My Best Friend Posed As His Girlfriend, So I Walked Away Chapter 06

My Best Friend Posed As His Girlfriend, So I Walked Away Chapter 06

“Oh, give it a rest.”

Lysander stared at Sabine in disbelief.

“I used to think you were great, but this whole sweet-and-innocent act is getting old.”

He gestured toward her face.

“Do you have an off switch for those tears?”

Sabine stiffened.

Her eyes immediately moved to Calder.

“Calder…”

Calder didn’t even look at her.

His gaze remained fixed on me.

“Verity.”

His voice was cold.

“Are you coming over here or not?”

His expression hardened.

“Keep this up and I’m going to get angry.”

The Ashbournes exchanged confused looks.

Cecily stared between us.

“What exactly is going on between you two?”

Then she turned on me.

Her face twisted with anger.

“Verity, are you kidding me? Sabine is your best friend and you’ve been trying to steal her boyfriend

behind her back?”

Calder’s parents looked at me like I was something disgusting.

Mrs. Ashbourne’s expression turned icy.

“Miss Sayer, I hope this is both the first and last time I ever see you.”

She pointed toward the door.

“Get out. You are not welcome here.”

Once, I would have defended myself.

But this was Professor Ashbourne’s memorial.

He had lived his entire life with dignity.

I refused to turn his funeral into an even uglier scene because of Calder.

So I said nothing.

I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Calder’s furious voice rang out.

“Verity, if you walk out that door today, don’t ever expect to come back!”

I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

There was almost a trace of smug certainty in his eyes, as if he truly believed that threat would

frighten me.

I smiled faintly.

“Gladly.”

Then I left.

I didn’t expect Lysander to follow me.

“Verity.”

I turned.

He looked genuinely troubled.

“What exactly is going on between you and Calder?”

“Nothing.”

He studied my face.

“You didn’t come between him and Sabine, did you?”

It wasn’t really a question.

He already believed me.

Something shifted inside me.

I looked at this man I had only met a few hours earlier.

“You’re wrong.”

His eyes widened.

“I did.”

“If I hadn’t been around, the two of them could’ve been together openly.”

I gave a small, humorless smile.

“If I’d stepped aside sooner, maybe none of today would’ve happened.”

Lysander was still processing my words when Calder stormed out behind us.

“Verity!”

I turned around. Calder shouted. “Come back inside and apologize to my parents.”

“What did I do wrong?”

My voice was calm.

“Why should I apologize?”

Calder let out an incredulous laugh.

His eyes went cold.

“I explained this yesterday.”

“You were away. Sabine came here to help because you couldn’t.”

“She’s spent the last few days helping my family and greeting guests because you weren’t here.”

His jaw tightened.

“And instead of thanking her, you’ve ignored her and treated her like garbage.”

He looked furious on Sabine’s behalf.

“Just because she’s kind doesn’t mean you get to bully her.”

I almost laughed.

“Calder, did you ever tell me your grandfather died?”

His expression shifted.

“Did I ask Sabine to come here pretending to be your girlfriend?”

“Did I ask her to stand beside your family and play hostess in my place?”

A flicker of discomfort crossed his face.

But when he answered, his excuse was exactly the same as Sabine’s.

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to distract you while you were working.”

“Wait.”

Lysander looked between us.

Confusion filled his face.

“What the hell are you two talking about?”

He turned to Calder.

“I thought Sabine was your girlfriend.”

His voice slowed.

“What do you mean she was pretending to be your girlfriend instead of Verity?”