My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 05

My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 05

Seeing Julian again had thrown me off so badly that I missed whatever Ethan was saying in my ear.

I didn’t snap out of it until an argument erupted at the ballroom entrance.

The piano fell silent.

Vivienne frowned. “What’s going on?”

The restaurant manager hurried over.

“Ms. Sterling, there’s a woman outside claiming she’s one of your guests. She’s insisting on being let in.”

“Does she have an invitation?”

“No. That’s why security stopped her.”

The moment Vivienne’s expression cooled, Ethan finally remembered Mia.

“Vivienne, I think she’s a friend of mine.”

Before he’d even finished speaking, Mia’s tearful scream rang out.

“Don’t touch me!”

Ethan hurried to the entrance and pulled open the ballroom doors.

“What happened?”

Mia was being held back by security, visibly distraught.

Sweat had soaked through most of her delicate dress. Her hair clung to her face, and her makeup had streaked beyond saving.

She must’ve felt genuinely wronged to show up in that state.

She bit her lip.

“If you didn’t want me here, Ivy, why did you invite me?”

Ethan frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

Mia said, “The driver never came. I waited at the bottom of the hill for half an hour and called both of you over and over. Neither of you answered.”

“A local finally took pity on me and led me up a trail.”

Mud caked her shoes, and the backs of both heels were rubbed raw.

“There’s been a misunderstanding…” I said gently.

“What misunderstanding?” Mia’s voice shot up. “Was it fun humiliating me, Ivy?”

“It really was a misunderstanding. Come with me, and I’ll explain everything. This is Vivienne’s party…”

I reached for her, but she slapped my hand away.

“Explain it right here. I’d love to hear what excuse you come up with. If I let you drag me off somewhere, who knows what else you’ll do to me?”

By then, Vivienne looked furious.

Ethan had no choice but to step in.

“I sent the driver. If he failed to pick you up, that’s on me. Why are you taking it out on Ivy?”

“You arranged it yourself? There’s no way.”

Mia had assumed I’d interfered and never told the driver to come.

She hadn’t realized Ethan really was the only one who could send a car for her.

I didn’t even have the chauffeur’s number.

Ethan had explained that his security-conscious parents kept the chauffeur’s contact information private.

Besides, I’d put everything in writing. Why would I sabotage her through messages she could screenshot?

I lived by one rule:

I never put anything in writing I couldn’t afford to have screenshotted.

Ethan was losing patience.

“Mia, apologize to Ivy. Then leave.”

Mia looked at me, humiliated and completely at a loss.

I gave her a gentle smile and mouthed my answer.

“It was.”

Humiliating her really had been fun.