They Made Me Confess To A Bricklayer, Then I Saw The Comments Chapter 05
Rowan met my gaze. He didn’t say a word for three full seconds.
The entire room held its breath. The reader feed was moving too fast to keep up with.
Then he reached out and took the bouquet.
“Okay.”
He said just one word, barely louder than a breath, but I heard every syllable.
The room erupted.
[He took them! He actually took them!]
[The future big shot still fell for it!]
[Okay, the drama queen actually pulled it off?? She really got him.]
[Wait, am I the only one who thinks this is weird? Why’d she pick HIM?]
On the other end of the stream, Preston’s smile vanished.
He shot upright, knocking his drink off the armrest. It hit the concrete and sprayed everywhere.
“Damn it!”
Chloe, on the other hand, was thrilled. I’d just publicly chosen someone else, which meant Preston was finally fair game.
She turned to Preston, her mouth falling open. “She… wasn’t she supposed to confess to you?”
Preston didn’t answer. He was already running for the parking lot.
I signaled someone to cut the livestream, then took Rowan’s hand.
His hand was ice-cold and shaking.
I looked up at him. “What are you so scared of?”
He didn’t answer, but his fingers tightened around mine.
I smiled. “Come on. I’ll take you to meet my parents.”
He stopped. “Now?”
“When else? Don’t tell me you’re getting nervous now.”
[The drama queen is RUTHLESS.]
[The second male lead is completely whipped already.]
[Lmao the male lead is still on his way. Too late to steal the second male lead now.]
I pulled Rowan out of the ballroom. We’d barely made it to the front entrance when a Maserati screeched to a halt in front of us.
Preston threw himself out of the car, still in his board shorts, with a dress shirt barely buttoned over them. He looked absolutely pathetic.
He planted himself in front of Rowan, eyes bloodshot.
“Serena, are you out of your mind?”
“You’re with HIM? Do you even know who he is? A broke construction worker!”
I stepped in front of Rowan and looked up at Preston.
“What’s it to you?”
“What’s it to ME?”
Preston let out a disbelieving laugh.
“You chased me for ten years and then dropped me for some nobody? What was I supposed to be, then?”
“Your ego?”
I stared at him. “Preston, since when was this about pride?”
“I gave you a car, and you handed it to Chloe. Every time I wanted to hang out, you were too busy, but you always had time for her. And when I hurt my leg on a hike, you told me I was being dramatic.”
“And now you’re asking me why I chose him over you?”
Preston opened his mouth, then closed it. He had nothing.
[The drama queen ATE that.]
[The male lead never actually liked her. He just wasn’t used to losing her.]
[When you put it like that… the male lead is honestly kind of trash.]
I took Rowan’s hand and walked around Preston. Two steps later, I turned back.
“Oh, and that car? I’m having it towed back.”
“You don’t deserve to drive it.”
Preston stood there like the ground had dropped out from under him.
Chloe scrambled out of the passenger seat after him and grabbed his arm. “Preston, don’t. She’s only trying to get under your skin…”
Preston shook her off without looking at her. “You too. Get lost.”
Chloe froze.
[Wait what??? Isn’t the male lead supposed to fall for the female lead by now?]
[Does the male lead actually have feelings for the second female lead without realizing it??]
I didn’t look back. Rowan hadn’t said a word through all of it.
We were waiting at a crosswalk when he finally spoke.
“Don’t ruin things with your family because of me.”
I turned to him. “Who said anything about ruining things?”
“Your mom won’t be okay with this.”
“How do you know?”
His gaze dropped. “Because I’m poor.”
I rose on my toes until my face was inches from his. “Then why do you think I chose you?”
He took in my face, flushed and grinning and fearless, and went completely still.
I didn’t wait for an answer. I just took his hand and pulled him across the street.
The next day, the entire school knew.
The oldest Sterling daughter was with the broke construction worker.
By the time I got to class, a crowd had gathered outside the door. Every eye was on me.
I walked right through them with two lattes in hand, head high.
Rowan was in the back row. He looked up when I walked in, and his ears turned red all over again.
I set the latte on his desk. “Here. Before it gets cold.”
A whistle cut through the room. Someone snickered.
Chloe was in the front row, pretending to scroll through her phone. Her eyes kept sliding our way.
I ignored her, dropped into the seat next to Rowan, and opened my book.
He ducked his head to take a sip. His throat moved with each swallow.
I stared a beat too long, and he caught me. “What are you staring at?”
“Just admiring the view.” He almost choked on his coffee.
At lunch, Chloe walked over with her tray and sat across from me.
“Serena, are you actually with him?”
I didn’t look up. “You have eyes, don’t you?”
She smiled, pitching her voice just loud enough to carry. Every ear within range perked up.
“I just think it’s such a shame, you know? All those years chasing Preston, and you just… gave up.”
I took my time chewing before I answered.
“Nothing to feel bad about. Trash belongs in the trash.”
Chloe’s face went tight. “Who are you calling trash?”
“If the shoe fits.”
[LMAOOO the drama queen’s mouth is lethal.]
Chloe bit her lip, then forced a smile. “Fine. As long as you’re happy.”