The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 151: Was she wrong?

Chapter 151: Was she wrong?

"Nice room." Marianne looked around the suite before jumping on the bed, smiling from ear to ear. "Better than mine."

"You can switch with me if you like this one," Fil humored, sitting down on the armchair in the corner. "I would love it if we don’t switch beds, though. I like that one."

Marianne chuckled, looking at Fil in relief. "You’re okay."

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Fil tilted her head to the side. "I’m finally invited to this event after god knows how long. It’s just that I had to break off my engagement."

Marianne smiled, giving Fil "that" look. The latter, on the other hand, rolled her eyes.

"I’m fine, Anne." Fil nodded reassuringly. "You know me. I always tell you when I’m not."

"You always tell me when you can’t take it anymore," Marianne corrected. "Or when you’ve dealt with it and it’s over."

Fil pressed her lips while its corners hooked up. "I’m fine," she repeated. "It happens."

"Breakups?"

"Mhm. Don’t people break up?"

"They do, but... it’s you, Fil." Marianne pointed out, causing creases on Fil’s forehead. "You don’t simply let go of people. You always try to work things out because... that’s who you are."

"I’m not like that?"

"Seriously?" Marianne crossed her arms under her chest. "With your current income and lifestyle, you could easily buy a car. Yet, you are still using that same old truck. You could’ve always moved out to a better place like a condominium, but you chose to stay in the same apartment you rented out when you first landed a job."

Her expression softened as she let out a shallow breath. "You don’t let go of things, Fil, let alone people you practically grew up with. So, you’re not fine."

For many reasons, Fil was rendered speechless. Marianne might be a snake, but she was still once her best friend. Hence, she shouldn’t be surprised Marianne knew her well. However, she was surprised that what Marianne said was akin to being ducked into a lake of ice.

’I think that explains why... I couldn’t let you all off even if I had to break everything I believed in,’ Fil thought, maintaining a soft smile on the outside. ’Because I’ve always been like that.’

"So?" Marianne raised her brows, spreading her arms mildly. "Need a shoulder to cry on?"

Fil chuckled as she shook her head. She pushed herself away from the armchair, jumping on the bed beside Marianne.

"I’m fine," she repeated for the umpteenth time. "People change, Anne. I think I’ve proven that not so long ago."

"Hmm. No, they don’t." Marianne shook her head. "People don’t change, Fil."

"You don’t believe that."

"I did, I do, and will always do." Marianne smiled. "In the industry I worked in proved that time and time again. Also, the people I interviewed proved I was right. People don’t change. They might think they did, but they don’t."

"So you’re saying... since people don’t change, I won’t change?" Fil furrowed her brows, trying to understand her logic. "And because I am incapable of changing, I will always be stuck up with Vincent?"

"Hmm. Not necessarily." Marianne casually collapsed on her back, eyes on Fil. "You’ll always love him. Maybe not the same, but you’ll always do."

Fil studied Marianne, trying hard to detect Marianne’s intention. She assumed that since Marianne was here, she would try to cheer her on not giving in to Vincent. After all, that seemed to be Marianne’s goal. For Fil and Vincent to part, she could jump into the scene and rescue him.

Was she wrong?

"I’m not changing my mind, Anne." Fil also lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe you’re right. I don’t let go of things or people so easily because that’s who I am. But I am also someone who once made up her mind, nothing or no one could change it."

"Are you sure that’s final?" Marianne turned her head to the side. "No more Vincent?"

Fil turned her head and looked back at her. "You don’t want me to break up with him?"

"Hmm. I don’t know." Marianne shrugged. "But either way, I’ll always support you with whatever decision you make."

"You don’t want me to break up with him?" Fil repeated this time with more conviction, rolling to her side until her arms propped underneath her. "Because if you do, you would’ve answered an outright yes. But you didn’t answer my question. You’re dodging it."

"Sometimes, I hate you," Marianne chuckled and sighed. "I don’t want you to break up."

"And why is that?"

Did Vincent convince Marianne to persuade her?

Marianne shrugged. "I just think it’s better if you take this nice and slow. I mean, it was so abrupt. Sure. Vincent crossed the line and screwed things up, but breaking off your engagement... I don’t think he’ll take that well. Did he do anything else aside from suspecting you were having an affair with another man?"

"He pretended to be sick just to get my attention," Fil stressed. "Did he mention that to you?"

"I heard." Marianne sighed deeply. "That’s stupid, but the man is obviously desperate."

"And his sister slapped me."

This time, a change in Marianne’s expression took Fil by surprise. Marianne propped her elbows against the mattress.

"Valerie did, what?" she asked in disbelief laced with surprise and a little bit of anger. It was something she didn’t expect from her. Surprise and disbelief were common, but anger? Was she acting?

Fil was momentarily speechless. "What’s with that look, Anne?"

"Valerie slapped you?" Marianne repeated and Fil nodded reluctantly. "Wow."

"I guess you didn’t hear that." Fil tossed the questions at the back of her head as they weren’t important at the moment. "But, yes. Valerie went to my office — actually, she waited for me in the cafe near my office, harassed me, and then when the harassment didn’t work, she raised a hand."

"And you did nothing?"

"What do you expect me to do, Anne? Hit her back and start a catfight?"

Marianne’s expression turned sour, making Fil raise her brows with her silence. She bit a little portion of her inner lips until a tint of red smeared her tooth.

"Anne," called Fil, worried and surprised. "Don’t bite your lips like that. It’s bleeding."

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om