Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1712

The person on the other end of the line was overly enthusiastic, immediately inviting her to a class reunion dinner that evening.

Exhausted and in no mood for fake pleasantries, Sylvia declined without a second thought. "I am sorry. I have plans tonight, so I will not be able to make it."

But her former classmate clearly had no intention of giving up, sounding half-joking and half-sour. "Oh, Sylvia! Now that you are a CEO, things are different, huh? Have you completely forgotten all your old friends back here in Seaview?"

Sylvia frowned. "I did not mean it like that. I really just..."

The classmate raised her voice, layering on the guilt trip. "Everyone heard you were back in Seaview, which is the only reason we managed to get so many people together on New Year's Eve! We are all waiting for you right now. If you do not show up, it will really ruin the mood. Surely you can give your old classmates a little face?"

Sylvia fell silent. Deep down, she knew perfectly well that back in school, she had been introverted and completely invisible. She had never built deep connections with these people. Although her class organized a reunion every holiday season, she rarely attended. In the six or seven years since graduation, she had only gone twice. This time, someone had clearly found out about her current position. They were insisting she come solely because of her new status.

But on second thought, even if she took the six o'clock flight back to the Capital, she would just be returning to an empty house to ring in the New Year entirely alone. Rather than suffering through New Year's Eve by herself, she figured she might as well stay and join the crowd. Being around people might actually lift her spirits a bit.

"Alright. Send me the address. I will be there soon." She finally agreed, then pulled out her phone to cancel her flight back to the Capital.

Pulling her suitcase behind her, Sylvia headed to the airport restroom. Standing before the mirror, she washed her face with warm water and touched up her light makeup. Looking closely, the slap mark her mother had left yesterday had completely faded, leaving no trace behind. Once she was ready, she grabbed her luggage and hailed a cab to the hotel where the dinner was being held.

A male classmate wandered over with a wine glass, half-joking and half-serious as he tried to cozy up to her. "Ms. Moore, I heard your company has been expanding aggressively these past couple of years, growing to thousands of employees! Are you guys still hiring directors? Allow me to volunteer myself. Throw an old classmate a bone, will you?"

Sylvia maintained a polite, flawless smile, responding to each of them without giving anything away.

Just then, their old class president walked over with a laugh, guiding Sylvia to the most central seat at the main table. He cleared his throat, raised his glass, and projected his voice to control the room. "Alright, alright! Let us knock it off! Today is our class New Year's Eve party. It is a day to celebrate, so work talk is strictly prohibited!" He feigned a stern look, jokingly pointing at the man who had just asked for a job. "You lot have spent the whole year being corporate drones, and that is not enough for you? It is New Year's Eve, and you are tripping over yourselves to be Ms. Moore's drones? Even if you are not tired, she must be tired of hearing it!"

His words sparked a roar of laughter across the room, instantly making the atmosphere lively and relaxed. Looking at the smiling faces around her, Sylvia felt her tense nerves loosen slightly. She took a sip of the hot tea in front of her and finally asked the question she had been holding back. "Today is New Year's Eve. Why are none of you spending the holiday with your families?"