Chapter 5

Livia was momentarily stunned into silence on the phone. After all, I'd never talked back to her like this before.

A moment later, her rage boiled over.

"Calvin Gardner! How dare you speak to me like that! Just wait until I tell Lesley! I'll—"

I didn't wait for her to finish. I hung up, blocked her number, and returned to my rented apartment.

The place was still cluttered with Lesley's belongings. I didn't want to owe her anything anymore. It was high time I returned everything to her—out of sight, out of mind.

I was about to start packing when a loud pounding rattled the front door. I opened it and found Lesley clutching a bank card. The moment she noticed the brand-new phone in my hand, she flew into another fit of rage.

"Calvin, you disgusting jerk! Don't you know Livia is about to be kicked out of college? How dare you use her tuition money to buy yourself a new phone? Do you even have a conscience?"

In the past, I would have folded instantly—apologizing and begging her forgiveness. But now, I only found her fury laughable.

What did she mean by Livia's tuition? That was my bank card and my money. I didn't need anyone's permission to spend it.

I let out a cold chuckle. "What? Weren't you the one who said my money was filthy and you didn't need my financial help anymore?"

Lesley looked as though she had never expected me to talk back. Stunned, she stammered at the doorway, unable to form another word.

Sensing things weren't going their way, Archie shoved himself between us and began slapping his own face.

"It's all my fault, Mr. Gardner! Do whatever you want to me! Fire me if you must! I'll even cut ties with Lesley if that's what it takes! But Livia's innocent! She's just a poor young woman—she can't afford to be expelled!"

I couldn't help rolling my eyes at his pathetic performance. With those weak slaps, he couldn't kill a mosquito if he tried.

Even so, Lesley fell for his crocodile tears. She rushed to grab his wrists, her eyes brimming with pity.

"No! Don't do this, Archie!"

Then, she whipped around and slapped me across the face.

"I was blind! I was so wrong about you! I thought you were different from those other snobby, blood-sucking heirs who only care about luxury!

"I'm warning you, if you fire Archie, I'll break up with you right now!"

Her voice trembled with sorrow as she glared at me.

Before today, seeing her cry would have thrown me into a panic. I would have bent over backward to give her anything just to see her smile.

Now? Not a single emotion stirred inside me; I'd already given up on her.

The moment the System stripped away my "saint's heart", whatever positive image I had of Lesley shattered completely.

So much for her lofty principles and fierce independence. She was nothing more than a fragile parasite, feeding her self-esteem by trampling on others' dignity.

When she realized I wasn't responding, a smug glint flickered in her eyes. She then demanded haughtily, "For the sake of our history together, Calvin, I'll give you one last chance to fix this. Apologize to Livia and Archie, and I might—"

Before she could finish, I snatched the bank card from her hand, snapped it in two, and tossed it into the trash.

"Forget it, Ms. Cohen. I'm done playing your childish games. Let's break up."