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Catherine’s eyes narrowed as she watched Liana proudly present the exclusive game card. Her mind raced, calculating how she could handle the situation. It was clear that Liana thought this gift would be a game-changer—literally.
Bryan’s eyes sparkled as he held the card up, completely captivated by Liana’s gesture. “Wow, this is incredible! Storm hasn’t even released this yet! How did you get your hands on it?” He was genuinely impressed.
Liana’s smile widened, her satisfaction radiating. “I have my ways,” she said, playing it coy but clearly basking in the attention. “I knew you’d love it, Bryan.”
The guests whispered amongst themselves, admiring Liana’s thoughtfulness and her obvious understanding of Bryan’s interests. But Catherine wasn’t fooled. She could sense the calculated move behind Liana’s gift, and she wasn’t going to let it go unnoticed.
She stood up from where she had been casually seated, her gaze unwavering from the game card. As the room quieted, she spoke, her voice cool but cutting through the air. “Interesting choice, Liana. I didn’t realize you were such a fan of Storm games.”
Liana’s confident smile faltered slightly. “What do you mean?”
Catherine’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “You see, I have a friend who works in game development, and last I checked, Storm hasn’t made this game available yet. The only way you could’ve gotten it is if you had connections at the highest level.”
Liana’s eyes widened. She had hoped to impress Bryan with a rare and expensive gift, but Catherine had just dropped a subtle hint that she knew the backstory. Liana, trying to cover her tracks, shot back, “Oh, I must have misheard. I thought it was already released.”
The room fell silent as the guests looked from Catherine to Liana, sensing the tension building. Bryan, who had been excited about the gift moments ago, suddenly looked uneasy. “Wait a second, Liana… is this gift for real?”
Liana’s confidence started to crack under the weight of Catherine’s accusation. She quickly recovered, attempting to laugh it off. “Of course, it’s real. Don’t listen to Catherine. She’s just being dramatic.”
Catherine’s smile was cold, but her voice remained calm. “I’m not being dramatic. I’m just pointing out the facts.” Her eyes locked onto Liana’s with an almost predatory gleam. “You’ve always been so eager to show off, but maybe next time, you’ll think twice before trying to deceive others.”
Bryan, still unsure of how to handle the situation, turned to Catherine. “Wait, you really know about the game?”
Catherine shrugged, unbothered. “It’s just a simple connection. But the point is, it’s about honesty, Liana. A thoughtful gift doesn’t need to be faked to make an impact.”
Liana, flustered and humiliated, could do nothing but force a smile, trying to salvage some dignity. “Well, I still thought it would be a great gift.”
“Maybe,” Catherine said softly, “but next time, try being a little more genuine.”
The silence in the room was deafening, and for the first time that evening, the guests were clearly on Catherine’s side. Liana had been exposed, and though she tried to maintain her composure, the damage was done.
Bryan, no longer interested in the gift, turned to face the rest of the party, attempting to shift the attention away from the awkward moment. “Alright, let’s move on, everyone. Thanks, Liana, but I think we’ve seen enough gifts for now.” He gestured for the guests to continue mingling, his mood visibly soured.
Catherine, sensing her work was done, returned to her seat, her eyes still fixed on Liana. The power dynamic in the room had shifted, and Catherine knew it. She didn’t need grand gestures or expensive gifts to make her mark—honesty and intelligence were her strengths.
As the party continued, the tension was palpable, with many guests now avoiding Liana in favor of spending more time around Catherine. Bryan, although still fond of her, was left thinking about the subtle truth Catherine had revealed.
And as for Liana, she was left stewing in her own frustration, her carefully crafted image unraveling in front of everyone.