My childhood friend, Dean, always thought he could just take my things. This time, he took my custom-designed wedding gown, worth $200,000, without my permission. I called him a dozen times, but he ignored every single one. I had no choice but to head straight to his place. Pushing open the door, I saw his girlfriend, Chloe, live-streaming in my gown, her smile annoyingly. “Look, everyone,” she cooed, “only I can make this cheap piece look high-end. If anyone else wore it, it would be a total disaster.” I sharply ordered her to take it off. She just raised an eyebrow, a sneer twisting her lips. “Hah, it’s your honor that I’m wearing this cheap dress! Dean, pay her rent!” Dean chuckled and handed me twenty dollars. “Just take it, Skylar. Don’t be so petty about everything. Women age faster when they get angry, you know.” 1 I was so furious I actually laughed. “This is a custom-designed gown worth $200,000! I told you that, didn’t I?” Dean just grinned, acting like it was all a big joke. “Just head home, Skylar. It’s just a wedding dress. Is our friendship really not worth more than a gown?” The words were barely out of his mouth when Chloe suddenly slammed a glass to the floor, shattering it, and started yelling at me. “Some women are just trash! About to get married, and still trying to seduce other people’s boyfriends!” That ignited my fuse. My face went cold as I shot back: “Watch your mouth, Chloe. Don’t spread lies, or I’m calling the cops. I have a fiancé, and he’s a hundred times better than your boyfriend in terms of capability, character, and looks.” She was instantly speechless, her face draining of color, utterly at a loss for a comeback. But then, Dean suddenly grinned and winked at me. “Skylar, I was the one who bought you tampons the first time you got your period. How can you belittle me like that?” He turned, putting his arm around Chloe’s waist, and started spinning a ridiculous story. “I’ll tell you a secret. Skylar heard I got such a beautiful girlfriend, and in a fit of pique, she just randomly picked someone and announced she was getting married.” His tone and expression were filled with a smug certainty, instantly trying to tie me to him in a messy, complicated way. It was my first time experiencing his utter shamelessness, and I clenched my fists in fury. “Dean, stop spouting nonsense—” But before I could finish, Chloe’s shrill scream cut me off. “Oh, you manipulative Skylar! So you were after my boyfriend and just came here looking for trouble!” Hands on her hips, she glared at me, her eyes laced with venom. “Don’t think I’m an easy target. You’re really pushing your luck.” “I have tens of thousands of online followers backing me up. They won’t stand by and watch a ‘third party’ bully someone!” Dean’s eyes gleamed with triumph. He then looked directly into the camera and promised solemnly: “My love for Chloe is as clear as day and night. I would never give any attention to just anyone.” “Rest assured, my followers, Chloe’s position is unshakable.” He was clearly building himself up by tearing me down, painting himself as the loyal man. It was disgusting. A surge of anger went straight to my head. I took a deep breath, forcing it down, and spoke in a chilling voice: “Chloe, that gown you’re wearing is my custom design, worth $200,000. Take it off, now.” “I’ll leave immediately and never show my face again. You two can just be stuck with each other forever, for all I care.” If it weren’t for Mr. Hayes’s poor health, I would absolutely not let these two rotten rumor-mongers off the hook today. But Chloe didn’t see it that way. Her face was full of contempt and scorn. “‘$200,000 custom-designed’? You’re shameless!” “Look at how old-fashioned you are. A bridal shop custom-designing for you would be ruining their own reputation.” At that moment, Dean stared into the camera, fanning the flames. “Exactly! How could she compare to even one of Chloe’s toenails?” “She grew up trailing after me. I know exactly what kind of person she is. She couldn’t get me, so she messed around with at least ten guys in three years.” My eyes widened in disbelief. He was stooping to spreading disgusting, slanderous rumors about me just to get more views on his live stream. He had no bottom line. 2 “Dean, has your conscience been eaten by dogs?” I roared, my voice thick with fury. “Mr. Hayes has been hospitalized for years due to poor health. You lived and ate at my house throughout your childhood until you graduated high school and went to work. This very house was bought with money Mr. Hayes borrowed from my parents! How can you possibly think I’d be interested in someone like you, with no education, no integrity, and no money?” But Dean acted as if he hadn’t heard a word, only yelling excitedly: “The live stream numbers are skyrocketing! One hundred thousand viewers! This is amazing!” Chloe’s eyes instantly lit up. “Wow, really! This is the most brilliant moment since I started streaming!” “New viewers, please hit follow and join us in taking down this ‘third party’!” Her voice was high-pitched and frantic, as if she were truly on the side of justice. I couldn’t take it anymore. I lunged forward, grabbing at the gown Chloe was wearing. “Thief, take off my dress!” There was no point in wasting words with such shameless people. When it’s time to act, you act. There’s nothing wrong with reclaiming what’s yours. But Dean stood there, looking completely righteous. “Skylar, I gave you $20 for the rental fee, didn’t I? Why are you still making such a fuss?” Chloe shoved me hard, her face filled with hostility. “Don’t think I don’t know your evil intentions!” “You want to strip me naked on live stream, humiliate me publicly, ruin my reputation, so you can step over me. You’re rotten to the core!” Her twisted lies were like poisoned needles, making my teeth chatter with anger. I couldn’t tolerate