The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 148

Instantly, every pair of eyes in the room zeroed in on Claire.

She had come straight from working the floor at Luna Atelier and hadn't dressed up at all.

She was wearing a simple t-shirt, jeans, and had her hair thrown up in a messy bun. Compared to the hyper-curated, designer-clad guests in the room, she looked painfully underdressed.

"Claire, I saved you a seat!"

Cynthia, a sweet-faced girl who had been her middle school desk mate, waved enthusiastically.

"It's been so long, Cynthia."

Cynthia practically vibrated with excitement. "Claire, you haven't changed a bit! You're just as stunning as ever. You truly earned that Homecoming Queen title."

A sharp, mocking voice sliced through the warmth.

"Oh, please, Cynthia. Claire's family went completely bankrupt. What exactly are you trying to kiss up to?"

Sitting in the seat of honor, a woman in a skintight red dress covered her mouth and giggled, deliberately flashing a massive, blinding diamond ring.

Sienna Sutton. Back in the day, she had waged a one-sided war against Claire purely over a stupid high school popularity poll.

Claire honestly couldn't believe it. After all these years, Sienna was still aggressively bitter over petty teenage drama.

Claire didn't react. She pulled out a chair next to Cynthia and sat down with perfect composure.

"It's just old friends catching up. What does kissing up have to do with anything?"

"Unless you're implying everyone showed up tonight strictly to kiss up to you, Sienna?"

"Heh, still got that sharp tongue, I see." Sienna sneered.

The minor clash barely registered with the twenty-something guests, who quickly resumed laughing and drinking.

Cynthia hesitated, looking at Claire with deep concern. "Claire, about your dad's bankruptcy..."

"It's fine," Claire interjected, her smile effortlessly relaxed. "His debts have nothing to do with me."

"I run a fashion design studio now, over in Square One Plaza. You should bring your daughter by sometime! I can custom-make some matching outfits for you two. I actually need models for the shop!"

"Oh, I'd love that!" Cynthia nodded eagerly.

Overhearing them, Sienna immediately arched an eyebrow, eager to pour cold water on the mood.

"Fashion design? So you're just selling clothes. Claire, no offense, but you went to a top-tier university just to end up as a shopkeeper?"

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