawling back!”

With that, he held Gianna’s hand and stormed out.

Gianna didn’t forget to turn and smirk at me.

The others looked at me with sneers and disgust before filing out one by one.

I stared at the empty room. Smiled.

Carter got one thing right in all his bullshit.

“Cross me, and you’re done.”

Except that line was supposed to come from ME, not HIM.

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