such slander. Rage boiled in my chest. I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police. But Dean snatched it from my hand and slammed it to the ground. The screen shattered, rendering it useless. He scoffed, pushing me towards the door. “There are over a hundred thousand people in this live stream. If you keep acting so unreasonable, you’ll become public enemy number one.” “Then the negative impact will be huge, your fiancé will break off the engagement, and you’ll end up a lonely old woman. How pathetic!” Faced with his disgusting face, I was burning with rage. I spun around and slapped him across the face with a loud smack! “Then I’ll let you experience what it’s like to be public enemy number one!” “Smack!” Dean clutched his face, his eyes wide with shock. “You—you dare hit me?” Chloe immediately rushed over, pointing her phone at me. “Viewers, look! This ‘third party’ couldn’t steal a man, so she’s flying into a rage and attacking him!” The next second, she deliberately ripped her skirt. “With the quality of this cheap dress, she still wants to extort $200,000 from me. She must be dreaming!” “Followers, she dares to try and extort a fortune from me, so I won’t back down. I’ll expose her for the menace she is!” In an instant, The live stream chat was flooded with insults and curses directed at me. My chest heaved with anger, my voice trembling slightly. “Whether this custom-designed gown is worth $200,000 or not, we’ll know once we check with the bridal agency.” I honestly had never encountered anyone so unreasonable and was struggling to cope. “It’s best to call the police. Having them here will make it more convincing.” As soon as the words left my mouth, Dean looked down, clearly flustered. “No, no need to make such a big deal out of it.” Chloe instantly flared up. “Skylar is the one who’s in the wrong! What are we afraid of?” Just then, The door burst open, and Mr. Hayes stumbled in, yelling: “Don’t call the police!” With that, he collapsed to the ground, his whole body convulsing. “Dad!” Dean frantically rushed over, only able to sob without tears, doing nothing else. Chloe was instantly dumbfounded, her voice stuttering. “It’s not my fault! It’s that Skylar who wants to call the police!” “Call an ambulance!” In a life-or-death moment, I had no time to argue with her. I snatched Dean’s phone and dialed 91
After all, Mr. Hayes had always been kind to me; I couldn’t just stand by and let him die. 3 “Skylar, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for not teaching Dean properly.” The first words Mr. Hayes spoke upon waking in the hospital room were an apology. “Is the wedding dress very expensive? I’ll sell my old house to pay you back for him. Dean’s career has just started, he hasn’t earned any money yet.” I’ve always been soft-hearted, especially when faced with an elderly man who’s constantly ill. I couldn’t bring myself to put more pressure on him. “Let’s forget about the money for now. Just consider it a warning, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Your health is the most important thing.” My parents always taught me to be kind to others, but not overly kind. They had left for the countryside two days ago to pick up my grandparents for my wedding. Otherwise, Dean’s stunt today would have truly infuriated them. “However…” My voice paused, turning icy. “He *must* apologize for spreading those rumors about me.” Mr. Hayes’s old face instantly flushed red. He picked up his phone and severely reprimanded Dean. Less than half an hour later, Dean appeared, head bowed, and returned the gown. Only after Mr. Hayes’s scolding and threats did he grudgingly apologize: “I’m sorry, Skylar. I was wrong. Please, for the sake of our childhood friendship, forgive me.” I reluctantly accepted his apology on the surface, but deep down, I resolved never to have anything to do with such a person again. Walking out of the hospital, I realized it was already dark. The whole day had been wasted by those two rotten people, and I’d accomplished nothing. The next day, I took the wedding gown to the custom design agency for repairs. The consultant who greeted me seemed evasive, not as warm as before, and stammered for a long time without saying anything coherent. I instantly grew anxious. “Just tell me what the problem is. How much will it cost? Just give me a price.” It was as if she’d finally made a decision. She pulled out her phone, found a live stream replay and played it. “Ms. Skylar, please watch this first.” The video showed Chloe walking to the supermarket last night when a masked man dragged her into an alley, apparently intending to assault her. He was yelling: “You dare bully my woman? You won’t get away with it!” She screamed, “Who’s your woman?!” The man retorted, “Don’t play dumb! You just argued with my woman about a wedding dress today. Did you forget that fast?” Luckily, a passerby intervened and helped her, saving Chloe from harm. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. After watching, My blood ran cold. My entire body felt icy. Clearly, this was a setup by Chloe, a scheme to frame me and use the public outcry to utterly ruin my reputation. “Ms. Skylar, the internet is now flooded with insults and curses directed at you.” The consultant looked troubled. “If it gets out that you had your gown made here, it would severely damage our reputation. So…” Though she didn’t finish her sentence, I understood her concerns. Businesses prioritize profit and avoid trouble; it was only human nature, and I couldn’t fault her. I swallowed my anger and turned to leave. Just as I stepped out of the shop, a bucket of cold water was suddenly thrown over me. I was instantly drenched and disheveled. “It’s this bitch! She incited her boyfriend to ruin Miss Chloe! She’s got a venomous heart, truly evil!”
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