CHAPTER 4

Did Losif really think that after seeing those photos he would run crying into his arms? Never.

“Look at him acting all innocent just because his parents are rich businesspeople,” someone sneered.

“Right! Those photos show how shameless that omega is. And now he’s calling Losif a jerk? What a whore.”

Their whispers cut through Rayne like knives. His hands trembled, his heart pounded. He didn’t know who did this, but he had a strong hunch, it was Ken. Just last night they had talked, and now these fake photos appeared everywhere. It had to be him.

“Everyone, those are edited photos! My Rayne didn’t do anything wrong!” Losif shouted angrily, silencing the crowd for a moment.

He stepped forward, trying to hug Rayne, but Rayne quickly moved back.

“Maintain your distance,” Rayne snapped, and ran.

But Losif followed. Rayne glanced back, he was right behind him. “Don’t follow me, Losif. I want to be alone, and we’re broken up, don’t forget that.”

Losif didn’t stop. Rayne stepped out onto the campus, but Losif still followed. Rayne stood beside a tree and glared at him.

“What’s your problem? Can’t you understand human language?” Rayne demanded. “I told you not to follow me. So why are you following me in the first place?”

Losif stopped a few feet away, looking desperate. “I’m worried about you, Rayne. I know what I did was wrong... I just, I got carried away. But I only love you, not Ken. I never loved him. You’re the only one for me. Please, forgive me, Rayne.”

His words snapped something inside Rayne. Anger burst hotter than the pain. He raised his hand and slapped Losif hard across the cheek.

“Don’t you feel any shame?” Rayne snapped. “You slept with Ken, and now you’re standing here saying you don’t love him and you only love me? If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have been in that kind of relationship with him in the first place.”

Rayne crossed his arms, glaring. Losif held his cheek, the same cheek Rayne had slapped.

“I told you, I was carried away,” Losif said weakly. “It was just the heat of the moment. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, not Ken’s and not mine. But I already told Ken we’re not doing anything like that again, and that he should stay away from me because I love you.”

Rayne narrowed his eyes, frustration boiling inside him.

“Losif, you’ve gone insane. Don’t talk to me ever again. I’m ashamed that I dated someone like you. And don’t tell me you’re trying to get me back because of my wealth.”

At that, Losif’s expression shifted. His eyes turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists.

“Rayne, you can be angry at me all you want, you have every right to be. But I’m not some beggar chasing after you for money. My family is rich too!”

Honestly, Rayne didn’t know much about Losif at all. Since childhood, he always came and went alone. Whenever Rayne asked about his family, Losif only said that when the time was right, he would reveal everything.

“Losif, we’ve already broken up. So stop following me,” Rayne said, turning away.

“No! I never agreed to break up, so we’re still dating, Rayne! I know you’re angry, but once you calm down, please call me!” Losif shouted from behind.

Rayne kept walking, not looking back even once, even when Losif’s voice slowly faded behind him.

As he stepped out of the university gates, his chest tightened. He couldn’t stay there anymore,not when rumors about him were spreading like wildfire.

But there was one person he could still rely on.

Rayne took out his phone and dialed a number. It was his uncle,his father’s close friend, but someone who had always treated Rayne as if he were his own nephew. He was the only person Rayne could trust right now.

But when the call finally connected, the voice he heard wasn’t his uncle’s.

(Rayne) “Hello?”

(Lucian) “Yo. Why do you sound so confused? You called me yourself. Is everything okay?”

That voice,deep, calm, unmistakable. It wasn’t his uncle. It was Lucian.

Rayne quickly pulled the phone away and checked the screen. He really had called Lucian by mistake.

But when did Lucian’s number even appear in his contacts?

(Rayne) “Why is your number even in my phone in the first place?”

(Lucian) “We’re going to get married soon, remember? Of course we should have each other’s numbers. When you were sleeping on my lap yesterday, I saved mine into your phone, and yours into mine.”

Lucian was right. They were going to get married. And if they did it soon, Rayne might be able to escape from all the mess happening around him. Yes… that seemed like the perfect option.

(Rayne) “Let’s get married this month.”

There was a brief pause before Lucian replied.

(Lucian) “Whoa, hold your horses, Rayne. We can’t just get married right away. There’s a lot to prepare before that. But don’t worry,I’ll let my family know we’re ready. You should tell yours too.”

(Rayne) “Okay.”

After saying that, Rayne hung up the call.

There were still a few months left until graduation, and two months before his final exams. But marrying Lucian didn’t sound like a bad idea. Lucian wasn’t a bad person; in fact, he was kind and dependable.

Maybe marrying him wouldn’t be such a bad choice. From there, Rayne called his driver and went straight to his parents’ company.

The moment he stepped inside, everyone greeted him with polite bows. They all knew who he was. Rayne gave them a quick smile and rushed straight into his father’s office.

“Rayne, learn to knock before coming in,” his father said without looking up, still typing on his laptop.

“Dad, something happened at the university, and I don’t know what to do,” Rayne said, taking a seat in front of him.

His father sighed, closed the laptop, and finally met Rayne’s eyes. “What happened?”

Rayne took a deep breath and told him everything,how his photos were posted on the university billboard, how everyone was whispering about him.