Chapter 1

I flashed the Patek Philippe on my wrist and laughed. "You've been holding that in for a while, haven't you, Harvey? Do you want this watch, too? Shame you can't afford one."

Harvey Warren, my roommate, flushed and took a step back. That movement was subtle, as if I'd hit a sore spot, but also as if he were deliberately putting on a performance of "being hurt".

Just as expected, Ruby Sutton, my girlfriend, took the bait. She stepped in front of Harvey to shield him, brow furrowed.

"I didn't expect you to be this kind of person, Felix Lund!" she snapped, voice dripping with disappointment.

I tilted my head slightly and asked, "What kind of person am I, Ruby?"

She glared at me with open disgust. "When did you get so arrogant and overbearing, Felix? Harvey comes from a poor family, yet you use money to mock him. Do you even have a conscience?"

I was stunned after hearing that I was arrogant and overbearing. Suddenly, I remembered an incident that happened a year ago, the day Ruby cornered me outside the library.

She'd been the prettiest girl on campus then, with two of her best friends trailing behind like her personal cheer squad. She'd blocked my path on the library steps, tilted her chin proudly, and said, "Be my boyfriend, Felix."

I stood there stunned for a solid three seconds before asking why.

Ruby grinned, not the least bit embarrassed, and replied, "You're the most good-looking guy I've ever seen, and have a really sunny smile too. You're just easy on the eyes."

Ruby's reason was just as simple as that.

I thought she was pretty interesting back then—direct and completely unpretentious.

Now, a year later, that same face regarded me with undisguised contempt, as though I were beneath her.

I couldn't care less about her at that point.

Harvey pushed the broken frame of his glasses higher on his nose, his voice gentle and seemingly understanding. "Don't be too hard on Felix, Ruby. He's probably just scared of being poor. Someone finally gave him a watch, so it makes sense he can't bear to take it off.

"I'm poor too, but at least I know better than to trade away my dignity."

Harvey's voice gradually dropped, and the last few words were almost dragged out from his throat, with just the right amount of trembling emotion to make him appear pitiful.

Ruby's savior complex instantly kicked in. Her eyes were filled with pity and sympathy as she reached out to comfort him. "You shouldn't say that, Harvey. Some people simply have no talent. All they can do is grovel to get what they want.

"You might come from nothing, but at least you're honest and upright. You come in first on every exam, and all the professors praise you, saying you have a bright future. You're so much better than a spineless guy like him."

She cast a casual glance at me as she said so. The contempt within that fleeting glance was sharp enough to cut.

In that instant, the surrounding students gathered around in small groups, curious about what was happening. Some recognized the Patek Philippe on my wrist, while others recognized Harvey.

"Isn't that Sawyer's lackey? What's he doing wearing a Patek Philippe?"

"That lackey gets a handout and suddenly thinks he's moved up in the world!"

"You guys should keep it down. You can't just insult the lackey without pissing off whoever they work for."

"Please. Sawyer has gone abroad, so he has nobody watching his back right now."

Their sharp words landed one after another, as if they had planned it. Their voices were neither loud nor soft, but exactly clear enough for me to catch. A few people laughed behind their hands, while others gave me a thorough once-over, sizing me up.

Ruby just stood there, listening to what those people were saying without even trying to defend me. If anything, she looked at me with the same contempt as everyone else.

Harvey buried his face in Ruby's shoulder, like he was hiding from something.

But I caught his little smirk—the satisfied smile of a hunter watching his prey take the bait. I almost laughed. It was merely a Patek Philippe; I had a drawer full of them.

I didn't want the attention or any special treatment, so I usually never brought up my family background with anyone. But somehow, I ended up being mistaken for Sawyer Lund's—my brother's—lackey.

Sawyer felt sorry for me, so he practically forced me into his dorm room, saying we'd be able to look out for each other if we lived together.

I took a deep breath, then said, "I'll wear whatever watch I want to wear. It's none of your business."