Chapter 4
“Does she look like the typel
tome en Africa? she probably rarely even leaves her provincet
Even Jackson smirked faintly, shaking his head
Sara squinted her eyes, a triumphant sinde spreading across her face.
“Exactly. I asked the wrong person!
“I should’ve asked her which local market sells the cheapest vegetabiles m which brand of tollet cleaner works bed!”
The table erupted in lighter again
She, smug as ever, burned away and launched into another topic,
- 1 slowly clenched my fists.
Something inside me was burning.
thought I must be drunk.
wise, why would such a childish provocation anger me?
Tve been there.”
My voice was calm but firm, cutting through the noise at the table.
The laughter stopped abruptly,
Sara nimed her head, momentarily stunned, before sneering, “What?”
Tve been to Africa.”
Aflicker of surprise flashed across her face, but she quickly regained her composure, her tone dripping with disdain.
“Oh, no need to be so pretentious. If you haven’t been, just say on! Lying will only get you into trouble.”
“Tm not lying”
“Oh, really” She crossed her arms, tilting her chin up. “Then tell us, where exactly did you go?
“Kenya? Morocco? Or perhaps South Africa?
I stared at her steaddy, my voice unwavering “The Democratic Republic of Congn:
Congo?” someone repeated hesitantly, doubt thick in their tone.
“Must’ve had too much to drink anther laughed, “making up stuff like this!
The fire inside meared even higher.
I wasn’t the only one there–there were many others.
Journalists, peacekeepers, and worker.
Were they not “normal people” either?
Nine Chandas to Break a Heart: The Love That Never Been Chosen
-16.15
Chapter 4
I swept my gaze her the table, speaking slowly wind clearly
“Not only have theen there, but 11ved there for an entke
“The witnessed wars fought over mineral resences, visted Flola treatment buters, distributed relief supplies with workers
“I was even shot”
Kleefell over the table.
Tveryone’s eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief.
I swirled the wine in my glass, fixing my gare on Sara as my home turned le
“The more thin.
“There are no yellowfin tuna in the Mediterranean–they prefer tropical waters. The Camino de Santiago doesn’t start in Portugal, ir atretches from France to Spain. And as for Uluru, climbing has been harmed since 2019.”
Introwed my eyes. Tipling into a Exit smile
“Sara. Ning isrvt good. It’s so easy to get caught.”
Her face turned ghostly palp
The others exchanged confused and uncertain glances, their gazes darting between us.
astiddenly shot to her feet, her voice ring in a shrill pitch
s just a parentless nobody–how could she have been to such places?
“She’s the one lying!”
Irested my chin on my hard, smiling Exintly.
“Then why don’t you show us some photos?
“You’ve been to so many places, surely you took a few pictures?”
Her face crumbled, panic overtaking her.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have any?”
Her flustered expression grew more frantic as she turned to Jackson, nearly ears.
“Jackson! What’s wrong with your wife?!
“Wasn’t this supposed to be my welcome party? How can you let her hully me like this?
“Forget it! If I’m so unwelcome, I’ll just leave?
She pretended to wipe her eyes before storming out
The room descendedundo chaos.
The others quickly urged Jackson, “Go after her! It’s late–what if she gets lost?
Jackson’s face darkened. He shot me a furious glare before standing abruptly and striding out the door.
Chapters
Chapter 5
