Let's Just Forget About It

Chapter 15

Jessica's POV

I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and adoration for Nia. She had this knack for forgetting things and being a bit clueless, yet there was something undeniably endearing about her. Part of me wanted to hit her for her absentmindedness, while another part wanted to squeeze her tightly because her cluelessness was oddly cute.

As I emerged from the washroom, dressed in a comfortable black hoodie with "Stanford" written across it, I reached for my mask instinctively. However, Cam stopped me in my tracks, offering his advice. "Your best bet is not to draw attention by wearing a mask," he suggested. I shook my head, dismissing his suggestion, and proceeded to put on the mask anyway. "Dude, it's a hospital. People can walk around with masks on," I retorted, finding his concern unnecessary.

My ribs were healing well, although I knew I wouldn't be able to participate in any competitions for the next few months. I had already informed my coach about the situation, and she understood, granting me a month off from training. The university had also given me a month of official holiday, allowing me to take my classes online.

Cam had packed my bag, slinging the LV duffle over his shoulder. I couldn't resist teasing him about his concern over the mask while flaunting an expensive bag. "You're calling me out for a mask when you're carrying a $4,000 duffle?" I remarked, raising an eyebrow. Cam chuckled and responded, "Yeah, well, rich people get hospitalized too. Besides, madame, if you find the logo-printed bag so cringe, why did you even buy it?" He seemed genuinely puzzled as we left the room and scanned the corridor, noticing that the guards were no longer present. It appeared they had been instructed to return.

"You know I don't like things like that. It was a dumb prank from Charlotte, who I swear to God can be the only one to spend $4,000 on a joke just to cringe me out," I explained, cringing at the sight of the bag. It was undeniably beautiful, but the repeated LV logo made it overly ostentatious. Perhaps my exposure to the world of old money and people like Lily, Spenc, Annie, and Nia had given me a different perspective on luxury goods. I had seen firsthand the discreet elegance of the real 0.1%.

If you looked at Lily now, you might think she was dressed casually, but half of her wardrobe was tailor-made for her, while the other half consisted of items that cost more than most people's monthly salaries. And don't even get me started on Nia's clothes. Everything she wore was custom-made, with occasional luxury pieces that were discreet and understated.

"Well, what do you expect from an oil heiress?" Cam chuckled, eliciting a laugh from me, despite the pain it caused in my healing ribs. "Shhh, don't make me laugh," I playfully scolded him, and he chuckled, murmuring an apology.

"Sooooo, the Princess of Belgium," he said, breaking the silence as he skillfully navigated through the city's traffic. I glanced at the passing streets, realizing that it would be a while before we reached home. There was no way I could avoid this conversation any longer. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what was to come. This topic had been lingering in the back of my mind, and now it was time to address it.

"She's a close friend," I explained, referring to Nia. Cam had yet to meet Lily, my ex-girlfriend. Annie, my professor, had introduced him to me when I was admitted, but she hadn't revealed much about herself other than being my professor.

"And?" he prompted, gesturing for me to continue. I let out a sigh, preparing to divulge more about Lily and our complicated connections.

"My ex's name is Lily Hank. She's the daughter of LeMarc's CMO. They are close family friends," I began, watching his face for any signs of recognition. He seemed a bit confused, so I decided to provide more context.

"Have you heard the stories about the 'Royal Gang'?" I asked, hoping to jog his memory. His confusion persisted as he shook his head.

"Well, the 'Royal Gang' is essentially a group of friends who were popular back in their prime but now prefer to operate under the radar," I explained. "The group includes the Queens of Belgium and Spain, the CEO of LeMarc and her wife, who serves on multiple Fortune 500 company boards, and the co-founders of Lex, among others. They're basically the people who have a lot of influence."