Is this destiny?

Chapter 658 - Cocktail Party

Sarah remembered how they went with Vivian to see Gabriel in the hospital after his accident, and they ended up seeing him with Victoria. Sarah was a good friend with Vivian at that time and was furious that he kissed Vivian while having Victoria as his girlfriend.

Sarah always hated cheaters, but she can't help and wonder if she would react in the same way if she didn't consider Vivian as her best friend at that time.

One thing is certain, and that is if she knew how much Vivian hated her, she would definitely not go to the hospital to visit Gabriel, and she would not know that Victoria even exists.

Sarah has to admit that she does not know the details of the circumstances either. She took Vivian's story as-is and seeing how Gabriel is looking at them without any guilt while holding Victoria, Sarah wonders if there is more to the story than what Vivian told her. After all, it would not be the first time that Vivian deceived her.

Sarah decided to push those thoughts aside. They should start anew, if possible.

"Congratulations to us!", Sarah smiled. "This is Victoria, right?"

Victoria raised her eyebrows in surprise and extended her hand. "You remember me."

Sarah accepted a handshake. "Yes, I do. I'm Sarah. Sorry that last time we were in a rush, and not at our best behavior." Sarah glanced at Aiden. "This is Aiden, my fiancé."

"Oh, I know!" Victoria laughed. "Trust me… Everyone knows!"

Sarah thought how Victoria looks like a pleasant person, but that time at the hospital, she saw Victoria as a vixen. She told herself to forget those few minutes in the hospital which left her feel bitter. Considering how things with Vivian ended up, she should do her best to reset everything related to her.

But what about Gabriel? He looks friendly now. At the hospital they were not polite to him even though he just woke up from a coma-like state. After that they didn't see him because by the time Gabriel left the hospital, Sarah and Aiden didn't frequent the campus except for short consultations. They didn't openly fight, but Sarah feels guilty. Looking at Aiden, she can tell that he feels the same. She hopes they get a chance to apologize… yes. Sarah told herself that if she gets a chance to talk to Gabriel without Victoria around, she should explain herself and apologize. She does not want to mention Vivian in front of Victoria, that somehow does not seem right.

They all went together to the area set up for the cocktail party, and they met with parents on their way.

Gabriel's parents were also present, and all of them exchanged congratulations and introduced themselves. Gabriel's father, Mr. Long, runs a successful business, focusing on overseas shipping, and his mother is an amiable lady who didn't manage to get many words in next to super-chatty Stella and Elanor. But Mrs. Long didn't seem to mind, she smiled and enjoyed the company. Six of them drifted off toward the seating, leaving youngsters to enjoy.

Victoria went to the washroom, and Bridgette tagged along so that she does not go alone since Steve was on his phone for more than half an hour, handling some things for White corp.

Sarah took the opportunity to apologize to Gabriel when Aiden went to get drinks for them.

"Sorry. I was rude to you last time."

"It's OK." Gabriel brushed it off.

"No, it's not. Vivian told me that you kissed, and then I saw you with Victoria, so I assumed that you are cheating."

Gabriel looked surprised and amused with Sarah's explanation. "So, what are you thinking now?"

"I don't know… but I can tell that you are serious about Victoria."

Gabriel sighed and looked troubled for few seconds before explaining: "It was one kiss. And she kissed me after I had one too many. I admit that my behavior might be ambiguous, but she was clinging onto me, always grabbing my hand and looking for a chance to be by my side. I tried few times telling her that it will not work out, but every time she would cry... Slowly I got used to having her around, and even ended up calling her to hear how she is doing. It took me a while to realize that what I'm doing is wrong, and that I'm leading her into thinking that something might come out of it. Those are all excuses, because the truth is that I was weak. I am dating Victoria since high school, and my feelings and intentions toward her didn't change."

Sarah was stunned with a lengthy explanation. "There… there is no need to explain. It's your life, and I should not meddle in it. I was out of line." Sarah felt awkward and excused herself when she got a glimpse of Victoria and Bridgette returning.

Sarah is looking at herself in the mirror, feeling guilty for being so nosy. Gabriel revealed so much, and Sarah feels that he was too nice and there was no need for him to explain himself. 'Why do I feel like bad guy in this whole story?' She thought how maybe she is a bad guy… She barged into his private life without any right to do so. And he was either neutral or nice to her. She remembered how he came to her rescue when Mimi and Meghan bullied her. Now she really feels like a bad guy…

"Well, well… isn't this the most famous fiancée?", sarcastic voice pulled Sarah from her thoughts.

Few girls snickered while Sarah turned around to face them. Four girls in graduation robes. They look familiar, but she does not recognize them. "You are?"

"Someone who became invisible since you came into our lives…", one of the girls responded.

Sarah looked at them and she can tell they are hostile. Based on their comments, her best bet is that these girls are Aiden's fans. Possibly they were part of his entourage, which he dismissed when two of them started dating.

Sarah glanced at the bathroom door.

The girl in front who seems to be leader of the group noticed: "Oh, don't worry. The door is locked, and we even put an 'under maintenance' sign in front. No one will disturb us."

They walked slowly toward Sarah with sinister looks on their faces.

Sarah could not believe what she is seeing. Is this one of those chick-bathroom-bullying-scenes from cheesy movies? "What do you think you are doing?"

The leader girl laughed maliciously. "We will teach you a lesson! How dare you even think of laying your hands on Aiden?"

Sarah burst into laugh. "You got to be kidding me!"

Girls hesitated for a second.

Leader girl squeezed through her teeth: "She is just acting crazy because she knows there is no way out… Let's put some scratches on that pretty face. Get her!"

Few minutes later, four girls are lying on the floor in the restroom stall for disabled. They are gagged, and their legs and hands are tied up with thick strips of fabric made out of their graduation robes.

Sinister smile bloomed on Sarah's face as she looked at four terrified girls who were full of themselves few minutes ago. They tried squirming away, but their hands and legs were tied up and it was difficult to move an inch since each of them was moving in her own direction.

Sarah snickered. "If you want out, you should work together. And don't forget... The door is locked and there is an 'under maintenance' sign, so… no one will come to save you." 

Sarah stepped into the stall and locked the door behind her. She wanted to teach those four girls a lesson and give them some beating, but seeing them shivering and their eyes showing that they are scared senseless, Sarah gave up on the idea.

"I have one word for you: stupid." She flashed a smile, lifted her arms and effortlessly pulled herself up over the door of the stall, landed on other side and blocked the door from outside with a mop. Sarah left the bathroom, leaving the girls tied up in a locked stall.

Sarah was satisfied while thinking of the highly probably outcome: 'Maybe later tonight maintainance comes to clean up the restroom and finds them. But they are definitely going to miss rest of the party.' 

"Is everything OK?", Aiden was worried when he saw Sarah leave after her talk with Gabriel. But when she walked into the girl's washroom, he stopped himself from going after her.

"Yeah." Sarah smiled and took the drink he handed her. "I've met some of your fans… and showed them where they belong."

Aiden raised his eyebrows wanting to ask for details, but he saw that Sarah will not talk more, so he gave up on that. She took care of it. He will ask for details later.