Perfect Mysterious Husband (Maddox and Kimberly)

"What's the matter? Haven't you always liked Bruno?"

"I never..."

"Oh, c'mon, don't deny it. We're all girls. We can tell."

"Yeah, if you ever need our help, fire away."

Lena and Hailey did a complete one-eighty, and their friendliness shocked Mashauva, but having them around actually got her forgetting about Frida.

Sure enough, a distraction was the most helpful way to forget something.

"I'm stuffed. Why don't we eat some fruits when we head back?"

"Sure."

The three walked together; just when they were about to turn, they bumped into Frida, who was heading down, and Mashauva and Frida made eye contact.

She faltered for a split second as she stopped in her tracks.

On the other hand, Frida walked past her deadpan as if she didn't see her despite they had made eye

contact.

Lena and Hailey exchanged glances and then said, "Oh, how heartless some people can be. We've been roommates for two years; the least she could do was say hi. Oh, I wonder if she's a human or a dog." "Oh, neither, I'm sure. After all, a dog would at least be loyal to you after living with you for a year or two."

Upset, Mashauva frowned at their nasty words. "Quit it."

"Don't be afraid, Mashauva; you have us. A few words from us is nothing for a heartless person like her."

"Yeah, she acted as if you were invisible. Why would you still speak up for her?"

Not only did Frida pretend not to see Mashauva, but she also seemed not to have heard a single word Hailey and Lena said, far away from them in no time.

She was so ruthless, yet tears started pooling in Mashauva's eyes.

"Mashauva, don't be angry."

"Yeah, she's not worth it."

Mashauva took a deep breath and resisted the urge to shed tears, "Why do you guys want to be

my friend?"

Her questioning got the two girls stumped, explaining after a while, "That's because..."

"Because my family is rich and powerful, right?"

Mashauva looked at them, her eyes clear and bright as if she could see through their inner thoughts, "The reason you guys tried to befriend me, in the beginning, was that you have a crush on Bruno. Then you guys gave up after you realized he didn't like either of you. You guys befriended a lot of people at my coming-of-age ceremony using the classmate card, didn't you?"

"It's not what you think, Mashauva.

We admit we did try to befriend you

with intentions initially, but we've thought things through. Plus, two years have passed, and we've all grown up. It's because we were immature that we have such childish thoughts; it will never happen again."

"That's right, so please don't take this the wrong way. We really want to be friends with you."

They reached out to grab Mashauva as they spoke.

However, she took a big step back and looked at them coldly, "I don't care who you make friends with, but you're not allowed to badmouth anyone around me. Even if Frida and I had fallen out, it's not up to you to make oblique accusations behind

her back." "I don't get it, Mashauva. She is no longer your friend. Didn't you see how she acted just now? So why are you still speaking up for her?"

Still, with a cold face, Mashauva explained, "I'm not speaking up for anyone. I just don't like people around me to be talking behind people's backs. That's all."

With that, Mashauva left, leaving Hailey and Lena standing rooted to the spot

"What should we do? Our plan to butter her up ended up making her upset."

"What else? Since she doesn't like people talking behind Frida's back, well just not do it anymore. She had moved out anyway; there's nothing we can do, even if we want to."

Both of them followed Mashauva back to the dormitory. When she sat on the edge of her bed, they kept making small talk with her and even apologized in the end.

"We're sorry, Mashauva. We were wrong to talk behind Frida's back. We shouldn't have done that. You're right; it's mean to do so. We were wrong. Don't be mad at us anymore, okay?" "Yes, yes, we won't do it anymore. If we bump into Frida again, we'll just pretend we don't know her."

Hailey and Lena looked exceptionally sincere with their apology. If Mashauva hadn't overheard what they said about her, she would probably be moved.

However, at the thought that they were merely flattering her to gain her favor, she found it sad and laughable.

She looked at them and mumbled, "If I'm not Mashauva Taylor, will you still be here, apologizing to me now?" Stumped, Hailey and Lena looked at her, silent.

"Actually, I think I know. You don't have to say anything." Mashauva's gaze drooped. If she weren't who she was, nobody would care; she wouldn't even have the chance to grow up together with Bruno. Even so, Mashauva thought how nice it was to have someone care and be there for her. She couldn't help clinging to such warmth and affection. Perhaps because she grew up spoiled, she would feel abandoned as soon as she was alone.

"Honestly, I don't need to think that far. Even if you guys try to befriend me because I'm Mashauva Taylor, means that I'm still worth something, right?"

Neither of them spoke. Things had come to that point; it seemed pointless to do any explanation.

Mashauva wouldn't believe them no matter what they said anyway.

Finally, Hailey spoke up, "What's the point of saying more? We're already adults; you know, I know. It'll do as long as we can live in peace. Being friends is better than being enemies, no? You go ahead and take the shower and then rest early. Let's all have breakfast together tomorrow."

With that, she got up and went back to her bed to sort her things.

Lena did not expect Hailey to be so blunt. But she was right; making a friend was better than having an enemy. So what if they were superficial friends? It'd do as long as they didn't fight. Thinking of that, she immediately got up.

"Then I'll go sort my things too. You'll feel better after a hot shower."

Mashauva leaned against her bedside for a long time. Neither of them could tell what she was thinking from her expression but only that she finally got up and went into the bathroom with her clothes twenty minutes later.

"Do you think she had taken in what we've said?"