"So the Delgado prodigy from our business school really did have a thing for the Prescott beauty queen."
"If they'd gotten together back then, their kid would probably be in preschool by now."
Then someone else chimed in, voice dripping with spite.
"Exactly. If certain people hadn't thrown themselves at Carter so shamelessly, maybe those two wouldn't have spent all these years apart."
Their gazes drifted toward me, one by one, not quite direct but impossible to miss.
I clenched my fists, pressed my lips together, and said nothing.
The whispers continued.
Then one of the more outgoing classmates slid into the seat beside me, leaning in close.
"Serena Whitmore. Was it you?"
"Tell the truth. Did you swap the love letter on purpose so those two would miss their chance?"
My expression turned cold. I was about to say it wasn't me.
But the crowd erupted before I could speak.
"I'd bet money on it."
"Everyone used to say Carter and Mia were the golden couple. They were obviously into each other."
"The only one who didn't get the memo was Serena, pining away, staring at Carter every chance she got."