Jiangbin Road, Qinghe Street—Amelia Sterling staggered forward with a beer bottle swinging in her hand, her cheeks flushed red. “Sophia, slow down! Hic…”
She hiccupped, eyes a bit blurry, watching the street lamp above flicker, stretching out her wobbly shadow. Sophia Sterling heard her and jogged over quickly, tugging at the corner of her shirt. “Amelia, you and Ethan are getting married in a few days. What gift do you want from me?”
“Mmm…” Amelia giggled, tipsy, then pointed at Sophia, who looked totally sober. “I want you to be my bridesmaid! Walk down the aisle with me!”
The drunk little woman was swaying like she could tip over any second. As she leaned forward uncontrollably, Sophia’s eyes gleamed slightly before she caught her before she fell.
“Alright, we’ll walk the aisle together. You’re totally wasted, let me take you to the hotel to lie down.”
“Mmhmm…”
Amelia didn’t resist, letting Sophia half-drag her forward. Just tonight, her boyfriend of three years, Ethan Grant, had finally proposed. Excited, she’d called her cousin out to celebrate—and, well, clearly had had way too much.
Sophia helped her check in at the front desk, face cold and unreadable.
“Room 1609. Here’s your key.”
“Thanks.” It took a bit of effort, but she finally got Amelia onto one of the twin beds. Glancing at the girl passed out cold, she gave a faint smirk.
The petite figure curled up like a cooked shrimp on the milky-white bed. Her mint-green dress had ridden up her thighs, and the thin blanket barely managed to cover her now-messy state.
Why? Why does she get Ethan’s love?
Her hand clenched tightly at her side as she looked away from Amelia’s fair face. Walking to the edge of the bed, she picked up the phone and dialed, voice low and calculated. “Hey, didn’t you always like Amelia? Here’s your shot. Shenghao Hotel, Room 1609.”
“Yes, yes! I’m on my way!”
She hung up, lips curling into a satisfied grin. On the bed, Amelia murmured softly in her sleep, wrapping the blanket tighter in her arms.
In the middle of the night, Amelia stirred, vaguely realizing something or someone was brushing against her. Feeling uncomfortable, she whimpered.
“Sophia, quit messing around...” she muttered, her long lashes fluttering. The man’s Adam’s apple shifted, and whatever self-control he had—that was long gone under the haze of alcohol.
“Emily…” he breathed.
The next morning, in the hotel lobby, Sophia looked anxious as she tugged Ethan Grant toward the elevator. “Ethan, come with me—I have something really serious to tell you!”
“What could be so urgent that we have to come to a hotel?”
“It’s… it’s about Amelia…” Sophia hesitated, carefully picking her words. But the moment Ethan heard her name, his face lit up.
“She prepared a surprise for me?”
“Exactly.” Sophia nodded quickly and dragged him into the elevator, already thinking about how to spin the story. The elevator dinged open. Swiping the backup room card, Sophia’s phone suddenly rang.
She lowered her head to answer, as Ethan, curious, pushed past her, eager to see what the surprise was.
“What is it? Why’re you calling now?” she snapped.
“You told me Amelia’s waiting for me at the hotel… but I…” the voice trailed off.
“I can’t talk right now. Call me later!” Sophia snapped and hung up, her mind only on Ethan. She stepped inside and froze—there was Amelia, curled up in bed with the blanket wrapped tight around her, tear stains still on her face. Her whole expression? Completely shaken.