---- "Yeah, our boy Alex must be a fitness enthusiast." The room erupted in laughter. Sophia walked back in just then. 'What's everyone laughing about?" The laughter died down immediately. Her eyes were red, and her voice still held a slight tremble. Clearly, she had been crying. James quickly moved to her side, pulling her into his arms like a fragile kitten. He gently asked her what was wrong, his voice dripping with concern. Sophia shook her head, leaning into his embrace, signaling she was fine. Of course, this only prompted another wave of fawning compliments. "you two are such a perfect match!" Sophia straightened up, casting a sideways glance at me. "What happened?" ---- James's eyes met mine, his tone full of implication. "My watch is missing. Earlier, I just had my hand on Alex's shoulder for a bit... and now it's gone. Other than him, no one else was that close to me." Sophia pulled away from his embrace, her eyes narrowing as she looked me over. "Then, he should pay for it. After all these years, he can't even afford to replace a watch?" It was clear. They had already passed judgment. A voice piped up from the crowd, 'How much was the watch, Sophia?" "Half a million." Everyone sucked in a breath. "No wonder. I knew it looked special." "Yeah, if it's half a million, it's no ordinary watch. " ---- The praise seemed to bolster James's confidence. He cleared his throat, leaning into his self- appointed role as the wronged hero. "Actually, it's a discontinued model. The market price is even higher now, but since we're all old friends, I don't want to make a big deal out of this." Sophia crossed her arms, a cold, satisfied smirk on her lips. James put on his most magnanimous face, the fake kind that made my teeth itch. "It's really no big deal for us, but for someone like you, it's probably more than a decade's worth of salary. Tell you what. Apologize to me sincerely, and we'll let it slide." I let out a cold chuckle, about to snap back, when someone shoved me from behind. I stumbled forward, crashing into James and sending him tumbling to the ground. The impact shattered the wine bottles he had brought, soaking his expensive suit in sticky alcohol. ---- Sophia rushed over, helping James to his feet. " Alex! What's your problem?" Someone in the crowd muttered about how I was just jealous, and the whole thing spiraled from there. "Oh, come on, we all know Alex and Sophia used to bea thing." "Now she's with James, and they're living the life. Of course, he's bitter." "Yeah, he must regret it now, watching his ex live her best life." What a bunch of fools. I gritted my teeth. "I didn't push him. Someone shoved me from behind. I didn't do it on purpose." James cut me off, putting on a weary, magnanimous tone, "Alex, I get it. It must be tough seeing me and Sophia together, but it's been years. Let it go, man."