Aaron skulked off to a corner in defeat and dejection.

If he kept pushing, he would only humiliate himself further.

With nothing else to do, he slumped into a chair and sullenly sipped a drink.

Before long, Phoebe sidled up to him.

“What do you want? Here to rub it in? Beat it!” Aaron snapped coldly.

Phoebe’s face darkened. She was clearly unimpressed by his sulking.

“Oh, don’t take it out on me just because you’re a loser!” she said with a sneer. “Honestly, you’ve spent four years chasing after Irene like a lovesick fool, and has she even once spared you a glance? You’ve embarrassed yourself and everyone in our circle!”

She crossed her arms. Her voice dripped with disdain. “Have you forgotten who you are? You’re the heir to the Burke family! What happened to your pride? Did you leave it at the bottom of your whiskey glass?”

Phoebe’s rant only deepened Aaron’s scowl.

“If I were you, Irene would’ve been mine ages ago,” she said with a mocking smile. “It’s just a