Chapter 182: Jealousy and Manipulations

Phoebe felt the sting of isolation more acutely as she observed the lively group atmosphere around her. Mark's refusal to switch seats only deepened her sense of exclusion. Frustrated, she leaned over and hissed, "Mark, can you please swap seats with me? I can't stand it over here." Mark, his patience worn thin, shook his head. "No, Phoebe. I'm tired of your constant demands. Just deal with it." Before Phoebe could respond, Simon interrupted, tapping Mark on the shoulder. "Hey, Mark! Remember this?" Simon held up his phone, displaying a photo of a racetrack. "From the good old days." Mark glanced at the photo, a flicker of recognition passing over his face. "Yeah, I remember. But, you know, I never really got to participate. Just watched from the side lines." Simon nodded, sensing the tension. "Well, how about we change that? Let's hit the racetrack together sometime. It'll be fun." Mark, eager to escape Phoebe's proximity, readily agreed. "Sure, that sounds great. Let's do it."