Chapter 57: Stella Winters is a Green Tea
"That’s nice. Unlike Chloe and me, we can’t make any desserts at all."
Zoe Roland’s smile froze. Stella Winters walked up to her. "Here, Miss Roland, a birthday gift for you."
"Thank you, Winters." Zoe Roland took the gift and met Stella Winters’s gaze, both of them wearing forced smiles.
"Miss."
The maid came in again. Zoe Roland had a feeling someone else had arrived, and the maid’s next words confirmed her suspicion.
"There’s a student at the door with the surname Shen. He says he’s also your classmate and is here for your birthday party!"
Zoe Roland immediately thought of Evan Shaw. ’Classmates, my ass. If I hadn’t invited Chloe that day, we wouldn’t even know each other. We’ve never even spoken.’
The corner of Stella Winters’s mouth curled up. Her gaze fell on Zoe Roland’s face, and she clearly saw her expression change. ’This Evan Shaw is interesting,’ she thought. ’He knows how to stir things up.’
"Let him in!" After all, Chloe was still here, and her relationship with him seemed to be okay. She had to be magnanimous.
"Okay!"
"Looks like your birthday party is quite lively today, Miss Roland. Not only did Chloe and I come, but Campus Prince Shaw is here too!"
Hearing the teasing tone in Stella Winters’s voice, Zoe Roland just smiled without a word. Her plans had been completely thrown into disarray.
Soon, the maid returned. Unexpectedly, following behind her was not only Evan Shaw but also Ethan Prescott.
Zoe Roland could no longer maintain the smile on her face. She had only planned on inviting Chloe York. Stella Winters showing up was one thing, but now Evan Shaw was here, and Ethan Prescott too.
"Oh my, it really is a party today! Everyone’s here! Miss Roland, you’re so popular!" The moment Stella Winters saw Ethan Prescott appear, she couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Seeing Stella Winters act like this, Chloe York patted her hand. ’Why does her happiness seem a bit... mocking?’ she wondered.
Reminded by Chloe York, Stella Winters quickly composed herself and stood obediently by her side.
Zoe Roland couldn’t help but glare at the maid. When she announced the guest, she’d only mentioned Evan Shaw. Why did she bring in Ethan Prescott too?
The maid, having been glared at, immediately realized her mistake. ’How could I have made such a huge error? Even if they’re all classmates, there must be some my young miss dislikes. Why did I bring them in together without announcing the second one?’
The maid bowed and retreated. ’There goes half a month’s pay.’
When Roger Roland and Mrs. Roland returned, they were also taken aback to see three extra people. Hadn’t their daughter said she was only inviting one female classmate?
"Dad, Mom, everyone’s here. We’re going to cut the cake now," Zoe Roland said, afraid more people might show up. She wanted to get the cake-cutting over with quickly.
"Yes, yes, yes, let’s cut the cake!"
"Chloe, would you cut the cake with me?" Zoe Roland asked, her eyes filled with sincerity as she invited Chloe York.
"Of course!"
Zoe Roland gripped the handle of the cake knife, so Chloe York could only place her hand on top of hers. Since they were both girls, Chloe York didn’t think much of it and cut down through the three-tiered cake with Zoe Roland.
Stella Winters watched the two of them cut the cake and muttered to herself, "What a classic green-tea bitch. Good thing she’s not one of my boyfriend’s friends." Then, Stella Winters suddenly realized something was wrong. "Wait, no. It’s not okay for someone like her to be around my best friend either! I’ll be pushed out in no time."
Ethan Prescott also saw what Zoe Roland was up to. He never expected that besides guys liking Chloe York, now there was even a girl who had... certain indescribable feelings for her.
He noticed Stella Winters on the other side, watching the pair and muttering something under her breath. From her displeased expression, he could tell she didn’t like Zoe Roland either.
He stealthily moved to her side and lowered his voice. "Stella Winters, look. How about we team up? This Zoe Roland is here to steal Chloe from both of us."
Hearing his voice, Stella Winters gave Ethan Prescott a dismissive look. "Team up with you?"
"Yeah!"
"What are you thinking? You’re the one Chloe hates the most. I’m Chloe’s best friend, so of course, I’m on her side. Besides, Zoe Roland is a girl. I can deal with her easily. You..." Stella Winters looked Ethan Prescott up and down with disdain. "Just stay away."
After speaking, Stella Winters ignored Ethan Prescott and hurried over to Chloe York’s side.
Ethan Prescott was so angered by Stella Winters that before he could even get properly mad, she had already run off.
’Unbelievable,’ he thought. ’Me, the esteemed young master of the Prescott Family, getting snubbed by some random girl!’
’He was a campus prince, for crying out loud! With his status and looks, he was always surrounded by adoring girls wherever he went at school. But today, here, he was the one with the least presence, the most disliked.’
Evan Shaw had been watching the whole time and naturally saw Ethan Prescott fuming, practically hopping mad. The corner of his mouth curved up slightly, but his expression remained impassive.
"Chloe, I want some cake. Can you cut a piece for me?" Stella Winters asked coaxingly, linking her arm with Chloe York’s.
Knowing Stella Winters was a little foodie who had probably been craving the cake for a while, she said, "You have to wait a bit. It’s Zoe Roland’s birthday, so the first piece is hers."
"Alright then. After she gets hers, you can cut a piece for me."
"Okay!"
Just then, Zoe Roland finished cutting the first piece of cake and immediately offered it to Chloe York. "Chloe, the first piece of my birthday cake is for you. Thank you for saving me that day."
Surprised that Zoe Roland would do this, Chloe York quickly refused. "You’re the birthday girl today. The first piece should be yours."
"It’s okay. You’re my savior. The savior should eat the first piece. Or... are you saying you don’t want to eat the cake I made, Chloe? Do you dislike it?" Zoe Roland lowered her eyes, looking as if she had been deeply wronged.
"No, that’s not what I meant. I just think you’re the birthday girl."
"And I, the birthday girl, say it’s okay. Please, Chloe, you have the first piece." Zoe Roland pushed the cake a little closer.
Stella Winters said nothing as she watched this scene play out. She wondered, ’Is Zoe Roland being so much of a green-tea and so clingy with Chloe just because Chloe saved her? And is my dislike for her purely because of my own possessiveness over Chloe?’
’But she really does feel so fake, like she’s trying to monopolize Chloe York. If she weren’t so two-faced, maybe they could get along peacefully. It wouldn’t be impossible to have one more friend, even if a friendship of three is a crowd.’
Left with no choice, Chloe York took the first piece of cake.
Seeing Chloe York accept, Zoe Roland was delighted. She quickly cut another piece for herself and said to the others, "If you want some, please cut it yourselves. Chloe, let’s go sit over there and eat." With that, Zoe Roland reached out and pulled Chloe York toward the living room.
Chloe York had just started to say "wait," as she hadn’t cut a piece for Stella Winters yet, but because her hands were full with the cake, she was easily pulled away by Zoe Roland.
Seeing the two leave, Stella Winters immediately cut herself a slice of cake and followed. The other two did the same, cutting cake and following along.
The remaining Roland parents looked at each other, then let out a helpless sigh.
"Looks like our daughter has found someone new she wants all to herself."