Love Betrayed

Upon hearing the words, they all paused for a moment.

Georgina Bennett chuckled, “Nalani, I know you're eager to see the acceptance letter, but the mailman will deliver it to us. There's no need for your dad to wait by the road every day.”

Layton Bennett, however, took the situation more seriously than his wife. Noticing Nalani’s grave expression, he straightened up in his chair and asked with concern, “Is someone trying to take your acceptance letter?”

His quick understanding of the situation reassured Nalani. She nodded, “Yes, Eiden Parker wants to hand my acceptance letter over to his girlfriend.”

Georgina laughed again, “What are you talking about? Aren’t you his girlfriend?”

Nalani sighed internally. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Malani Snyder, the mayor's daughter, was Eiden’s real interest. Not only did he plan to give Nalani’s acceptance letter to Malani so she could go to college under Nalani’s name, but he also intended to move to New York with her after graduation. He lavished all his money and affection on Malani. Meanwhile, Nalani, who remained at home to care for his parents, received nothing more than obligatory acknowledgments.

Reflecting on how she had spent years caring for his elderly parents and children while he enjoyed life with Malani in New York filled Nalani with a bitter resentment that caught her parents by surprise.

Layton erupted, “What has that scoundrel Eiden done to you?”

Nalani shook herself from her thoughts and reassured him, “It’s not what he's done; it's what he's planning to do but hasn't yet achieved.”

“Dad, I overheard Eiden plotting with Raiden Harvey to intercept my acceptance letter and give it to Malani, allowing her to take my place in college.”

Layton’s face reddened with anger, “Did he really say that?”

Just as Nalani was about to confirm, Georgina’s puzzled voice interrupted, “I remember Eiden detesting Malani. Why would he want to give her your letter?”

Indeed, everyone knew Eiden didn’t like Malani. As the mayor's daughter, Malani was spoiled and had a history of lashing out at kids she didn’t like, and Eiden, despite his family's modest means, had always been on the receiving end of her bullying.

Eiden, to genuinely care about someone who tormented you—how foolish can you be?