Chapter 4

Lesley had to be out of her mind.

Besides, I had initially planned for this competition to pave the way for her to achieve financial independence. But since she believed she was far too superior to be tainted by my "filthy" money, there was no need for me to keep making a fool of myself.

At that thought, I chuckled coldly, stepped up to the microphone, and made an announcement to the entire hall.

"Alright. From this moment onward, all competition awards are voided, all partnerships are terminated, and the champion's art exhibition is officially canceled."

Then, I turned to look at Lesley and sneered lightly.

"By the way, Ms. Cohen, I agree wholeheartedly with you. My money is indeed too filthy for you. Therefore, I am revoking every cent of funding I have ever provided you. As for the exhibition—surely you can manage it yourself, can't you?"

"You're revoking the funding?"

Lesley's face drained of color instantly. She stared at me, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but she only swallowed hard, her face flushing red. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to utter a single word.

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd as people debated what my announcement meant.

"For real? Isn't Mr. Gardner supposed to be a total simp? How dare he publicly threaten Ms. Cohen like that?"

"Tch. I bet Calvin's just throwing a temper tantrum and trying to emotionally blackmail Lesley over her exhibition. Rich people are all jerks."

"Exactly! I'd always said Lesley and Archie were a better match. I knew Calvin was just a spoiled brat the moment I laid eyes on him. He knows nothing about love."

Hearing the audience take his side, Archie's eyes gleamed with triumph. He rushed over to me, sobbing theatrically. "Mr. Gardner! She was just speaking out of anger! She didn't mean it! Please don't throw a fit and ruin her future like this!

"If you have to punish someone, punish me instead!"

His performance disgusted me. He was framing me as the villain for reclaiming what was mine.

Lesley's glare grew icier as Archie wailed louder.

"Stop begging him, Archie! Poverty will never crush ambition! I can live without his help!"

With that, Lesley pretended to storm off, though she lingered near the exit as if waiting to see how I would react.

I knew she was waiting for me to chase after her and apologize. In the past, I always caved first, terrified that my actions would hurt her feelings, damage her pride, or make her feel wronged.

But now, I didn't care.

Without waiting for her to say another word, I turned on my heel and walked out the door without looking back. The moment I stepped out of the venue, I tossed my old phone into the trash can and bought the latest iPhone at the mall.

I was done playing stupid, childish games with Lesley.

As soon as I got home and finally sat down to relax, my phone rang. It was Livia Cohen.

"Hey, you! Where the hell have you been? Why are you only answering my phone now?

"Are you fucking daft or what? Don't you know today is the last day to pay my tuition fees? If you don't wire the money right this second, I'm telling Lesley!"

That was when I remembered today was the day Livia's college tuition was due.

In the past, I had taken it upon myself to cover all of Livia's expenses so Lesley wouldn't have to worry about a thing. But listening to the abrasive, demanding voice on the other end of the line, a deep frown crossed my face.

Years ago, Livia had nearly died on the street from an asthma attack, and I had spent a fortune to pull her back from the jaws of death. Yet she never thanked me—only complained I hadn't found her sooner and continually took advantage of my love for Lesley to order me around like her personal servant.

Thinking about it now, the apple clearly hadn't fallen far from the tree.

"Is that really how you ask someone for a favor?" I asked coldly. "Besides, what does your tuition fee have to do with me? Don't you have arms and legs? Can't you earn your own tuition fees?"