"Oliver, it's so nice to see you," Lauren Wang called as she approached the three men. She had been wanting to go over to her high school crush since the start of the program. But she was held back by her classmates to talk about her studies overseas.
"Hi, Lauren," turning his head towards her and a well-known signature smile was seen on his face but it was only brief as he shifted his gaze back to the alluring woman in blush pink gown from across the room.
"What were you guys talking about? You guys looked like you were having fun," she asked, her voice sounded very kind and cheerful.
Louie handed her a drink that he got from the passing waiter and answered, "We were just talking about Samantha," lifting his chin to point towards Samantha and Hannah's direction.
Lauren and her minions followed his gaze and her expression turned sour. She was not happy that they were talking about that woman. Every group that she had said 'Hello' to earlier were all talking about Samantha before they talked about her and her studies.
Turning her head to look at Oliver, she saw that his stare was so intense that he seemed so lost into it. He had not given Lauren so much attention even when they were still in high school but as long as he was still single, she followed him around.
"What about her? What is so interesting about that Samantha Kim?" she asked, her previous cheerful voice now sounded annoyed. She tried to mask her feelings but she just couldn't.
"Apparently, she's married already," Louie answered.
Lauren's brows raised in shock upon hearing the news, "She's married? To who? Who would marry her?" she asked as if the idea was impossible. Her eyes flickered to Samantha and then to Oliver, unsure what kind of emotion she was expecting to see from him.
Just like Oliver, she had no idea about Samantha's current status as she was too busy minding her self and not caring about others. However, learning about Samantha being a wife, that was something that she did not expect. With the way Samantha rejected Oliver seven years ago, she wondered who Samantha had married to and how that person was able to compare to her high school crush, Oliver Su.
Clenching his jaw Oliver did not want to accept the truth and so he answered through gritted teeth, "To an old rich guy from the Cho Family."
"He's not that old," Chase responded as he thought of Daniel Cho, his brow raised when he saw both Oliver and Lauren's reactions.
Lauren was suddenly curious about Samantha's life. 'She is married to an old rich guy?' A snicker escaped from her when she thought about it. 'How could that compare to my Oliver? Has she always been a gold digger?'
"Interesting… You know what, I have not congratulated her yet. Let me go over and say hi," Lauren announced with a smile on her face before she strutted towards Samantha and Hannah.
.
.
"Look at the star of the night, are you enjoying your popularity tonight?" Lauren spoke as soon as she was nearing. A smile formed on her pretty face and she placed a hand on her waist as if she was posing for a pageant.
Samantha and Hannah turned their heads to her direction and saw Lauren has plastered an arrogant smile on her face and Hannah swore that the smile had become permanent since high school. So this look on her was nothing new to them.
Samantha could not be bothered by her remark. Rolling her eyes, she decided to ignore the annoying woman and focused on the wine in her hands instead — swirling it around the glass and smelling it.
However, Lauren seemed to have wanted to entertain the reunion attendees tonight, "I've heard some… interesting gossip about you tonight. Is it true that... you are already married? Congratulations!" she spoke the last words in a mocking tone as if it was something insulting. Her voice was a little louder than her normal tone, catching the attention of the people around them.
Their scene looked interesting, the high school queen bee and the mysterious butterfly, so garnering the attention of the crowd was not difficult.
"What is it to you if she's married? Are you that jealous of her?" Hannah berated, she had always disliked Lauren. Even now that they were minding their own business and staying away from the crowd, she still wanted to stir up some trouble. What is her problem?
"Why would be jealous of someone who is married to an old man?"
Hannah and Samantha's brows raised, bewildered by her statement. Who was she calling an old man? Daniel is only four years older than Samantha! But before they could even reply, Lauren had another thing to pick on.
"And what are you wearing? That bracelet looks very cheap," Lauren let out a sinister laugh as she touched the tungsten bracelet on Samantha's wrist.
Samantha retracted her hand and gave her a glare, "Get your hands off me," it had taken her so much control not to swat Lauren's hand away.
"And here I was... thinking that you had married a rich old man. Even if that were true, how could he give you such a cheap bracelet? Is he stingy even to his wife?" Lauren laughed once again and her minions guffawed with her. The people around them were drawn to the noise and were waiting for what was about to happen next.
Samantha did not understand what she was on about. And why was she calling Daniel old? He is not that old! Clenching her jaw, Samantha breathed in as she tried to calm herself down.
Logan wanted to get in between the two but how was he going to stop women from fighting?
"Will you shut up, Lauren? What nonsense are you spouting about?!" Hannah snapped.
Crossing her arms, she stepped closer towards them, "Nonsense? Is that what you're calling it? Your friend is a gold digger… and you're calling it nonsense?"
"Who are you calling a gold digger?" Samantha questioned. Although she was already pissed at Lauren, she controlled her anger and spoke in a calm manner.
"You… you're the gold digger, Samantha Kim. Isn't it true? You married a rich old man." Lauren answered her confidently and just as she did, dull, heavy and striking sounds were heard from the side.
*thud*
*thud
*thud*
A combination of heavy and light footsteps followed the thunks and the crowd turned to its direction.
"Who dares to call her a gold digger? Have you gone tired of living?!" roared a clear voice making everyone jump.
Samantha's brows furrowed as she peered to see who had just spoken. Her brow raised in confusion when he saw someone she did not expect to see that night.
"Grandpa?" she muttered under her breath that only she can hear. 'What is the old man doing here?'