Chapter 7 The Birthday Party

Merry made a few friends through her boyfriend, and they all got along well with him.

Her boyfriend, Oswald, was an actor who was a bit handsome but not famous, only playing supporting roles in third-rate productions.

"Let's cut the cake now," Oswald said, looking at the beautiful big cake in the center. "Which bakery is this from?"

"My housekeeper made it," Merry smiled. "She spent a long time preparing it. I also have a friend who's coming soon."

Oswald scoffed, "You have another friend?"

He didn't believe Merry could have any good friends. She was so plain and naive, never understanding sarcasm or flattery.

After entering the entertainment industry, Oswald's expenses skyrocketed, but he had no fame or fans to earn much income. Then he met Merry. Hearing she was wealthy, Oswald pursued her for half a month and managed to win her over.

Merry was very generous, spending hundreds of thousands on clothes and accessories for him in a short time. Whenever he claimed to be broke, Merry would send him large cash gifts.

Merry held her birthday party at a hotel, eagerly waiting for Sarah to arrive when she saw Elisa.

Elisa and Ronald walked out of a hotel room sweetly together. Despite the staff insisting the banquet hall was reserved, Ronald arrogantly insisted on bringing Elisa for breakfast.

Last night, Peter lied to Elisa that Ronald was with another woman at the hotel. Elisa, thinking Ronald was with Sarah, rushed over. To her surprise, Ronald was alone in the room.

They spent the whole night together, and Ronald was satisfied.

He had known Sarah since school. Back then, Ronald saw Sarah as an elegant and unattainable figure; they never had any physical contact, not even a hug.

But with Elisa, it took only a few days before they ended up in bed together. Ronald was very pleased with Elisa in bed, so he planned to reward her with a big meal in the banquet hall.

Merry, seeing them, was displeased. "This is my birthday party. I didn't invite you. What are you doing here?"

Merry remembered that Sarah hated Elisa. What Sarah hated, Merry also hated.

"Merry, you're having a birthday party here?" Ronald asked, stiffening. "Why did you do that back then?"

Elisa remembered Merry as Sarah's lackey, spreading rumors that she worked as a prostitute, ruining her reputation among relatives and friends.

Sarah always pretended to be graceful and elegant, and Elisa had learned to imitate her perfectly.

Although Elisa hated Merry, she put on a gracious act. "Ronald, don't question her... I've already forgotten about that..."

The more understanding and forgiving Elisa appeared, the more Ronald felt for her. His eyes glinted with anger. "Tell me, why did you spread those rumors?"

Oswald and his friends, recognizing Ronald as the young master of the Martin family, distanced themselves from Merry, afraid of getting involved.

Elisa bit her lip, "It wasn't her fault. It must have been Sarah who made her do it..."

"It's my own doing!" Merry glared at Elisa. "You got plastic surgery to look like Sarah. Why shouldn't I look down on you?"

Elisa touched her face, tears welling up as she looked at Ronald. "Ronald, I didn't..."

Just then, Sarah walked in.

Sarah was wearing a beige suit with pearl earrings and a necklace, the luster of the pearls matching her fair skin, making her look even more pretty.

Elisa's eyes swept over Sarah's earrings and necklace, feeling a pang of jealousy. Ever since learning about the price of Sarah's clothes and jewelry, she had become increasingly obsessed with comparing them. If she wanted to replace Sarah in Ronald's life, she needed to emulate her perfectly.

Elisa had seen a similar necklace online for a couple hundred bucks, but the earrings were intricately made and likely difficult to find.

Ronald, too, was momentarily breathless at Sarah's appearance. She always looked so attractive, like an unattainable star in the sky.

Ronald couldn't help but glance at Elisa, who, in her haste to catch Ronald the night before, hadn't dressed up. Her outfit looked sloppy in comparison.

Ronald found Sarah's refined presence far more captivating.

Sarah frowned slightly. "What's going on?"

Ronald's expression was cold. "Ask her!"

Merry looked down, silent.

Ronald's gaze was complex as he spoke to Sarah. "She deliberately slandered Elisa in front of others. Sarah, if you slap her, I'll believe this had nothing to do with you and forgive you."

Sarah, "???"

Slap her good friend who would drive her at midnight just for a guy?

Was Ronald stupid, or was she?

Merry looked fearfully at Sarah. She knew how much Sarah cared about Ronald. In Sarah's eyes, Ronald was almost everything, her eternal sun. Sarah hitting her for Ronald would be entirely normal.

But... it was her birthday.

Merry braced herself, closing her eyes in fear as Sarah raised her hand.

Instead, Sarah gently patted her shoulder. "Don't be angry over people who don't matter, Merry. Happy birthday."

Merry was stunned.

Sarah then coldly looked at Ronald. "Do you like hitting women that much?"

Ronald was furious. "Sarah!"

Sarah's voice was icy. "Your forgiveness is laughable compared to my friend. It's Merry's birthday. If she didn't invite you, you can leave."

Ronald couldn't believe his ears. Sarah was actually asking him to leave, and she was serious, not joking.

Ronald shouted, "Sarah, are you crazy? You're treating me like this for a lackey?"

Sarah's lips curled into a mocking smile. She stared at Ronald with disdain and ridicule.

"Yes, I'm crazy," she said lightly, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "What, did you just realize it, Mr. Ronald?"

Ronald's expression softened a bit when he heard those words. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Sarah's bluntness.

"I was crazy enough to be devoted to you," Sarah continued with her sarcasm, her eyes cold. "Now that I've come to my senses, I won't be fooled by you anymore."

Ronald's face darkened again, and he glared at Sarah with a steely expression.

"Sarah, don't go too far!" Elisa finally couldn't hold back. Her eyes were slightly red, on the verge of tears. "How can you talk to Ronald like that?"

Sarah let out a cold laugh. She turned to Elisa, looking her up and down with a particular glint in her eyes. Honestly, Elisa's face did bear some resemblance to hers, especially with makeup.

Seeing someone imitate her so closely would make anyone uncomfortable.

"Miss Elisa, I'm not Ronald," Sarah said calmly. "Your tactic of playing hard to get doesn't work on me."

Elisa was stunned by Sarah's words, her face turning pale. She bit her lip, seeming to want to argue, but ultimately followed Ronald out in silence.

Once they left, Merry's friends approached.

Oswald, knowing Ronald as the heir to the Martin family from the news, was surprised and curious about Sarah, thinking she must be quite influential to mock Ronald so boldly.

Oswald glanced at Merry and then at Sarah, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Merry, is this your friend?"

He was struck by Sarah's appearance. Despite his experience in the entertainment industry and having seen many famous actresses, Sarah's looks and demeanor were unforgettable.

Merry felt guilty. She knew how important Ronald was to Sarah. Normally, Sarah would have slapped her for Ronald's sake. But in this critical moment, Sarah chose her over Ronald. Merry would feel guilty for life if she had ruined Sarah and Ronald's relationship.

"Sarah, I'm sorry." Merry looked down. "I should have let you hit me."