Chapter 1673
Skyler was at her witsâ end. âGuys, can you loosen your grip? Let me walk on my own.â
Emma shot back, âIf we let go, youâll bolt.â
Skylerâs hands were trapped. Otherwise, sheâd have raised them in an oath to prove her point, âIâll go with you, and I swear I wonât run off. âYou better keep your word.â Emma replied.
âOf course. Now, can you let me go?â Skyler retorted.
Finally, they released Skyler.
Emma couldnât help but tease, âSky, you donât look like youâre strapped for cash. Why are you always so hung up on making money? Listen, life flashes by. Youâve gotta seize the day while youâre young, live it up so you donât regret it.âe2
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Amanda chimed in, supporting Emma, âSheâs so right. Thereâs no end to making money. Once we graduate, thereâll be endless jobs. College years are our last chance to be a little reckless. Donât waste it all on chasing dollars.â
Skyler stayed quiet. They had parents who doted on them and sent them their allowances like clockwork, so they could afford to be carefree for a few more years. But for someone like her, who had no one to care for her, she had to rely on herself to become strong so that she could live the life she wanted in the future.
Emma suddenly changed the subject, âHey Sky, has your family been on your case about getting a boyfriend?â
Skylerâs heart skipped a beat, fearing theyâd find out about last nightâs return to the Rivera residence with Zavier, âWhy bring this up all of a sudden?â
âJust think about it, back in high school, my folks were paranoid about me dating too early, always picking me up from school. Now, barely a month into college and I havenât even gotten to know all the guys in my program, theyâre already pestering me to find a boyfriend. They keep saying good men are scarce and if I donât act fast, theyâll all be snagged by others.â
Amanda laughed, âMy parents are so torn. They want their daughter to find a boyfriend but are terrified their precious little girl will be taken away by some unworthy guy.â
Skyler couldnât help but envy them, âMust be nice.â
Both girls asked in unison, âDonât your parents let you date?â
Skyler was silent. It wasnât that she wasnât allowed to date. It was much worse. She had been traded off by her family like a bargaining chip.
After her parents sent her to the Rivera family, they never asked her how she was doing. Both her family and the Riveras only cared whether she could bear Zavier a son to secure the Rivera familyâs legacy.
The irony and the tragedy. In this day and age, arranged marriages still existed.
Their conversation hadnât wrapped up by the time they reached the destination. The massive stadium was packed, with screams of excitement echoing from the female fans.
Emma and Amanda pulled Skyler along, âSkyler, hurry up. Vivian snagged us seats, and theyâll be gone if weâre any later.â
They squeezed through the crowd to the bleachers where Vivian had saved a prime spot in the front row. Vivian, having held four seats on her own, nearly got into an argument, but their timely arrival diffused the situation.
Once seated, Vivian pulled out four bottles of water from her bag and handed one to each person.
Lunch had been a salty affair, and Skyler was already parched. She twisted the bottle open, ready to quench her thirst.
Emma stopped her, âThat water isnât for drinking,â
Skyler was confused, âIf itâs not for drinking, why did you give it to me?â
The trio rolled their eyes in unison, âSilly, donât you get it? Havenât you ever watched the guys play basketball in high school?â
Skyler was even more perplexed,
Seeing her baffled look, they decided to stop teasing her.