Chapter 16 The Reunion Organized by Ex-Boyfriend
“Going Dutch? No way, class president Samwise is organizing this get-together and he has said he’s picking up the tab,” Dulcinea realized she might have spoken too soon and quickly judged Maggie’s reaction.
Maggie's brows furrowed.
Dulcinea had to spill the beans, “The truth is, everyone knows, Samwise put this reunion together mostly to invite you. He even brought out Mr. Lee to persuade us. I didn’t want to meddle seeing you’re married now, but when Mr. Lee called, I couldn’t say no. If you’re not keen on going, we can still change plans.”
Respect for one’s mentor weighed heavy.
Maggie pursed her lips, silent for a long moment, then said, “Let’s go inside.”
Her conscience was clear, and that was enough.
Dulcinea laughed as she linked arms with Maggie, “Let’s go. We’re doing this for Mr. Lee, not because of Samwise. And Maggie, you better not tell your husband about this. I don’t want him thinking I’m trying to lead you astray, stirring up trouble between us.”
"He wouldn't be that petty," Maggie found herself speaking up for Fiorello in a protective manner before she even realized it.
The two of them entered the venue, led by a waiter to their private booth.
As the door to the booth swung open, everyone inside turned to look at Maggie. The former top student and prom queen was meeting her peers after five or six years, naturally stirring anticipation.
About twenty men and women were gathered inside the lively booth. But as soon as Maggie stepped in, a hush fell over the crowd.
Not having seen these classmates for nearly six years, Maggie felt somewhat alienated from the group. Everyone had changed, losing the exuberant spirit of their youth but gaining a certain maturity.
Some had become portly, sporting beer bellies, while most had settled down with families and achieved success in various fields.
In plain terms, it was a contest of sorts, with everyone eager to showcase their accomplishments. Men compared their careers, while women boasted about who married well or how they were faring in the workplace.
Maggie's gaze landed on a man wearing a white shirt who, despite the years, had only grown more mature and handsome without much change.
He was Samwise, arguably the most successful among the classmates.
Samwise came from a somewhat affluent background, had studied abroad for a few years, and had done well for himself. Now back in the country, he had partnered with others to open a law firm. Not only was he handsome, but he was also young and successful with a bright future ahead.
Some female classmates even lamented marrying too early.
Samwise stood up, his expression barely concealing his excitement: "Maggie, you're here."
Maggie nodded and, avoiding Samwise's gaze, made her way to an older gentleman and respectfully greeted him. "Mr. Lee."
Mr. Lee had retired, and as Maggie had been one of his most accomplished students, he greeted her with a kind face: "Maggie, take a seat."
Finding a place to sit, a male classmate quickly recovered from his initial shock and said, "Mags, it's been nearly six years and you still look as stunning as ever. You've taken such good care of yourself, it was like a goddess descending when you came in."
Before Maggie's arrival, speculation stormed among them about her present life—whether she had turned into a disheveled housewife, or if time had ravaged her looks, because after graduation, Maggie had hardly kept in touch with anyone, aside from being somewhat close to Dulcinea. No one really knew her current situation.
Maggie flashed a polite smile as one of her former classmates intentionally asked, "Maggie, we were just talking about you. Back in the day, you were a top student and the second one from our school to get into CyberU. Where are you working now? Coming out of CyberU, you must be making at least a million a year, right?"
"Yeah, in our year, it was only Maggie and Samwise who got into CyberU. Anyone from there is definitely doing better than the rest of us," another classmate chimed in.
"Needless to say, now Lawyer Gamgee has his own law firm. Heard he bought a villa on South Hill too."
"I saw Lawyer Gamgee's car earlier—a Maybach over two hundred thousand."
Maggie had attended CyberU, but had dropped out after just one semester, a fact few people were aware of.
Maggie's face showed discomfort at the conversation, but Dulcinea stepped in to ease the situation, "You all talk too much. Everyone's here, let's start eating. I'm starving."
Dulcinea's interruption effectively put the topic on hold for the time being, although Samwise's gaze occasionally drifted towards Maggie.
At the reunion, classmates naturally caught up on old school stories and current life updates.
The men boasted loudly, each trying to outshine the others with tales of success.
The married women compared who had married better and discussed their latest skincare routines—whether they used exclusive brands like Crème de la Mer or Helena Rubinstein.
They spoke of the latest lipstick shades from Dior and Cartier jewelry collections.
Maggie wasn't even familiar with what Crème de la Mer was. She typically used skincare that cost around twenty dollars, nothing fancy, primarily due to a tighter budget.
A classmate asked, "Maggie, what skincare do you usually use? Your skin looks great."
Maggie had been the school beauty, and she was still stunning, sparking envy and curiosity among the crowd. People were not just interested in what brand of skincare she used, but also in her personal life.
Everyone was also aware of Maggie's past with Samwise, an unspoken understanding around the table.
Maggie replied with a light smile, "I just use regular drugstore products."
Hearing this, the women exchanged knowing glances, their look at Maggie mixed with a touch of superiority.
Dulcinea couldn't stand it when people looked down on Maggie. "Maggie is a natural beauty," she said, "unlike some people who can slather on skincare products worth thousands of dollars and it still won't help. Just look—oh dear, such dull complexions, and now you've got blemishes, too. External care isn't enough. You need to balance it from the inside. Why don't you get a membership at my salon? We're all former classmates here, and I'll definitely give you a discount."
Dulcinea owned a beauty salon, and there she was, pitching her services and trying to drum up business on the spot.
Maggie held back a laugh. Dulcinea's sharp tongue spared no one.
The others at the gathering turned away with uncomfortable expressions, politely claiming they already had personal beauty consultants.
Maggie kept mostly to herself, quietly eating her meal and exchanging a few words with Mr. Lee while consistently avoiding Samwise's gaze.
At that moment, a glamorous woman with wavy hair approached Maggie. She smiled and said, "Maggie, it's been so many years, and you've only become more charming. You should have a boyfriend by now, right? How come you didn't bring him along? This class reunion was meant for bringing spouses, you know."
The woman, Jane Fairfax, had once competed with Maggie for the most coveted beauty title in their school.
In her heart, Jane had always admired Samwise, and now she was a partner at Samwise's law firm.
When Maggie had broken up with Samwise years ago, Jane had seized her moment and followed him abroad, but she had yet to win his heart.
Seeing Maggie now, Jane naturally wanted to stir the pot.
Everyone watched, curious as Jane bluntly inquired about Maggie’s personal life. Even Samwise was waiting for Maggie's reply.
Maggie just smiled and shook her head, "No, I don’t have a boyfriend."
At her words, a smile flickered across Samwise's eyes. Maggie not having a boyfriend meant he might still have a chance.
Jane felt irked inside. Was Maggie's comment a way to keep Samwise hanging on?
Just as Jane was about to probe further, Maggie added, "I'm married."
The room fell into an eerie silence upon these words.
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