The Rise of the White Lotus

"You guys, stop treating Ethan like that. It's my fault, okay? Also, I cried not because he hurt me or anything of the sort. It's because I am so ashamed of my actions." Letting out a deep sigh, Lexi could not let this situation get out of hand any more.

Currently, they were inside Rika Song's van, which her manager switched to the car she used last night. She already planned to drag her friends along with her today. 

"Bestie, I don't know what you did, but that doesn't mean it's okay for him to be violent towards you." Rolling her eyes, Rika Song argued as she crossed her arms under her chest. Her statement made Elliot Gong and Jarred Guo from the front passenger seat nod their heads.

"For the record, this is the first time Ethan disappointed me. I like him and root for him but well, I don't want to hear that my friend will be a battered wife in the future." Rika Song added with a heavy sighed. 

Indeed, Ethan Lu disappointed her upon seeing the red marks on Lexi's wrist — the swollen eyes would be understandable, but not if she has little marks on her, that's an entirely different case. Lexi has this milky white complexion that the slight reddish marks on her or anything would be very noticeable. One could tell that someone harshly grabbed and dragged her by the wrist. 

"I'm always disappointed with him." Elliot Gong chimed in with a shrug. Well, Ethan Lu used to threaten him and even put him in debt just touching Lexi. One of the main reasons why, although he was friends with Lexi, he would keep his distance with her, afraid that her husband would go on a rampage.

"You guys, you don't understand." Deeply sighing once again, Lexi shook her head in helplessness. "I threw myself last night to brother Mo just to enrage him. Although he went overboard, I did too." Lexi summarized their argument, leaving the details of ensnaring Mia Chen along.

She didn't find the reason to let her friends know the scheme toward her last night, as it wasn't important. Also, Lexi didn't want to worry them further.

Upon hearing the real reason they argued, Rika Song, Elliot Gong, and Jaime Liao suddenly looked at Lexi, rendered speechless by her explanation. They didn't know that because, throughout the night, Lexi and Morris Liu had kept a significant distance from each other. 

When did that happen?

"Before the party." Guessing what inquiry they had in mind, Lexi uttered after a sigh escaped her mouth once again.

For a minute, the inside of the car was filled with nothing but the inbound breeze from the air-conditioner. None of them talked as they processed the statement they would never hear from her.

Lexi? Throwing herself to a man aside from Ethan Lu? What?

"Bestie," Creasing her brows, Rika Song lowly called. "Are you still in love with that fridge?" She didn't go around in a circle and spoke what she has on her mind. When those words were dropped, the four of them — including Jarred Guo on the front passenger seat — doubled their ears while waiting for her response.

"What? No." Lexi's under-eye twitched when she heard the ridiculous question. She didn't have to think twice about her answer as she has no lingering feelings with Morris Liu anymore. In her eyes, he was just a person she could be close to and also could not. Depends. 

"Then, how can you just throw yourself at him just like that? No wonder Ethan is enraged." Rika Song gradually calmed down as she arched her brows. 

"I — I don't know." For a second, Lexi was taken aback at Rika Song's question. "Maybe, the level of trust I have for him will always be there."

Actually, she never thought about that last night. It was just her natural instinct to trust him, regardless of what situation. After all, she wouldn't even think about doing it to another man unless it was necessary. For example, she swallowed her disgust towards men back when she was in the entertainment industry, so she could do what needed to be done.

"I'm still disappointed in him. He can't treat you like that regardless of what you did. I am also utterly disappointed in you for pushing him too far." Shaking his head, Elliot Gong solemnly commented, which shocked Rika Song to the core.

"Hey, both are at fau—"

"How can you call yourself a true friend if you turn a blind eye on your friend's misconduct? Mind you, when Lexi married him, he should be our friend whether or not we like it. Although this matter is supposed to be discussed between them, let's not fan the flames anymore." Casting Rika Song a side glance, Elliot Gong was surprisingly cool for having thought this far.

Not just Rika Song, but also Lexi was rendered speechless by his remark. They were used to him being the clown in their group. Hence, seeing this serious side of him was startling. 

"Not just this time but also, when you and Jai tied the knot, expect the same advice from us. Although I had already foreseen that most roots of your problem will be, tadaa! You."

"Hey! Are you saying I am petty?!" Offended, Rika Song peered at him with utter disgust. She then narrowed her eyes before she jerked her chin up. "Tell me, you're still in character with the one you're portraying...?" 

"So what?" Ask your future husband if what I'm saying made sense." Elliot Gong shrugged, nonchalant at her accusation. With that, Rika Song and Elliot Gong threw shades at one another, as usual. 

Meanwhile, the corner of Jaime Liao's lips curled upward. This just proved that unlike what these girls think, Elliot Gong was more mature — like a real big brother — than them, and he was the one that was actually looking after them. Not the other way around.

"Eli, thank you, also, Rika. I'm thankful that you're my friends. I just hoped I met you earlier." Lexi slowly smiled as Elliot Gong's statement oddly moved her heart. Her friends were just reliable and even if they were biased, at the very least, they see things clearly.

Jarred Guo had his lips curled into a subtle smile as Rika Song turned her attention into spouting sweet nothings to Lexi. Although he knew the reason why Ethan Lu was furious, he also thought that Lexi went overboard. Regardless, he also agreed that his master shouldn't hurt Lexi even the slightest, Lexi as well.

Still, knowing that her friends were like this, it was so reassuring that they would be a good support in his masters' relationship.