The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 139: Reckoning

Chapter 139: Reckoning

[FLASHBACK]

"Here’s for you!"

A look of surprise reigned on Marianne’s face while looking at the small box wrapped delicately in front of her. Raising her eyes to the person holding it, a wide and bright grin was what welcomed her.

"Congratulations on graduating!" Fil greeted happily. "I’m so proud of you!"

Marianne’s eyes softened as she smiled, taking the small gift from her. "You didn’t have to hype me up so much," she said, recalling how Fil excitedly clapped and stood when her name was called to take her diploma. "But thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Hehe. I’m not hyping you up. This is one of the best days of my best friend’s life, and I’m happy to be here with you." Fil excitedly went to her side. "Check it."

"You want me to open it now?"

Fil nodded profusely. "I want to see your reaction. Do you know what it took me just not to tell you I bought something for you?"

"Haha. You’re silly." Marianne shook her head helplessly as she slowly opened the small gift.

She understood that Fil was someone who would never successfully surprise people. After all, whenever she bought something for her loved ones, she would excitedly tell them she bought them something. But for Fil to keep this a secret, Marianne appreciates her effort in trying to surprise her.

When Marianne saw the gift inside, her eyes softened. The corner of her mouth curled up into a subtle smile, taking out a small lighthouse keychain.

"It’s customized," Fil winked, watching Marianne look back at her. "I designed it."

"You did?"

"You told me I’m like a lighthouse to people. So, if you kinda feel lost, this will remind you there’s always a lighthouse that will be there for you to show you the way. And a person in it who is cheering for you." Fil moved closer to Marianne’s side, smiling from ear to ear while looking at the keychain in the latter’s hand. "I think it’s a nice gift."

"You should wait for me to say whether it’s nice or not," Marianne chuckled, setting her eyes back on the keychain. "A lighthouse, my lighthouse... that’s always true."

"By the way, I booked us a table in your favorite restaurant," Fil grinned. "This celebration is just starting."

"Fil, you didn’t have to." This time, Marianne’s tone changed to concern. "Coming here with me already means a lot to me. But that restaurant —"

"I saved up my allowance." Fil giggled proudly. "Don’t worry about it. You can eat whatever you want. My treat."

"Fil."

"Hey guys!"

Just then, a familiar voice rang in their ears. Fil and Marianne intuitively raised their eyes, catching Vincent jogging in their direction.

"Anne, congrats!" he gritted when he stopped, handing her a small bouquet.

"Thanks." Marianne’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, but she still accepted the flower. "You didn’t have to buy me flowers."

"Well, Fil asked me to." Vincent scratched the back of his head. "So —"

"Why are you saying that?" Fil immediately went into offense mode, pinching Vincent’s side. "If I didn’t ask, you won’t even make an effort for my friend?"

"Fil, ouch! Wait! No, that’s not!"

Fil and Vincent went to their usual childish banter with her, pinching him while he tried to protect himself. Marianne stood still, watching the two of them quietly.

"Anyway, are we going?" Marianne spoke after a full minute of silence, stopping Fil from crushing Vincent’s temple as she had her knuckles pressed on either side of his temples.

"Oh, right!" Fil nodded, letting go of Vincent.

"Ouch..." Vincent frowned, looking at Fil with indignation. "Fil, at this point, I’m scared of being your husband."

"Hmp! You should be." She glared at him and then at Marianne. "Let’s go?"

"Sure."

"Uh, but the reservation is in two hours," Vincent remarked while looking at his wristwatch. "Why don’t we go somewhere else first?"

"Oh... I didn’t notice the time." Fil frowned while Marianne darted her eyes between the two.

"You’re coming?" asked Marianne, earning a look from the lovers. "Vincent is coming?"

"Of course." Fil nodded, eyes brimming with innocence. "Vincent said it’s not safe if there’s just the two of us. Also, he’s always with us. Why? You don’t want him to come?"

Marianne smiled. "No, of course not. I just thought it’d be just the two of us."

"There’s no way I’d let my girl go anywhere without any protection. She’s so pretty and precious. I’m afraid someone would steal her." Vincent proudly remarked before taking Fil’s hand. "I just thought of a good place to go while we’re waiting. Come, Fil. There’s an ice cream truck near the university. Let’s try it!"

As soon as Fil heard the ice cream truck, she happily went with Vincent. As they went, she looked back at Marianne and urged. "Anne, let’s go!"

"Mhm." Marianne hummed while nodding, but she didn’t follow them. Instead, she stayed in the same spot with her eyes on Fil and Vincent. The smile on her face slowly faded, gazing down at the lighthouse in her hand.

********

[PRESENT TIME]

Marianne ate quietly in her villa with her other hand holding the same lighthouse keychain. She chewed slowly, eyes on the keychain, remembering that time she got this present from her best friend.

[Maybe you didn’t fall for Vincent as you and I believed you did. But rather, sleeping with Vincent is just one of your ways to remove the threat.]

Her expression remained cold and distant, rubbing the keychain with her thumb. "How dare he speak as if he had me all figured out?" she whispered, not pleased with everything Marcus spewed.

This was worse than him being a jerk about her affair with Vincent. For what she knew, Marcus wasn’t really close to her. Sure, he was nice, but there wasn’t anything personal they shared just because they were concerned with each other.

"He should stop prying into this relationship and mind his own damn business," she murmured again, lifting her eyes when she heard her doorbell ring. Deep lines appeared between her brows, pushing herself to check the person outside.

As soon as she reached the monitor in the living area and saw Vincent standing outside, Marianne let out a deep exhale.

[If you want to succeed, don’t meet him even if he rings your doorbell. You’ll end up fucking.]

Marianne scoffed as she remembered Marcus’s remarks. For some reason, she felt humiliated by him even though he didn’t say anything directly degrading.

"He doesn’t know me that much. How dare he?"

Perhaps it was the fact that Marcus annoyed her that pushed her to open the door for Vincent. Or maybe she wanted to prove that Marcus was wrong. Either way, Marianne went to the door and opened it.

"We need to talk."

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