"Don't you look stunning today?"
Reid offered the compliment casually.
Zara beamed, her heart soaring. "Of course! It's my birthday, after all!”
Looking at Reid, and then back at Preston, Zara felt an overwhelming wave of disgust toward her ex-fiancé.
They might not have shared the same parents, but they shared the same grandparents. How could the difference between them be so vast?
Hearing it was Zara's birthday, Reid paused for a moment.
"I didn't realize. Give me a second."
He parked the car, stepped out, and grabbed a gift box from the trunk.
"A business partner gave this to me. You can have it."
"Consider it a birthday present."
Zara glanced at the designer logo on the box. "Reid, this looks really expensive. I can't take this."
Reid shoved it into her hands. “Take it. It was a gift from someone else anyway, and I have no use for it."
Hearing that, Zara didn't refuse again. "Thanks, Reid. You're so much better than certain people!"
Certain people?
Reid knew immediately she was talking about Preston.
He merely chuckled. "Since you have friends over, I won't hold you up. Enjoy your birthday."
"Preston, are you coming home with me?"
Reid turned, fully intending to drag away the guy Zara hated the most.
Preston hesitated. If he went back with his cousin, he'd definitely get a lecture. He'd rather stay and comfort Zoe.
"No, I've got things to do."
Reid didn't mind.
"Alright, I'll head back first then."
Zara quickly stopped him. "Reid, don't go! Come inside and hang out for a bit. Grab something to eat."
Preston rolled his eyes. His cousin was a workaholic who barely had time to breathe. Did she really think he had the free time to celebrate her birthday?
Did she seriously expect him to walk into the Zeller house?
But a second later, Preston was metaphorically slapped in the face.
"Sure. Let me go back and change clothes first."
Reid actually agreed.
Zara had thought she would have to beg him.
After all, Reid was several years older than them.
He exuded an imposing, elite aura, and it was highly likely he had zero interest in
mingling with a bunch of college kids.
"Great! Hurry over, Reid!"
With that, Zara didn't even spare Zoe or Preston another glance, leading Claire and the other two girls.
over
into the house.
Reid drove off to his place.
Leaving Preston and Zoe standing there, staring at each other in awkward silence.
"Preston, you should go back too. I still haven't given her my gift..."
Seeing that Zoe still wanted to chase after Zara, Preston grew irritated.
"Zoe, did you not see how arrogant she was? After the way she just treated you, why would you even want to celebrate her birthday?"
"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital. I think that Claire girl made a good point." “Let's go get you checked out. If there really is an issue, it's better to catch it early.” Zoe furrowed her brows. “There is nothing wrong with me! Couldn't you tell she was just insulting me?"
“I accidentally tripped, and they acted like I committed a federal crime."
"If she's really a medical student, she should be more professional. How can she just spout nonsense like that?"
Preston could tell Zoe was actually getting angry, so he dropped the subject.
However, he absolutely refused to step foot in the Zeller house again.
Zoe wanted to go in, but that was only because she used to always have the upper hand Going inside used to mean embarrassing Zara.
This year was different.
This year, Zara had backup.
She was far more confident and ruthless than before.
Not wanting to humiliate herself further, Zoe listened to Preston, and the two of them
left.
Preston took her to a highly exclusive restaurant for a meal.
Zara couldn't care less where that toxic pair went.
Once inside, she immediately started gossiping about Reid with Claire and the girls.
"Those two might be cousins, but Reid and Preston are worlds apart."