His words hit me like a punch to the chest. The humiliation, the pain, and now Scott’s anger—it was too much. My voice cracked as I tried to explain.
“I didn’t—! They were bullying me!” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Jessica said I wasn’t good enough for you. She called me an idiot!”
I turned to Scott, my eyes pleading. “They were the ones attacking me, not the other way around!”
Before I could say more, Jessica’s voice, soft and pitying, cut through the air. “Nadia, how could you lie like that?” she said, her eyes wide with hurt. “Everyone was just curious to meet you. Nobody said anything mean.”
She let out a small sigh, shaking her head. “And as for me? I’d never insult you like that. With all these people here, everyone heard what I said. I was only trying to help.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, the whispers growing louder with each passing second.
“Exactly! Look at her, throwing tantrums and making up lies.”
“Jessica was nothing but kind to her, and this is how she gets treated? What a mess.”
“She’s not just dumb—she’s downright dangerous. Poor Scott, having to deal with her.”
Scott’s face darkened further, his jaw clenched tight.